Corrections Unfiltered

🚨 Police & Corrections Train for the Same Mission — But Not Together

Police and corrections face the same threats, work with the same people, and serve the same communities—yet too often train in silos. That disconnect creates risk.

In this episode of Corrections Unfiltered, Pete Bludworth sits down with Jason Krawczyk to break down why joint training between street law enforcement and corrections isn’t optional—it’s essential for officer safety, communication, and public trust.

We talk about:

• Why police and corrections often misunderstand each other
• How joint training builds mutual respect
• Interpersonal communication that prevents escalation
• Firearms, defensive tactics, and weapons retention
• Real-world training lessons from the street and the jail
• Why collaboration is the future of public safety

If you’re a police officer, correctional officer, supervisor, trainer, or leader, this conversation will hit home.

👊 Corrections Unfiltered — where law enforcement and corrections come together for real conversations that help officers go home safe.

👉 Watch now and subscribe for more honest, experience-driven discussions.

23 hours ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

AI VIRTUAL OFFICER STOPS FIGHTS, DRUGS, AND ASSAULTS

AI in corrections doesn’t have to replace officers—it can watch their back.

Visit the Virtual Patrol Technologies website at: www.virtualpatrol.org/


In this episode of Corrections Unfiltered, Pete Bludworth, Chris McConnell and Guest CoHost Alishia McColl of CODIN, sit down with the team from Virtual Patrol Technologies—JC, Bryan, and Michael Ranes—along with Justin Hall, Jailer of Nelson County, Kentucky, to talk about turning existing cameras into a 24/7 virtual officer.



They break down how their AI plugs into your current IP cameras and infrastructure (no new camera overhaul) to detect:



- Fights and group tensions

- Self-harm and suicide risks

- Drug use and contraband activity

- Problem doors, perimeters, and blind spots

- Patterns that turn “horseplay” into major incidents

1 day ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

VIRTUAL PATROL OFFICER INSTALLATION - MINUTES, NOT DAYS

When Justin Hall, Jailer of Nelson County, Kentucky, partnered with Virtual Patrol Technologies, he expected the usual hurdles that come with new technology.



What he got was the opposite.


Justin shared in the clip:


“From the install to the setup to the implementation… this was one of the easiest and most streamlined installs of any IT equipment I’ve ever been a part of in my career.”


👉 No wires run.
👉 No holes drilled.
👉 No tools brought inside.
👉 No disruption to operations.


And it didn’t stop at installation. Justin added:


“Their entire team is super knowledgeable… and what I like is they constantly reach out asking, ‘How can we improve? How can we help? I saw this alert, would you like it changed?’ Their customer service has been phenomenal.”

This is what a true partnership looks like:



👉 Fast, clean installation
👉 Zero operational impact
👉 Continuous improvement
👉 Vendor support that actually shows up



Justin’s experience proves that when technology respects the reality of corrections work, it becomes a force multiplier, not a burden.

3 days ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

VIRTUAL PATROL OFFICER CONTRACTS TAILORED TO SAVE LIVES

In this clip, JC Ranes, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Co-Founder of Virtual Patrol Technologies, makes something very clear: the mission comes before the paperwork.



When asked by Alishia McColl (CODIN) whether VPT is willing to be flexible with contract lengths for agencies considering AI technology, JC didn’t hesitate:



“We’re totally open to it. What we care about is saving lives. If a state wants month-to-month, we can do it. If they want a one-year or five-year contract, we can do that too. Whatever makes the state comfortable with their budget and their needs.”



That’s the difference between a vendor and a partner.


VPT isn’t trying to lock agencies into rigid contracts—they’re trying to get life-saving technology into facilities in a way that fits budgets, timelines, and operational realities.


👉 Flexibility in contracts.
👉 Flexibility in pricing.

Zero flexibility on the mission:


👉 Protecting officers and the people they serve.

3 days ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

VIRTUAL OFFICERS TRAINED SPECIFICALLY TO PROTECT OFFICERS

One of the strongest points, Michael Ranes, Virtual Patrol Technologies, made on the podcast was simple but critical: no two correctional facilities operate the same.

What’s normal activity in one area can be a red flag in another.


Michael explained it perfectly:

👉 In a kitchen, you expect to see steam or smoke.
👉 In a housing unit, you absolutely do not.


That’s why customization matters.


Virtual Patrol Technologies doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all AI model. They tailor detection to your layout, your population, your risks, and your daily operations—down to the difference between a kitchen, a pod, a rec yard, or a medical unit.


Some have unique inmate routines. Others have high-movement housing.

Every place is different, and the system has to recognize that.


