Offender Rights Part 2: Conditions of Confinement

Course Code: REL-PS-0-OR2-V2

Hours: 1.5

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 11/30/2023

Learning Objectives:
Identify the 7 basic human needs that the U.S. Supreme Court indicate correctional institutions must meet related to the conditions of confinement to avoid potential liability.
Explain the 2-part test for liability required in findings of lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of facility conditions under the 8th Amendment.
Discuss what courts usually require agencies to do (when found liable) during the relief or remedy phase to end constitutional violations.
Identify the Constitutional amendments under which convicted offenders and those awaiting trial can bring civil rights action lawsuits against correctional facilities related to overcrowded conditions.
Describe 7 ways that correctional officers play a role in influencing the conditions of confinement in a facility.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction A. About This Course B. Learning Objectives Section 2: Liability Standards and Conditions of Confinement A. Meet Offender Thomsen B. The 8th Amendment And "Evolving Standards of Decency" C. The 8th Amendment and Conditions of Confinement D. Providing for Basic Human Needs E. Other Factors F. The Wilson v. Seiter 2-Part Test for Liability G. Challenges to Conditions In Particular Parts of Facilities H. Injunction and Consent Decree Court Orders I. Relief/Remedy Phase of Court Order J. The Prison Litigation Reform Act and Injunctions K. Summary Section 3: Crowding and Liability Issues A. Offender Lawsuits Challenging Crowding B. Due Process C. A Landmark Case: Bell vs. Wolfish D. The Issue of Double Celling: Rhodes vs. Chapman E. Relief in Crowding Cases F. The Prison Litigation Reform Act and Releasing of Offenders G. Summary Section 4: Offenders and Personal Safety A. Safety B. Farmer V. Brennan C. The Duty to Protect Offenders D. Farmer v. Brennan Revisited E. The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) F. Protecting Offenders from Themselves G. Your Role in Influencing Conditions of Confinement H. Meet Offender Snowden I. Recalling Offender Thomsen J. Summary Section 5: Conclusion A. Summary B. Course Contributors C. Resources D. References E. Congratulations! F. Exam G. BrainSparks

Subject Matter Expert: Robert Rosenbloom, JD

Robert Rosenbloom, J.D. has over 30 years of experience in both adult and juvenile corrections. He is a Georgia P.O.S.T certified trainer with expertise in legal issues, policy and correctional practices. He has considerable expertise in issues related to “protection from harm” within secure facilities due to his responsibilities in working to release the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice from the U.S. Department of Justice oversight. Currently, he is Senior Consultant with the Moss Group, Inc., and practices juvenile law in the state of Georgia. He served two terms as a member of the American Correctional Association’s Board of Governors and is a Certified PREA Auditor in both Adult and Juvenile Standards. Disclosure: Robert Rosenbloom, JD has no Relevant Financial or Non-Financial Relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.

Writer: Tracy Mullins, M.Ed.

Tracy G. Mullins is the Curriculum Designer for Public Safety at Relias. Tracy has a B.S. in the Administration of Criminal Justice and a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology. Prior to joining Relias Learning in 2017, Tracy worked in various capacities for the American Probation and Parole Association for 22 years. As a Research Associate and Sr. Research Associate, she worked on a variety of federally funded projects focusing on leadership, juvenile justice, victim services, tribal justice, and offender issues. Her responsibilities on these projects include researching justice issues, writing curricula and other publications, and delivering training and technical assistance. From 2010-2016, as Deputy Director of APPA, Tracy managed its grant division, as well oversaw its e-learning initiatives, which included writing and developing online training courses. Disclosure: Tracy Mullins, M.Ed. has no Relevant Financial or Non-Financial Relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Correctional Officers; in the following settings: Adult Corrections, Juvenile Corrections.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.