Special Response Teams (SRT) provide the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) with specially trained and equipped teams available for a rapid response to VADOC critical incidents at their local facility or other VADOC units. SRT members are also utilized for missions determined to be high-risk, such as riots and disturbances, and to provide support for other security operations throughout the Department. Over the past few years, membership had significantly decreased at the Deerfield Correctional Complex (DFCC), impacting regional and statewide totals. This created concern regarding the team’s ability to respond effectively to critical incidents within the Department.
© Mahala Carter-Moore, Dianne Motley & Tammy Williams, 2022
The World Needs Dialogue! Four: Putting Dialogue to Work
ISBN: 978-1739991159
Situation
Special Response Teams (SRT) provide the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) with specially trained and equipped teams available for a rapid response to VADOC critical incidents at their local facility or other VADOC units. SRT members are also utilized for missions determined to be high-risk, such as riots and disturbances, and to provide support for other security operations throughout the Department. Over the past few years, membership had significantly decreased at the Deerfield Correctional Complex (DFCC), impacting regional and statewide totals. This created concern regarding the team’s ability to respond effectively to critical incidents within the Department.
Objectives
The need was to assist members and management to develop strategies to increase the strength of the SRT. The Deerfield Correctional Complex uses dialogue practices to solve day-to-day operational challenges and/ concerns, so a Working Dialogue was conducted on the recruitment and retention of SRT members. The main objectives were to: share ideas on how to increase membership at the facility level; gain support and buy-in from all supervisors; ensure members were assigned throughout the facility on all shifts and breaks; have supervisors be a part of the recruitment process; have staff view SRT in a positive light; offer additional training outside the quarterly training; and not have physical requirements viewed as a barrier.