The Shakedown by National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO)

In the latest report from the CDC in reference to suicides in the US in 2022, the numbers have increased following a 2-year decrease in 2020 and 2021.  This literal growing trend is something we must be aware of and confront.  Suicidal ideation is most often a result of hopelessness and despair.  How do we prepare for and combat these 2 causes?  In this episode, host Aaron Dawson discusses the cau...

Continuing in the line of thought and conversation from the previous episode, host Aaron Dawson and Josh Arnold take on the challenges facing supervisors and administrators.  The responsibilities are different, and the required skill sets are just as different.  Aaron and Josh share both broad and specific ideas to help supervisors and administrators.  It’s a serious job that takes serious effort...

Many might agree that “times are tough” in the corrections world.  We can either sit defeated and whine, OR we can press on!  In this episode, host Aaron Dawson and guest Josh Arnold discuss things that Josh has noticed in touring jails all over the country.  In this upbeat and encouraging look, Aaron and Josh focus on line officers and some things they can do to stay sharp. Copyright 2023.  Natio...

Continuing the “Sharpening Skills” theme, host Aaron Dawson and guest Keith Hoskins continue their conversation on listening.  Last episode was focused on the facility, the environmental sounds.  In this episode they focus on listening skills as it applies to personal interaction.  There are great benefits that can be gained by simply listening to people.  There is also great risk in not doing so....

Continuing the “Sharpening Skills” theme, host Aaron Dawson has a conversation with Keith Hoskins.  Keith served in law enforcement for 35 years, retiring as the Director of the Boone County Detention Center.  Aaron and Keith discuss the difference between “hearing” and “listening”.  Every Jail has sounds that communicate to anyone willing to listen.  Do we know what “normal” sounds like?  If some...

In a continuation of the conversation from the previous episode, Host Aaron Dawson and guest Sean Stewart move on to skills that focus on the roles of Supervision and Administration.  As a line officer, the inmates and tasks of the housing unit are your primary responsibility.  As a supervisor, the staff are your responsibility.  What skills does supervision need to keep sharp?  That is the topic...

Often the best place to seek advice on how to do something is to ask someone who has done it, and done it successfully.  In this episode, Aaron Dawson interviews Sean Stewart, who retired after nearly 30 years of service in Corrections.  Sean started as a line officer and worked his way up through the ranks to retire as a Captain.  Sean and Aaron discuss skills that may often get overlooked, soft...

Continuing the focus on “Sharpening Skills”, host Aaron Dawson uses the 6 factors that impact plant growth and the rate of that growth, to illustrate what factors we need to be aware of for our own growth.  Passion, attitude, location, perception, preparation, and root system are those factors.  You may notice that all of these are within our control.  Let’s be intentional, focused, and motivated...

In this first episode in the series “Sharpening Skills”, host Aaron Dawson illustrates some basic principles of personal growth by looking at the growth process in plants.  Growth is our responsibility!  Though it may seem like a difficult and complicated process, there are so many assets all around us that can help us if we will take the time to search them out.  It starts with desire.  Do we wan...

In the last two episodes, we have been challenged to identify why we do what we do, and then to consider how we do it.  The point being to keep our vision and purpose in front of us.  This motivates us in the ups and down of our profession as well as our life.  In this episode, Aaron Dawson challenges to consider what success would look like if we could accomplish exactly what we wanted.  How will...

It is very easy to listen to the legacy media and commentary pundits on social media platforms and develop the sense that what we do for a living is something that our society and culture don’t like, appreciate, or want to support.  In this episode, Aaron Dawson challenges us to consider the reality of how important it is for us to do what we do and to do it well!  We are needed!  We are necessary...

Continuing the “thought train” from the previous episode, Aaron Dawson discusses the importance of discovering, and then regularly reminding ourselves of why we do what we do, as well as considering if how we are doing it is conducive to the vision and purpose we have established.  Take the opportunity to dig in our own thought processes and goals!  It's worth it!  Copyright 2023.  National I...

