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.

JAILCON21 National Online Corrections Training Conference
October 4 - December 31 at Any Connected Device
Alabama Basic Corrections (ABC) Academy – Live Training
November 1 @ 8:00 am - November 3 @ 6:00 pm at AL – Cullman County Sheriff’s Training Center
Kansas Jail Training Academy (KJTA) – November 8-12, 2021
November 8 - November 12 at Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)
WSSA Regional Training – El Dorado County, California
November 8 - November 9 at CA – El Dorado County Sheriff’ Office

Expert Blog

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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Involuntary Administration of Anti-Psychotic Medication in Jails

Involuntary Administration of Anti-Psychotic Medication in Jails By Expert: ...
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Featured Spotlight

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Massive Victory for
Qualified Immunity

On October 19, 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued two unsigned opinions applying qualified immunity to disputes over alleged excessive use of force by police officers, reversing lower court decisions that allowed officers to be sued for their on-the-job conduct. This is a massive victory for Qualified Immunity -- Read more

Legal-Based Training for Corrections and Detention Professionals

Register JAILCON Online Training Conference

In case you and others at your agency weren't able to attend a live JAILCON Conference this year, you still have the opportunity to receive all of the training benefits of attending live by registering for JAILCON Online Conference, October 4-December 31, 2021. JAILCON will continue to be the perfect gathering place for you and other detention and corrections professionals to learn more about what the law requires for running constitutionally-safe detention facilities. Find out more or register at www.jailcon.org.

FCC Reforms Its Rules for Inmate Calling Services

On July 28, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its final ruling for inmate calling services which affects jails and prisons across the country by eliminating separate rate caps for collect calling, lowering interstate rate caps, and reforming current treatment of site commission payments. This ruling goes into effect on October 26, 2021. Read more