Michael and the VPT team take real pride in getting this right because the goal is straightforward:



👉 Alert staff only to the things that actually matter in that specific area of your facility.
👉 Smarter customization.
👉 Fewer false alarms.
👉 More proactive protection for officers.

3 days ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

VIRTUAL OFFICERS PRTECTING OFFICER - NOT REPLACING THEM

Michael Ranes, with over 15 years in Corrections, has lived the realities most people only read about. That experience led him and his brothers, JC and Bryan, both proud Marine Corps veterans, to co-found Virtual Patrol Technologies, a system designed to make facilities more proactive and officers safer.


On the podcast, Michael said something that hits at the heart of this work:
“We want to put these offenders back out on the street better than when we got them. And at the same time, our goal is to make sure the officer goes home safe to their family at the end of the day.”


👉 That’s the mission.
👉 That’s the balance corrections fights for every day.


Michael also shared why this technology matters:

“If we can catch just one action that saves an officer… it’s paid for itself.”

3 days ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

CAMERAS ARE VIRTUAL OFFICERS AND ALERT STAFF TO THREATS

Inmates know when an officer is distracted. They take advantage of routine duties — counts, phones, reports, escorts, med pass, cell searches, movement control — to move contraband, assault another inmate, start a fight, or set up an escape attempt. Officers can’t be everywhere at once.

But one security device never gets distracted, never leaves its post, and never looks away: the always-on camera system.

Now imagine being able to train those cameras to act as virtual officers.
That is exactly what Virtual Patrol Technologies has done.

CAMERAS BECOME VIRTUAL OFFICERS AND ALERT STAFF TO THREATS

AI in corrections doesn’t replace officers — it watches their back.

Visit the Virtual Patrol Technologies website:
www.virtualpatrol.org/

Visit the Virtual Patrol Technologies website at: www.virtualpatrol.org/

4 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

REFRORMATION 319 - CORRECTIONS STAFF MENTAL WELLNESS

In this powerful episode of Corrections Unfiltered, we sit down with Jason Zaharis, 27 year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and founder of Reformation 319, to talk about mental health, trauma, faith, and the culture of corrections.



After decades inside the system, Jason saw firsthand how officers are trained to suppress their emotions, bury their struggles, and “push through” trauma that would break most people. The result?


High stress, hidden suffering, and staff who feel alone.


Jason founded Reformation 319, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting correctional staff and their families through mental-health resources, communication tools, and a culture shift that bridges the gap between system designers and system experiencers.



We dive into:



- Mental health in corrections and why staff wellness can’t be ignored
- The moments that pushed Jason toward change
- His personal battle with trauma—and how faith helped him rebuild
- Why open communication is critical for survival in this profession
- The mission of Reformation 319 to support staff, families, and even inmates


Visit Jason's website at reformation319.org/


Jason’s book, reformation 319, Life of a Correctional Officer (Available at Amazon) and the need for the public to understand the real life of a correctional officer .

5 days ago | [YT] | 1

Corrections Unfiltered

INSIDE OKLAHOMA DOC - REPRESENTATIVE JJ HUMPHREY



Oklahoma State Representative and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Justin J.J. Humphrey joins Corrections Unfiltered to discuss his ongoing concerns with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.



Humphrey outlines issues he says he has raised for years, including violence inside facilities, transparency challenges, inmate conditions, and gaps in accountability. He also explains why he pursued legal action and how these disputes have shaped his role in criminal justice and corrections oversight.



This episode focuses on leadership, safety, operational integrity, and the realities facing corrections professionals today. Our platform remains neutral, allowing guests to present their perspectives while we focus on solutions, professionalism, and the mission of running safe and secure facilities.



🔍 Topics Covered



-- Oklahoma Department of Corrections oversight
- Prison conditions and facility operations


- Staffing, safety, and use of resources
- Legislative perspectives on corrections


- Transparency, reporting, and accountability

- Leadership challenges in corrections

- Mental health pods and regional jail concepts





🎧 About Corrections Unfiltered



Corrections Unfiltered brings real conversations with corrections professionals, administrators, trainers, policymakers, and thought leaders. We highlight officer safety, institutional culture, operational challenges, and the path toward a healthier, more professional corrections environment.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Corrections Unfiltered

In this Q&A clip from Corrections Unfiltered with Gary York, Pete breaks down the real purpose of facility lockdowns.

Despite what inmates, families, and the media often say, lockdowns are not done “for no reason.” They’re a necessary management tool used when a situation requires elevated security to protect both staff and inmates.

Pete explains how administrators gather accurate information, communicate with staff and the inmate population, and—when appropriate—the public as the situation unfolds.

The priority is always the same: stabilize the environment, restore safety, and return the facility to normal operations as soon as it’s safe to do so.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0