107: Inside The American Jail System: Leadership & Innovation - Interview W/Shaun Klucznik The Prison Officer podcast

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107: Inside the American Jail System: Leadership & Innovation - Interview w/Shaun Klucznik

3d ago 1:06:03

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When was the last time you heard a positive story about what happens inside America's jails? For most of us, these facilities only make headlines when something goes wrong—an escape, a use of force incident, or a facility failure. But as Major Sean Klusnick reveals in this compelling conversation, corrections professionals save lives, change futures, and demonstrate extraordinary leadership every single day, largely without recognition.
Major Klusnick's remarkable journey from a 19-year-old corrections cadet to the 45th President of the American Jail Association offers a window into how corrections work builds exceptional leaders. Starting at $5.60 an hour in 1997, he rose through the ranks while witnessing the profession's transformation. His pivotal role in transitioning Hernando County Jail from private to public operation showcases the complex management challenges correctional leaders navigate.
"Every position is a position of leadership," Klusnick emphasizes, noting how correctional officers develop crucial skills managing challenging situations with minimal resources beyond their communication abilities. This crucible of leadership development explains why so many officers become community leaders outside work—coaching youth sports, leading religious programs, and serving their communities.
The conversation delves into the critical role Field Training Officers play in shaping agency culture, the need for transparent communication with the public about both successes and failures, and how leadership philosophies like Jocko Willink's "Extreme Ownership" create empowered, accountable correctional teams. Klusnick also addresses the profession's fight for recognition as first responders, noting correctional officers are first on scene for suicide attempts, medical emergencies, and facility crises.
Whether you work in corrections or simply want to understand this essential but often invisible profession, this episode provides invaluable insights into the leadership, professionalism, and dedication that define America's correctional workforce. As Klusnick powerfully argues, corrections isn't a stepping stone—it's a legitimate career where professionals make life-changing differences every

E-mail Shaun at [email protected]

American Jail Association https://www.americanjail.org/

Mentioned by Shaun - Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond

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Chapters

1. 107: Inside the American Jail System: Leadership & Innovation - Interview w/Shaun Klucznik (00:00:00)

2. Episode Introduction & Sponsorship (00:01:09)

3. Meet Major Sean Klusnick (00:02:12)

4. From Boston to Florida Corrections (00:03:49)

5. Building Hernando County Jail (00:11:07)

6. Leadership in Corrections (00:20:12)

7. Changing Public Perception of Jails (00:30:36)

8. Accreditation & Telling Our Story (00:40:29)

9. Jocko Willink & Leadership Philosophy (00:48:09)

10. AJA Initiatives & Getting Back to Basics (00:55:49)

11. Closing Remarks & Sponsorship (01:06:26)

120 episodes

#Science #Society #Social Sciences #True Crime #Michael Cantrell #Prison #Jail #Inmates #Prison Officer #Correction Officers #Escape #Riot #PepperBall #Federal Correctional Officer #Detention Officer #Correctionalofficer #Leadership #Training