Corrections is about routine.  It can seem that we do exactly the same things day in and day out.  We can get numb living in the routine and forget what it is that motivates us to stick with it and stay encouraged.  In this episode, Aaron Dawson discusses reminding ourselves of the “why” behind our “what”.  Enjoy this healthy reminder! Copyright 2023.  National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO)...

Closing the series on “Finding the Positive”, Host Aaron Dawson interviews Tate McCotter, the Executive Director of NIJO.  Tate’s interaction with corrections folks all over the country allows him to bring a unique perspective to our conversation.  Prepare to be encouraged and challenged as they discuss what there is in the field to be encouraged about and motivated by.  In commemoration of Nation...

How hard is it to make a difference?  In a world that seems to be consumed with the negative, it can be hard to find something to be positive about.  Where can I look?  In this interview, host Aaron Dawson and his guest, Jurea Williams with the North Las Vegas Police Department answer those questions.  It can be difficult to make a difference, but you have to care.  In that caring, you will find m...

Continuing the thought of looking for the positive…Warden Dawson interviews Mr. and Mrs. Bolding, the directors of the Neighborhood Christian Center of Decatur, Alabama.  During the conversation, you get a sense of both their faith and hope.  A belief that there is hope and that what they are doing is making a difference!  Be encouraged and be inspired as you listen to their accounting of how they...

There is plenty of material in the law enforcement/corrections field if we are looking to focus on the negative.  The results of this focus, though, do not lead to a fulfilling life or career.  We need to proactively focus on the positive wherever we can find it.  In this spirit, Warden Dawson speaks with folks from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office about their Jail-based Behavioral Services Progr...

Continuing our recognition and celebration of Women’s History Month, Host Aaron Dawson interviews Megan Kennedy.  She serves as the Division Director of Detention Health Services of Cochise County in Bisbee, Arizona.  Being a medical professional, she provides some perspective that often, corrections staff don’t know, don’t understand, or don’t fully grasp.  Her unique perspective, as well as her...

Continuing our recognition and celebration of Women’s History Month, Host Aaron Dawson interviews Major Deann Cash with the Forsythe County Sheriff's Office in Cumming, Georgia, where she serves as the Jail Bureau Commander.  Major Cash has over 35 years of law enforcement experience, with 25 years of it being in corrections.  She provides some outstanding perspective, encouragement, and advi...

March is Women’s History Month and in honor of that, the Shakedown is focusing on women in leadership roles within the corrections field.  Host Aaron Dawson interviews Jail Commander Natasha Goins from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office in North Vernon, Indiana.  Commander Goins started out as a line officer and worked her way up through the ranks to her current position.  The Jail Commander pos...

Life can be challenging.  Working in the corrections presents a host of further challenges: being under-staffed, pay disparity in comparison with other industries in the area, a seeming lack of interest in the career field, a lack of longevity among those that do apply, cultural changes in the staff and inmate population, and the list goes on.  What can we do about it?  Host Aaron Dawson encourage...

In this final installment of the three-part Border Special, Aaron Dawson and Tate McCotter visit the border.  You will see clips of their visit there and see actual footage of the border wall and the neglect that its received.  Email your questions and thoughts to theshakedown@jailtraining.org Copyright 2023.  National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO), Aaron Dawson, The Shakedown Podcast.  All...

In this second part of The Shakedown's Border special Warden Aaron Dawson interviews Arizona Sheriffs who deal with the southern border and its daily impacts.  They share their insights and shed more light on how the situation at the border is impacting not only them but everyone in the United States.   Email your questions and thoughts to theshakedown@jailtraining.org Copyright 2023.  Nation...

To start off Season 2 of The Shakedown, host Warden Aaron Dawson takes a trip to the Southern Border with NIJO Director Tate McCotter.  In this two-part series, you will learn shocking facts about the border.  This episode will prove that wherever you are in the country, you're jail is being affected by the border crisis.   Email your questions and thoughts to theshakedown@jailtraining.org Co...

Warden Dawson and special guest Barbara Gould continue the conversation about factoring in generational factors in our interaction and leadership.  Each generation parents differently, values differently and is motivated differently.  Understanding these factors will facilitate greater success in our interaction as well as our ability to inspire others to follow us.  Leadership is about connection...