Welcome to National Institute for Jail Operations

Legal-Based Resources for Agencies and Professionals working the Corrections Field

The National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) is dedicated to serving those who operate jails, detention and correctional facilities across the country. NIJO recognizes and understands the enormous liability and increasing litigation facing administrators. We provide a compilation of legal-based resources and information to assist agencies in making facilities safer and more secure, helping you proactively defend against frivolous litigation to protect against adverse publicity and liability.

Our Services

Professional Certification

NIJO Professional Certification is a professional designation – earned not issued – for jail and detention officers, supervisors, administrators and sheriffs who have demonstrated to possess the requisite understanding, knowledge, skills, experience and abilities to function to a specific level.

Legal-Based Training

By keeping pulse with the hottest issues facing our nation's jails, we focus on important training topics yet remain flexible to adapt training based upon the needs of requesting agencies/organizations. There are many resources available to assist with the implementation of specific training, the development and assistance of jail training...

Policy and Procedure

NIJO has partnered with DeLand & Associates to provide sheriffs and jail administrators with over 400 policies and procedures customized to your laws, state statutes, and individual operations.

Technical Assistance

Recognizing the need for legal technical assistance in the corrections field, NIJO offers a variety of services to assist agencies in successfully supporting the operations of the jail and defending against inmate-filed lawsuits.

Self Audit and Assessments

On a day-to-day basis corrections management faces an unpredictable, fluid, and potentially volatile environment. NIJO offers the most advanced web-based auditing tools designed specifically for corrections so that organizations can proactively manage their institutions affordably and with increased confidence.

Online Training

NIJO developed the Detention & Corrections Online Training Academy (DACOTA) to provide detention and correctional administrators, supervisors and line level officers with easy access to interactive and engaging legal-based online jail training.

NIJO Accreditation

NIJO National Accreditation is an established process to verify compliance to what courts have determined in operating constitutional facilities. The process relies on NIJO Legal-Based Jail Guidelines.

Legal-Based Jail Guidelines

NIJO's Legal-Based Jail Guidelines assist administrators in creating a safer, more secure environment while protecting against liability and adverse publicity. Comprised of over 600 guidelines to assist administrators with specific operational and policy driven areas including hot topics of use of force, religion, searches, and suicide.

Kansas Jail Training Academy (KJTA)
January 31 – February 4, 2022
January 31 - February 4 at Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)
ELITE Academy
CLASS I – February 7-11, 2022
February 7 - February 11 at UT – Zermatt Resort & Conference Center
2022 Alabama Jail & Corrections Summit
March 21 @ 9:00 am - March 23 @ 12:00 pm at AL – Perdido Beach Resort
Kansas Supervisory Training – Session 1
March 28 @ 8:00 am - March 30 @ 12:00 pm at Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)
Kansas Supervisory Training – Session 2
March 30 @ 1:00 pm - April 1 @ 5:00 pm at Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)

Expert Blog

Kansas Supervisory Training

The Kansas Jail Training Academy (KJTA) continues to operate successfully ...
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Why We Need to Defend Qualified Immunity in Jails

By Tate McCotter, Executive Director National Institute for Jail ...
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SHUT THE FRONT DOOR: Using Common Sense to COVID-19 During Uncommon Times

By Tate McCotter, Executive Director National Institute for Jail ...
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Changing for the Better by Understanding Where We Are Now: Salt Lake County Jail Dashboard

Years of data, and months of development in the ...
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Crisis and Conflict: Federal vs. State and Local Law Enforcement

by Stan Ellsworth I believe The Constitution to be ...
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Striving for Perfection

By Michael Feeback There is one word that has ...
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Featured Spotlight

Executive Leadership Training for Corrections Administrators

NEW Session Added for ELITE Academy

Class I of ELITE Academy scheduled for February 7-11, has SOLD OUT. We are pleased to announce that registration for Class II is now available. ELITE Academy offers executive level training for jail command staff. The Academy is hosted at a 4-Diamond resort in the mountains of Utah, and offers unique curriculum specifically designed for jail and corrections administrators and executives. If you are looking for the best training available for command staff personnel, the ELITE Academy will provide essential skills necessary to perform at the highest level. Learn more

Legal-Based Corrections Training in 3 Great Locations

Register is now open for JAILCON22 !

NIJO is excited to announce that in 2022, due to continued growth and demand for legal-based corrections training, JAILCON22 will be offered in 3 convenient locations. As always, JAILCON offers over 20 hours of corrections-specifc training for sheriffs, correctional & jail administrators, line level, support and medical staff. Learn more and register here.

Training Opportunity for Kansas Jail Supervisors

The Kansas Jail Training Academy (KJTA) continues to operate successfully for basic training for corrections officers, however, many agencies have expressed the need to offer corresponding legal-based training specifically designed for supervisors. With input from the KSA Jail Committee, the National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) has designed a curriculum in 8 core supervisory areas. Attendees are encouraged to come learn, apply and share these essential skills. Learn more and register here.