EVENT FULL Public & Media Relations

NOTE: ATTENDANCE IN THIS PROGRAM IS STRICTLY BY NOMINATION. CONTACT JOE SERIO AT jdserio@shsu.edu FOR MORE INFORMATION. The Correctional Management Institute of Texas is offering a Public and Media Relations Training Program for qualified staff working at all levels in jails, prisons, parole, probation, pretrial services, juvenile justice, and other corrections-based organizations. This program is designed for staff responsible for communicating information to the media and to the general public, whether in a controlled environment or in the midst of a crisis situation. The training will be held at the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Participants selected to participate in this 28-hour program will be provided information relating to controlling an interview, conducting a successful news conference, writing a news release that gets attention, presenting your case to the public, identifying and using interviewing skills, utilizing strategies for communicating effectively, and identifying strategies for working with current and emerging media.

The Institute is now accepting nominations for this pilot class, which will be held from Monday, August 11, 2008, to Friday, August 15, 2008. The class will be limited to 30 participants. The participant must be nominated by his/her Supervisor. Please send in o­nly o­ne nomination form along with a recommendation letter explaining the benefit of this class to your agency and why the nominee should be accepted.

This program is provided at no cost to selected participants. Meals and lodging are included. The participant, or sponsoring agency, is responsible for travel to and from the training site.

Agency Responsibility: Nominate the person in your agency who is responsible for media relations; Consider diversity when making the nomination; Be prepared to allow the nominee to be in attendance from Monday afternoon through the following Friday; and Provide transportation or reimburse the nominee for round-trip mileage between duty site and Huntsville.

Participant Responsibility: Arrive at the Criminal Justice Center in Huntsville Monday, August 11, 2008, by 5:00 PM for the dinner and orientation session; Actively participate in training activities the entire week; and Prepare an action plan and put it into effect upon return to the agency.

Institute Responsibility: Consider a variety of diversity issues in selecting participants; Notify nominee of acceptance into the program; Provide 28 hours of relevant training in an atmosphere conducive to learning; Provide all training materials;< Provide accommodations at the University Hotel; and Provide meals for participants.

If the nominee is accepted to the class, both the nominee and the nominator will receive a confirmation letter.

* Unless otherwise noted, hotel arrangements are the responsibility of the participant.