Correctional Officer Summits

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What Are Jail Summits?

Spark Training Jail Summits are continuing education training events for correctional professionals. These full-day training events offer an in-depth and comprehensive look at the entire jail, from medical and behavioral health care to legal and operational considerations.

Why Jail Summits?

Jail Summits are designed to address the unique and evolving challenges faced by today’s correctional professionals. These training events provide a platform for jail leaders to come together, share insights, and engage in collaborative problem-solving. These award-winning expert-led sessions focus on real-world solutions and a commitment to practical, actionable learning.

Diana Knapp
3rd Vice President of the
American Jail Association

Lunch & Learn: Taking Your Jail to the Next Level – Diana Knapp, Crayman Harvey, Ana Franklin
Join two experienced jail directors and a retired sheriff as they share practical strategies for improving your detention facility. Drawing on their extensive experience in turning troubled jails around, they will discuss ways to enhance security, streamline processes, and implement effective programs. This session will cover key areas such as personnel management, budgeting, compliance, and detainee management, offering real-world insights that you can apply to optimize efficiency and improve overall facility performance.

Certified Safety Officer – Basic (CSO-B) - Dr. Dennis, David Tharp, Melanie StrodaWhat do you do when they say, “I can’t breathe”? As a correctional officer, each decision you make in the heat of the moment has lasting consequences—especially when it comes to restraint and use of force. That's why we’re making a portion of our Certified Safety Officer course available to Jail Summit attendees this year. Equip yourself with compliance-focused strategies to help you monitor and respond in real-time during restraint and use of force incidents. Being a Certified Safety Officer means you have the training to recognize red flags and confidently take action to protect detainees, yourself, your fellow officers, and your career.

Suicide Task Force – Dr. Caldwell & TBD
This session offers a practical, how-to guide on identifying and eliminating suicide risk factors in jail, like identifying blind spots and tie-off points. You’ll also gain access to a step-by-step suicide screener developed specifically for detention facilities, and effective monitoring systems that can be implemented right away. Plus, get valuable training to enhance staff responses and suicide watch procedures.

SUD Simulation – Melanie Stroda
Have you ever wondered why it is called substance use disorder and not just substance abuse? What does the term 'disorder' really mean, and should it shape how we respond to individuals in custody? This simulation takes a closer look at how substance use is defined as a disorder—and whether that classification changes the way we should approach individuals dealing with SUD behind bars. Gain insights that will help you navigate these situations with a clearer understanding of the underlying issues and become better equipped to manage SUD-related challenges in the jail environment.

Security Threats to Jails – Kyle Shideler
In this focused session, Kyle Shideler, director and senior analyst for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Center for Security Policy, delves into the history, ideology, and organizational structure of Antifa and other extremist groups. This session will arm correctional officers with essential knowledge to recognize the warning signs of Antifa-affiliated activity in jails, offering practical strategies for preventing violence and managing conflict effectively within a facility.

Living with a Spouse in Corrections – Honey Sternberg
We invite you and your spouse to attend our Jail Summit breakout session focused on life with a spouse in corrections. Hear from the 25 years of lived experience our expert brings as the wife of a correctional officer as she offers practical tools to manage stress, improve communication, and strengthen your relationship.

Officer Wellness – Honey Sternberg & TBD
You’ve got the job, the experience, and the grit. But the stress of working in corrections is real, and it takes a toll. Chronic stress affects your health, and you should know how to recognize the warning signs. Tough doesn’t mean invincible.

This isn’t about toughing it out—it’s about recognizing what your body is telling you and taking action before burnout hits. Learn how stress impacts you physically and mentally and get no-nonsense strategies for managing it. We’ll also highlight real resources to help you when things get rough.

Contracting for Healthcare – Matt Shults & Panel (TBD)
When it comes to contracting for healthcare in correctional facilities, the focus often falls on cost. However, choosing the wrong provider based solely on price can lead to significant long-term expenses—both operationally and legally. From staffing shortages to performance issues, a bad contract can result in costly lawsuits and operational headaches. Understanding how to contract for healthcare intentionally can help you ensure the decisions you make today won’t create bigger challenges tomorrow.

NEW FOR NURSES: Working as a Nurse in Jail
The incarcerated population is the only group in the United States with a constitutional right to health care. This presentation will provide an overview of correctional health care, giving you a foundational understanding of key principles in the specialty of correctional nursing within a jail setting. We will explore how security concerns are balanced with patient care, and the vital role of collaboration between custody, administration, medical, and mental health teams to ensure that incarcerated individuals’ health care rights are upheld.

NEW FOR NURSES: Initial Intake
During this session, we will explore the key components of the intake assessment, which aims to gather vital information that can be used to connect patients to the appropriate medical and mental health support at day one. Key topics covered will include:

• Prior Medical History: We will review the process for gathering information about a patient’s past health history to help identify potential medical concerns.

• Chronic Conditions: We will discuss how to identify and manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, in the jail setting.

• Suicide Risk and Screening (ASQ): The importance of suicide prevention will be emphasized, including the use of validated screening tools like the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) at intake.

• Withdrawal/Drug Abuse and CIWA: Addressing the physical and psychological challenges of withdrawal in individuals with a history of drug abuse is vital. The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) will be discussed as a tool for assessing withdrawal severity and guiding appropriate care.

• Mental Health: We will also cover how to identify and refer patients to behavioral health for mental health concerns during intake.

NEW FOR NURSES: 14-Day Assessment
The 14-day health assessment is an important checkpoint in the correctional health care process. During this time, nursing staff may identify emerging health concerns that have developed since intake and monitor the progress of chronic conditions and withdrawal. We will also discuss how the 14-day assessment plays a crucial role in suicide prevention, allowing for the re-evaluation of suicide risk with appropriate screening tools and interventions.

Group Rates Now Available!
Are you looking to attend a Jail Summit with others from your facility or university? Group Rates are now available! Email paige.randall@sparktraining.us or call (309) 272-3484 to learn more. 

• Spark Training, LLC is an approved provider of continuing nursing education (IBON #395)

• Correctional Nursing Summits will provide 6 hours of continuing education*

• Historically, registration starts at 7:30, with presentations concluding between 3:00- 4:00pm*

• Admission is $135 per day and includes training materials, breakfast & lunch, opportunities to win raffle prizes, ability to earn CE credits towards your professional development, and full access to conference experts and industry vendors.

• The registration fee is non-refundable. However, it may be transferable to a team member upon request.
  *subject to change