This class will explore the many dangerous situations corrections officers find themselves when they work within the walls of a correctional facility. The class will cover tactical situations, inmate behavior and interactions with the inmate population. Students will understand the importance of documentation and staying away from pitfalls that can get themselves and their agencies in trouble. Also covered will be the professional relationships with co-workers, supervisors, support staff and those that visit inmates in the jail. Understanding the viewpoint of our criminal justice partners will foster better outcomes for agencies, inmates and the public we serve. Student will have in-depth discussions on real life scenarios, videos and best practices that are based on decades of experience, case law and standards set by the Michigan Department of Corrections. Other topics covered include: jail funnel, special relationships, downing a duck, duty to intervene, conduct and interactions with co-workers, the role of the supervisor, and off-duty conduct.
The cost for this course is $275 per person. The instructor will be Captain Robert Earle, Ingham County Sheriff's Office (Ret.).
Target audience: All staff assigned to safety & security of the correctional facility
MACNLOW Faculty: Captain Robert Earle (Ret.), recently retired from the Ingham County Sheriff's Office where he was the Jail Administrator in charge of Ingham County's 429-bed correctional facility. He is a graduate of Michigan State University. Captain Earle served in many capacities at the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy in the Corrections Division before rising to the rank of Sergeant in 2012, Lieutenant in 2017, and Captain in 2021. He served as Housing Officer, Work Release Coordinator, Corrections Training Officer, Corrections Hostage Negotiation Team Member, Booking Officer and Classification Officer. He was a liaison to the 30th Circuit Court's Mental Health Court and worked on several inmate initiatives, including an Ingham County program to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Captain Earle was the Commander of the 19-member regional Capitol Area Dive Team (CADT) and Underwater Search and Recovery Unit. He was on the Sheriff's Dive Team for over 16 years, achieving several high-level dive certifications and attending training across the country. In 2018, Robert was recognized and awarded the Distinguished Valor Award from the National Institute of Jail Operations (NIJO) which recognizes individuals for their outstanding service to heroically serve and protect or who have made critical decisions or taken preventive actions that ensured the safety and security of staff, inmates, and the general public.
| 5/28/2026 |    |