Every January, the internet fills up with ambitious resolutions: inbox zero, flawless work-life balance, daily yoga, no carbs. Corrections communicators know better.
The new year doesn’t bring fewer incidents, slower news cycles, or magically aligned leadership calendars. It does, however, offer a chance to reset habits, sharpen systems, and recommit to the fundamentals that keep communications steady when everything else isn’t.
These resolutions aren’t about perfection. They’re about professional survival, credibility, and readiness—written for people who answer the phone at 2:00 a.m., draft statements during count, and explain complex realities to audiences who don’t live behind the walls.
1. Resolve to Stop Writing Everything From Scratch
If your response plan starts with a blank document every time, you’re already behind.
This year, commit to building and maintaining:
- Pre-approved news release templates (not “press releases”)
- Holding statements for predictable incidents
- Leadership quote banks
- FAQ sheets for recurring issues
Templates don’t make your messaging robotic. They make it faster, calmer, and more accurate under pressure. Visit our Free Resources page for lots of resources and tools that you can customize to fit your agency’s needs.
2. Resolve to Use the Right Words—On Purpose
Words matter in corrections more than almost anywhere else.
Resolve to:
- Use accurate, consistent terminology
- Avoid shorthand that insiders understand but the public doesn’t
- Eliminate emotionally loaded language that fuels misunderstanding
Precision protects credibility. It also protects your staff.
3. Resolve to Build Relationships Before You Need Them
The middle of a crisis is not the time to exchange business cards.
This year, prioritize:
- Regular check-ins with leadership
- Strong working relationships with operations staff
- Constructive rapport with local media
- Clear expectations with legal and HR partners
When trust already exists, approvals move faster, and messages land better.
4. Resolve to Say “I Don’t Know Yet” Without Panic
Not every answer is immediately available and pretending otherwise creates risk.
Make peace with:
- Holding statements
- Timelines instead of speculation
- Transparency without overpromising
“Here’s what we know, here’s what we’re working to confirm, and here’s when we’ll update you” is not weakness. It’s professionalism.
5. Resolve to Prepare for the Incident You’re Tired of Talking About
Escapes. Death investigations. Use-of-force reviews. Staffing shortages.
They may feel repetitive to you, but they are never routine to the public.
Resolve to:
- Keep those response plans current
- Refresh language annually
- Train leadership on what to say—and what not to
Fatigue is not a reason to lower the standard.
6. Resolve to Protect Staff Privacy Without Becoming Silent
Silence creates speculation. Oversharing creates harm.
This year, refine your balance by:
- Explaining processes without naming individuals
- Describing accountability without violating privacy
- Humanizing staff without exposing them
You can be transparent and responsible at the same time.
7. Resolve to Document Decisions, Not Just Messages
When the dust settles, people will ask:
- Why did we release that?
- Who approved this?
- What changed and when?
Resolve to:
- Log key communications decisions
- Track approvals and timestamps
- Keep records that protect both the agency and the communicator
Good documentation is quiet insurance.
8. Resolve to Train Someone Else—Even If You’re Short-Staffed
You won’t always be available. And someday, someone else will sit in your chair.
This year:
- Cross-train at least one backup
- Write procedures that someone else can follow
- Share institutional knowledge before it disappears
Resilient communication programs don’t rely on one person.
9. Resolve to Spend Less Time Reacting and More Time Preparing
If every day feels like response mode, preparation is slipping.
Block time—intentionally—for:
- Plan updates
- Scenario reviews
- Content refreshes
- Relationship building
Preparation doesn’t eliminate crises. It shortens them.
10. Resolve to Remember Why the Role Matters
Corrections communication isn’t about spin.
It’s about:
- Public trust
- Staff safety
- Organizational integrity
- Telling the truth in difficult moments
In a profession defined by complexity and scrutiny, communicators are stabilizers. Your work matters—even when it’s invisible, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s thankless.
Final Thought
You don’t need a brand-new you this year.
You need stronger systems, clearer habits, and steadier confidence in the work you already do.
From all of us at Corrections Communicated: here’s to a new year of clear messages, fewer surprises, and communicators who are ready before the phone rings.