Power
Correctional institution administrators have so much power they might as well be solar panels. (Not really. But it would be cool if it worked like that.) They are the "Big Kahuna" at each lock-up and control the lives of the residents there. Think about it: a CIA has major input when it comes to parole possibilities. How well or how poorly an inmate has fared in the controlled environment of a prison says a lot about whether s/he is ready for life on the outside.
Naturally, everything the CIA is responsible for is governed by laws, rules, regulations, and compliance issues. (Sounds like that week at cranky Aunt Edna's house.) Trust us, those rules are downright picky, tedious, and did we mention picky? We thought so.
So just how picky is picky? Here's a small sample of the guidelines CIAs must follow:
- Meals must be served at regular intervals, with no more than five hours between the three daily meals, and, a bedtime snack must be offered.
- Staff must interact with inmates. Even the grumpy ones.
- Facilities must be fully staffed at all times, even if there is almost no one being held.
Why that last one? Well, the population of city and county facilities can change rapidly. A CIA is responsible for making sure there is enough staff in case a large number of people suddenly come into the facility. And, yes, that does happen fairly often.