Why following procedures matters for TDCJ safety, as 90% of staff assaults stem from protocol lapses.

What really keeps a correctional facility safe? The short answer is simple, yet incredibly powerful: doing the right steps at the right time. When people in uniforms talk about safety, they’re rarely talking about luck. They’re talking about following procedures—every time.

The 90% reminder: why it matters

According to TDCJ statistics, 90% of staff assaults occur because people didn’t follow established procedures. That’s not a throwaway figure. It’s a flag. It says, in plain terms, that most safety challenges can be traced back to lapses in the official playbook. If a protocol exists for a routine task, and it isn’t followed, the room for error grows. If a procedure covers how to handle a push, a confrontation, or a routine search, skipping a step isn’t just a misstep; it’s a risk that can spiral quickly.

Let me explain why this emphasis on procedures lands where it does. In a busy facility, things move fast. People are tired, distractions pop up, and pressure sprawls in unexpected directions. The same rules that keep a unit orderly also protect staff and inmates. When procedures are clear, everyone knows what to expect. When they’re followed, there’s less ambiguity, fewer hasty choices, and a lower chance of bad outcomes. Think of procedures as a safety net—one that’s most effective when everyone trusts and uses it.

What “following procedures” really looks like

Procedures are more than a stack of papers. They’re the distilled wisdom of what works in the real world. Here are a few everyday areas where adherence matters most:

• Movement and housing

Entering or leaving a housing unit, conducting counts, or escorting a group—these moments look routine, but they’re high risk if not handled with the prescribed steps. Securing doors, using the radio correctly, and maintaining the proper distance aren’t just rules; they’re guardrails against misunderstandings or unintended contact.

• Searches and safety checks

Searches, whether for contraband or safety gear, rely on a precise sequence. Skipping a buckle check, bypassing a second confirmation, or rushing a scan can miss something critical. Following the exact order protects both staff and inmates and preserves the integrity of the process.

• De-escalation and communication

When tensions rise, the quickest way to defuse a situation is to rely on trained, approved communication techniques. Echoing procedures—tone, stance, distance, and the language used—helps prevent small sparks from turning into a flare-up.

• Incident response and reporting

The first actions, who to contact, how to document what happened, and how to escalate if needed—all of this is laid out for safety and accountability. When people ignore or compress these steps, crucial information can be lost, and the response becomes slower or less effective.

Common traps that nip safety in the bud

It’s not enough to know the procedures exist; they have to be lived. Here are some everyday traps that can undermine adherence—and what to do about them:

• Fatigue and distraction

Long shifts, repetitive tasks, or a string of alarm bells can dull focus. The instinct to “move fast” creeps in. Counter it with micro-checks: a quick mental reset per shift, a habit of pausing to verify key steps, and a culture that values accuracy over speed in critical moments.

• Ambiguity in the rules

When a procedure feels vague, staff fill in the blanks with intuition. That’s where misfires happen. Clear, concise SOPs (standard operating procedures) and easy-to-follow checklists help everyone stay aligned.

• Complacency

If something worked once, it will work again, right? Not always. Regular refreshers, even for familiar routines, keep the details sharp and the mind ready. It’s not about micromanagement; it’s about staying prepared.

• Inadequate supervision or feedback

Rules don’t supervise themselves. Supervisors who model adherence, observe practice, and offer constructive feedback create a ripple effect. When leadership prioritizes procedural fidelity, the whole team follows suit.

Bringing adherence to life on the ground

So, how do you translate these principles into real workday outcomes? It comes down to two kinds of energy: training that sticks and a culture that holds people to account in a fair, transparent way.

• Regular, practical training

Short, focused refreshers that map directly to daily tasks help. Use role-playing for tense moments, walk-throughs of SOPs, and real-life scenarios that staff actually face. The key is relevance—training should feel like a toolkit you can reach for during the shift, not a lecture you forget by lunch.

• Clear, actionable procedures

Procedures should be easy to read and quick to act on. Use plain language, bullet points, and checklists that staff can glance at without slowing down. Remove ambiguity so there’s no guesswork when it matters.

• Sustained accountability

Accountability isn’t about blame; it’s about learning and improvement. When a lapse happens, the response should be constructive: identify what went wrong, reinforce the correct steps, and adjust procedures if needed. Importantly, celebrate adherence as much as you address mistakes.

• Feedback loops and reporting

Create pathways for near-misses and incidents to be reported without fear. When staff know they can flag risks early, the system gets better, not just bigger. A robust feedback loop makes procedures more practical over time.

Leading by example

Leaders set the tone. When supervisors and senior officers demonstrate strict adherence to procedures, it ripples downward. It’s not about policing every moment; it’s about modeling calm, deliberate action and following through on the safety promises written into the SOPs. People notice when a manager takes the time to double-check a step or to pause for a quick debrief after a tense encounter. Those small acts build trust and confidence.

Real-world takeaways you can carry with you

If you’re navigating this field, here are a few practical reminders to keep front and center:

• Treat a procedure like a shield, not a rule you begrudgingly follow.

• When in doubt, slow down and verify the step you’re about to take.

• Use checklists before, during, and after interactions to keep memory laps from slipping.

• Speak up if a procedure feels unclear or if a tool isn’t functioning as intended.

• Reflect after shifts on what went well with adherence and where things could improve.

• Share what works with teammates in a nonjudgmental way to spread good habits.

A note on the human element

Procedures aren’t a substitute for judgment; they’re the framework that informs good judgment. People bring different experiences, stress levels, and communication styles to the table. The real win comes when teams learn to use procedures as a common language—one that reduces surprises, clarifies actions, and keeps safety at the forefront. It’s a team sport: everyone has a role, and every role reinforces the others.

What this means for the broader TDCJ landscape

The emphasis on procedural adherence isn’t a single-issue solution. It supports a broader safety culture that touches every corner of a facility—from the first shift briefing to the last radio call of the night. When staff know the rules, and when those rules are consistently applied, the operating environment becomes more predictable, more secure, and more humane. In a system where safety is a shared responsibility, the payoff isn’t just fewer incidents; it’s a stronger sense of trust among inmates and staff alike.

Closing thoughts

The fact that 90% of staff assaults tie back to not following procedures is more than a statistic. It’s a reminder that safety doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built—tightly, deliberately—on clear steps, continuous learning, and a culture that values every rule as a safeguard. If you’re part of this world, take that reminder to heart: the most effective way to protect yourself and your colleagues is to stay aligned with the procedures that keep everyone safer, every single day.

If you ever find yourself on a shift where a step feels uncertain, pause, check the guidelines, and lean on your team. The system works best when all hands are on deck, and every hand knows what to do next. That’s how we keep doors secure, conversations respectful, and lives safer—together.