Preface

Working in prison is different from working on campus. The working culture is unique at each DOC site, and so are the rules and norms. In a prison setting, for example, behaviors that we take for granted in everyday life might be prohibited. Moreover, we do not have the resources we typically have on campus to support classroom logistics and the various needs of our students. Our experience shows that a guide helps to support our instructors, tutors, and volunteers in maintaining a sustainable relationship with our students and partner institutions.

While we intend for this guide to provide the essential information needed for working within a prison setting—whether as an instructor or tutor—it’s impossible to cover every possible scenario that can happen in the prison environment. We encourage you to interact thoughtfully with this guide during training and remember that this is a ready resource for you at all times.

When you are unsure about how to approach a situation or respond to a student request, please check with an OBB staff member before proceeding. If you need to make a decision without first contacting OBB staff, please let the Program Manager know as soon as possible.

The guide has been arranged into three parts. We start with a general overview applicable to instructors, tutors, and other volunteers. There are also separate sections for instructors and for tutors specific to those roles.

For additional resources and information beyond this guide, please go to Part IV: Additional Resources.