Letter to the editor: Jail needs new model of leadership

Based upon two Allegheny County Jail job satisfaction surveys of correctional officers and health care staff, Warden Orlando Harper, who retired in September, and Dr. Ashley Brinkman, ACJ’s health services administrator who resigned earlier this month, both used the position leadership model, which basically is, “I am in charge; you do what I say, or there is the door.”

Using the position leadership model has led to disastrous results of there being a major division between administration and line staff and high turnover.

The Department of Justice and National Correctional Institute, in their workbook, ”Focused Leadership: a Resource Guide for Newly Appointed Wardens,” recognize the disastrous results of the position leadership model of authority. They say, “The culture of the facility ultimately will be the determining factor of your and your staff’s success” and “Do not underestimate culture; it drives everything.” The DOJ and NCI strongly recommend that a warden needs a bottom-up style of leadership, listens and engages the jail staff for their opinion and support.

Our new county executive, new warden and new Jail Oversight Board will need to recognize that, for anything of significance to be changed at the jail, its structural model of leadership needs to change.

John Kenstowicz

Morningside