PA DOC employees Major Gary Rydbom (Houtzdale) and Captain Christopher Brownawell (Coal Township and now at Central Office) provided training in 2018 on contraband detection in the West African nation of Niger with the Niger Prison Administration (NPA).
DOC officials recently received word that this training continues to have an impact in Niger. Follow-up interviews of all Niger Search Techniques Training participants, conducted by Strategic Capacity Group, indicate that "Every single training participant noted that they have gone on to train others in their various prison facilities around the country."
According to Ashley Nelson, program officer with Strategic Capacity Group, this is remarkable and is thanks to the PA DOC's emphasis on sharing lessons learned from this training.
Nelson said that at a couple of facilities around the country, Niger Search Techniques Training participants have instituted weekly sessions to review search techniques best practices with all guards.
"In one facility where they do not have a mirror to conduct car searches, they have fashioned materials together to create a tool, so they can carry out car searches based on the best practices you modeled for them. Even more exciting, training participants have instituted rules at some facilities requiring all those entering to be searched, including their superiors. It was reported in one interview, that this had never been done before and contraband was found on a superior," Nelson said.
Nelson stressed that again and again, the training participants noted how incredibly grateful they were for all they were taught and how effective the training was.
"Many noted the style of practical, hands-on training as the most beneficial training they had ever received." Nelson said. "Thank you again for time and efforts last year and please know that your impact is still being felt around the country. Really incredible work!"
As reported in our October to December 2018 issue of "Correctional Newsfront," the training was part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which established a framework for cooperation in support of international law enforcement and anti-crime efforts. The goal of this training is to enhance the NPA's ability to train their staff and update national policy to incorporate best practices of searching techniques into their day-to-day operations that will lead to an overall safer environment.
Michele Jennings, Eastern Regional Chief of the Bureau of Correction Education, assisted with the development of the Niger Security lesson plan.
Strategic Capacity Group's mission is to assist donor countries to enhance the sustainability and impact of their foreign assistance approaches. Their mission is to enhance the ability of the United States and its partners to build strategic security sector worldwide.
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