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In this episode, I talk with Michael about his path from law enforcement/correctional officer to keynote speaker and author of Greatness Beyond the Badge.  We talk about the importance of self-awareness, reaching your potential, and taking the leap into greater things in your life.

Michael Laidler has worked in law enforcement for nearly two decades. He has served with distinction in numerous positions and leadership roles, from police officer, and border patrol agent to federal corrections. Michael’s dedication to service shines in all he does. He holds an MBA from Morehead State University, a BA from Florida State University, and is a Distinguished Toastmaster. Michael has transitioned his career into training and educating law enforcement officers and leaders nationwide. A highly sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator, Michael’s methods continue inspiring and developing officers and industry leaders to become better in every regard, especially personally. It is his goal to impart the necessary personal development skills for leaders to operate at full capacity in every situation.

You can find out more about Michael by visiting michaelalaidler.com or connecting with him on the Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube social media platforms under @michaellaidler. 

Greatness Beyond the Badge by Michael Laidler

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.

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In this episode I talk with Dan M. Reynolds.  Dan is the author of several books about the Oklahoma State Pen, his experiences, and much more.  Dan M. Reynolds takes his subjects directly from more than 30 years of correctional experience.  Dan started as a case manager and would later take positions as classification auditor, administrative assistant, deputy warden, and finally as warden/administrator over several different prisons and departments.  In his books, he describes his first-hand experiences with Oklahoma state penitentiary rodeo, riots, and escapes.  

[email protected]

Caged Wisdom: Learning to See Through the Bars

On the Other Side of the Bars: Lessons Learned as a Prison Warden/Administrator

What God Wants You To Know

Oklahoma Prison Riots 

Most Hilarious, Bizarre, and Unusual Correctional Stories Ever Told

History of the Oklahoma State Pen Rodeo

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, I go back through the e-mails and messages to The Prison Officer and answer those questions that I think can apply to everyone working in corrections.

I talk about lying to your bosses, the difference between working minimum and maximum security, why I come across as such a hardass and more.

Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell

Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful as a Correctional or Detention Officer by Michael Cantrell

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this podcast, I sit down with Robert Greenwood.  Robert has 35 years of experience working for the Michigan Department of Corrections in prison administration and community corrections. He has worked as a corrections officer, resident unit officer, transportation officer, trainer, cell block supervisor, captain, and deputy director of safety and security at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry. Always looking to learn more about all aspects of corrections, Robert also worked in community corrections as a parole agent;  probation officer and retired as a Probation Manager over a large office in metro Detroit.

Robert was on the front lines of the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility riot in 1995 and was commended for his bravery.

Robert currently teaches in the criminal justice department at Madonna University in Michigan.

You can reach Robert at [email protected]

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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A recent Facebook post was highlighting the fact a citizen brought in pizza for the inmates and staff...I could hardly believe the responses from citizens and staff.  Be careful, I will probably hurt somebody's feelings with my commentary.

There are so many things wrong with this scenario, from staff manipulation, to contraband introduction, to an attitude of"It's no big deal!" and "But, they deserve it, they were good."  I take a very honest look at this through the eyes of a correctional officer and highlight why this and inmate fund-raiders are a bad idea for staff and security.

I also have a few words about another post that said, "Rehabilitation is part of a Correctional Officers' job."

Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell

Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful as a Correctional or Detention Officer by Michael Cantrell

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, I talk with Trauma Counselor Lindsay Faas about trauma, PTSD, and whether or not there can be post-traumatic growth from trauma.  I ran across this article - https://www.uwhealth.org/news/surprising-benefit-going-through-difficult-times The author talks about post-traumatic growth, as a benefit. The author also states that research has found that up to 70 percent of people experience positive psychological growth from difficult times.    Lindsay was the first person I thought about when I wanted to have a conversation about whether or not growth can rise from trauma.

Lindsay Faas is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology.  Her clinical work focuses on trauma-related counseling and affiliated concerns including PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociative disorders.  She is the host of the Behind the Line podcast for First Responders & Front Line Workers and the creator of a resilience training program designed for frontline worker wellness.   

Behind the Line podcast with Lindsay Faas

Thrive Life Counseling and Wellness

To contact Lindsay [email protected]

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, I talk with Associate Warden Arthur Fredericks.  We talk about his long career in Corrections spanning three decades.  He has worked at eleven institutions in six states and for five different agencies.   I connected with him on LinkedIn after reading several of his posts on leadership, training, and taking care of your staff.   His posts really resonated with me and I wanted to hear more about his personal views on corrections, staff, and leadership.

He began his career as a jailer in Ft. Worth Texas, he then became a correctional officer with the State of Florida before hiring on with the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons.  Associate Warden Fredericks assumed positions of greater responsibility throughout each of his moves and most recently served as the Associate Warden of Operations at Broad River CI.  He is a graduate of NIC’s Leadership and Development for the Future graduate and recently completed the Warden Exchange program as a cohort.

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, I sit down and have a great conversation with William Young, host of Just Corrections on YouTube.  He is also the author of two great books - When Home Becomes a Housing Unit and The Nothing That Never Happened.  We talk about how corrections can be a surprisingly great and rewarding career. How it changes all of us, and how to recognize the changes within us.  William is an advocate for helping staff deal with stress, PTSD, wellness, and staff suicide. 

 Just Corrections With William Young

 When Home Becomes a Housing Unit

The Nothing That Never Happened: A Collection of Stories for Correctional Officers and Their Families

 Desert Waters Correctional Outreach 

 

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, I talk with JoAnn Mertens and her decades-long career with the Missouri Department of Corrections.  JoAnn started her career in 1966 as a clerk and Correctional Matron and retired in 2000 as an Assistant Superintendent.  She was the first female Correctional Officer for the MDOC, and made it through despite, being unwelcomed as a woman working in prison, sexual harassment from supervisors, to the regular challenges of working in a prison.  She details stories from her book, as well as advice for those just starting in Corrections.

One Woman, Three Prisons: The Rise Within the Ranks

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

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In this episode, David Schilling (from Episode 32) is back with his new book The Jail Intelligence Manual - How Jails can Implement Low-Cost or No-Cost Intelligence Practices.  We talk about the role of an investigator, sources of intelligence in jail, how to work better with local law enforcement, and how this all ties back directly to staff safety inside our Jails and Prisons.

The Jail Intelligence Manual: How Jails Can Implement Low Cost & No Cost Intelligence Practices That Proactively Assist Investigations, Solve Crimes

Norse/Germanic Runes & Symbols: Field Reference Guide for Law Enforcement & Corrections

You can contact David:

https://runeresearch.com/  or [email protected]

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact us: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer

Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!