Associate Professor; CJ & Sociology Department Chair Albertus Magnus College Springfield, Massachusetts
Description: Inform and discuss with attendees the importance of developing a plan when they leave the field of corrections. Given the comparatively low retirement age of correctional professionals, combined with the real possibility of a necessary/unforeseen early retirement (injury, etc.), I feel it is imperative that agencies assist staff in being prepared for the next chapter of their life. Personally, I was hired by the Connecticut DOC in October of 1993, spent 3 months being trained in the academy, 9 more months on a working test period and then 19 years doing the job. I retired on 11/01/13 and the next day it was a completely new life with no assistance to help in the transition. I believe that agencies need to develop robust programs to work with staff, throughout their careers, to help them prepare for that transition. These issues will be discussed in greater detail.
Learning Objectives:
begin thinking about their professional future beyond corrections.
understand that regardless of where they are in their career, it is important to have a plan, but that plan may change and evolve over time.
realize that the "soft skills" they developed working in a correctional setting are essential in a multitude of other careers.
apply holistic approaches to help achieve their future career goals (i.e. the importance of physical and mental health, family support and the rolls that spirituality and religion may play).
discuss with each other what that vision looks like to them at this point and time.
