Why Every Jail and Detention Facility Needs a Preventative Risk Assessment Program
Why Every Jail and Detention Facility Needs a Preventative Risk Assessment Program
Wrongful death cases, suicide attempts, medical lapses, special housing incidents, staffing failures,
and classification errors continue to lead to lawsuits across the country. Most facilities do not struggle
because of a lack of effort; they struggle because issues go unseen until it is too late.This is why SIMCo is launching a comprehensive Preventative Risk Assessment Program designed to identify
problems early, reduce liability, and create safer environments for staff and inmates.
The Industry Gap: No One Is Watching for Early Warning Signs
Most jails and detention centers only conduct full evaluations when a crisis occurs or after litigation
has already begun. By then, it is reactive, costly, and emotionally draining for staff and leadership.
SIMCo’s preventative approach flips this model. Instead of waiting for triggers, SIMCo helps facilities:
- Detect operational weaknesses early
- Identify high-risk inmates before problems escalate
- Review housing, classification, and supervision procedures
- Monitor policy compliance
- Assess security practices
- Reduce exposure to use-of-force incidents
- Strengthen medical and mental health oversight mechanisms
Facilities need a trained, neutral eye, someone who knows exactly where risk hides.
Why SIMCo Is Leading the Preventative Model
Joseph Gunja brings over 48 years in corrections, including service as a warden of three federal facilities
and regional director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He has overseen crises, prevented crises, and
trained thousands of staff on operational risk and inmate management.
His expertise has been used in hundreds of correctional cases nationwide. After reviewing years of litigation
data, one truth is clear: nearly every major incident could have been prevented if someone had looked sooner.
This preventative program was created based on that reality.
What the Preventative Program Includes
SIMCo’s preventative services can be tailored to any jail, prison, or detention center. Key components include:
- Annual or bi-annual onsite facility assessments
- Monthly or quarterly virtual monitoring
- Housing unit evaluations
- Policy and procedure compliance checks
- Suicide prevention reviews
- Special housing and segregation assessments
- Staff conduct and supervision audits
- Shift operations observations
- Classification and inmate placement risk reviews
- Medical and mental health oversight audits for facilities or contractors
This is not a report-only service. It includes actionable roadmaps, implementation steps, and follow-up oversight.
The Benefit to Administrators, Staff, and Legal Counsel
A preventative program strengthens multiple areas across the facility, including:
- Safety
- Staff morale
- Public trust
- Accreditation readiness
- Legal defensibility
- Long-term operational stability
It also helps general counsel, county legal teams, and district attorneys reduce exposure by confirming that the
facility is following proper standards.
A Safer, More Proactive Future for Corrections
Jails and detention centers deserve support before problems arise. With SIMCo’s new preventative risk
assessment program, leadership can move from reactive damage control to proactive stability.
To learn more or request an assessment, contact SIMCo.
Introducing SIMCo’s New Preventative Oversight and Monitoring Program for Correctional Healthcare and Jail Operations
medical and mental health services. These contractors operate under tight budgets, contract requirements, and
high-risk populations. But who ensures they are following the contract? Who checks that inmates actually
receive the level of care the county is paying for?Until now, almost no one.SIMCo’s new Preventative Oversight and Monitoring Program fills this gap by providing continuous, third-party
review of healthcare contractor performance, compliance, and operational alignment within correctional settings.
Why This Program Matters
Correctional healthcare failures are among the top causes of:
- Litigation
- Wrongful death claims
- Civil rights investigations
- Federal oversight
- Public and media scrutiny
Most incidents are not due to intentional misconduct; they arise from blind spots, staffing problems,
documentation gaps, or breakdowns between custody and medical operations.
SIMCo’s monitoring program identifies these issues early, long before they become legal or operational crises.
The Leadership Behind the Program
This initiative is led by Joseph Gunja, a corrections professional with:
- 31 years of field, management, and executive service in the Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Experience as warden of three Bureau of Prisons facilities
- Service as regional director for the Western Region
- Over 17 years of consulting experience
- Expert involvement in hundreds of correctional cases nationwide
His leadership gives SIMCo a unique ability to evaluate both custody and medical workflows from a real-world
operational perspective.
What SIMCo Monitors
The Preventative Oversight and Monitoring Program evaluates both custody and healthcare operations, including
the following areas.
For Healthcare Contractors
- Contract compliance
- Staffing levels and adequacy
- Access to care timelines
- Intake screening procedures
- Chronic care management
- Medical documentation accuracy
- Medication administration protocols
- Emergency response coordination
- Suicide watch and mental health procedures
- Quality assurance and reporting gaps
For Jail and Detention Operations
- Housing and classification practices
- Use-of-force procedures
- Inmate movement and supervision
- Special housing unit operations
- Staffing patterns
- Policy adherence
- Suicide prevention protocols
- Observation and monitoring practices
This dual-focused approach is one of the first programs of its kind.
Monthly Virtual and Quarterly or Annual Onsite Options
Facilities can select the level of support based on need:
- Monthly virtual monitoring
- Quarterly onsite evaluations
- Bi-annual full operational reviews
- Annual full risk assessments
This structure ensures continuous oversight rather than a one-time inspection.
Designed for Counties, Sheriffs, General Counsel, and Healthcare Companies
SIMCo’s program benefits multiple stakeholders:
- County administrators seeking liability reduction
- Sheriffs seeking safer jails
- General counsel needing defensibility
- Healthcare companies needing compliance and documentation accuracy
- Staff needing clear direction and fewer crisis events
Everyone benefits when oversight is proactive rather than reactive.
A Modern Approach to Preventing Jail and Healthcare Failures
SIMCo’s new preventative oversight and monitoring program brings national-level expertise to local and county
facilities that have historically been left without support.
This represents the next evolution in correctional consulting, prioritizing early detection, safety, and
accountability before a lawsuit or tragedy forces change.
To schedule an initial discussion or learn about program options, contact SIMCo.
