The Shakedown by National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO)
The Shakedown is a podcast for corrections professionals by corrections professionals. Join us weekly as Warden Aaron Dawson and his guests cover hot topics in jail operations with positivity and passion, sharing tools, tactics and tricks that listeners can use to better themselves and their detention facility.
Episodes
77 episodes
Episode 77: What is Going on in the World of Corrections? (11/20/2025)
What is the right minimum hiring age for agencies? Looking at a recent agency that tried something new and what they discovered, host Aaron Dawson challenges us to consider other ways of thinking about “how we’ve also done it. We al...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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9:39
Episode 76: What is Going on in the World of Corrections? (11/13/2025)
Pulling topics fresh from the news, host Aaron Dawson discusses body cameras, proposed legislation, and whether or not pay increases help with retention. We all have our opinions, but what does the data say?Copyright 2024. N...
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Season 1
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Episode 76
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8:33
Episode 75: Leading By Example ft. Captain Tammy Waddell
Sometimes when we look back, some things are clearly obvious. In this interview, we have a conversation with Captain Tammy Waddell the Jail Administrator of the Limestone County Jail. She shares with us her path to a position of lea...
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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19:53
Episode 74: What is Happening in the World of Corrections? Part 3
In this episode host Aaron Dawson shares some headlines of current events within the corrections world. We take a look at these topics, some of which are informative, some of which are strange, some of which are instructive, and others ar...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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7:05
Episode 73: What is Happening in the World of Corrections? Part 2
In this episode host Aaron Dawson shares some headlines of current events within the corrections world. We take a look at these topics, some of which are informative, some of which are strange, some of which are instructive, and others ar...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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10:11
Episode 72: What is Going on in the World of Corrections? Part 1
In this episode host Aaron Dawson shares some headlines of current events within the corrections world. We take a look at these topics, some of which are informative, some of which are strange, some of which are instructive, and others ar...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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8:50
Episode 71: What I Wish I Knew ft. Major Deann Cash
Corrections is a career field in which advancement can come quickly at times. The result of this is someone being given a responsibility that are not completely prepared for. Even in those times when we feel prepared, there is alway...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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21:12
Episode 70: Pups With Purpose
A challenge faced by every facility is keeping the inmate population occupied in a manner that is productive for them as well as the staff and facility. This can present a challenge! In this episode, host Aaron Dawson interviews Maj...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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21:03
Episode 69: Make Excellence Your Habit
If we base our perception of what we do on what we see in the media we could develop a negative view. In this episode, we challenge that view. What you do matters!Copyright 2024. National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO)...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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10:01
Episode 68: Inmates Try to Sue Jails About Crazy Things - And How to Protect Yourself
Unfortunately, lawsuits are a part of the arena in which we work. Some of them are legitimate while others seem mildly ridiculous. Looking at a current lawsuit as a springboard, host Aaron Dawson discusses some simple steps we can t...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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10:42
Episode 67: Our Safety Depends on Each Other
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson looks at some current headlines and what we can glean from them. A major part of the corrections profession is watching, observing, and controlling inmates. An often-overlooked part is watching out...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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8:43
Episode 66: Why We Need Jails in Our Modern Society ft. Commander Rob Yantis
Continuing the conversation in reference to House Bill 4972/Senate Bill 3409, host Aaron Dawson has a conversation with Jail Commander Rob Yantis. Rather than focus on the minutia of the bill, they take a very practical approach to this t...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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43:10
Episode 65: Expect the Unexpected - Situational Awareness
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson looks at events taken from current news focused on “Situational Awareness”. By looking at recent real-life examples, we are reminded that we work in an environment in which we must expect the unexpecte...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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13:44
Episode 64: Duty to Protect - 8th Amendment
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson looks at a recent case law decision and events taken from current news focused on our 8th Amendment articulated “Duty to Protect”. By looking at recent real-life examples, we can gain a sense of what to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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12:09
Episode 63: Solitary Struggle - Opposing the Elimination of Solitary Confinement ft. Tate McCotter
Season 3 starts off with a bang! Host Aaron Dawson interviews the Executive Director of NIJO, Tate McCotter. They discuss some recent controversial legislation regarding the elimination of solitary confinement that has been put fort...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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50:20
Episode 62: Tis' The Season
It has been said that the holiday season is “either super up or super down.” Whichever it is for us depends on our mindset. If we are looking for reasons to be frustrated, discouraged, or cynical…there will always be plenty of mater...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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18:39
Episode 61: What they Need #5
We work in a dangerous and stressful environment…no kidding! Some of that we have no control over, but as supervisors, the cultural environment is our responsibility. Our officers need an environment in which their personality and s...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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16:51
Episode 60: What They Need #4
Speaking to supervisors…what cultural environment do we create, facilitate, or allow on our shifts? In this episode, host Aaron Dawson discussed fostering a cultural environment in which our officers are free to grow. That means tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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16:09
Episode 59: What They Need #3
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation dealing with the responsibility of supervisors. The officers are our responsibility! What do they need? In this episode the discussion centers around the “routine” ...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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15:13
Episode 58: What They Need #2
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation began in the last episode discussing crucial skills that supervisors must have in dealing with staff. What do our staff need from us? In this episode, we continue by disc...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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17:49
Episode 57: What They Need #1
Jails across the country are experiencing “staffing issues.” Why? There could be a host of contributing factors, but one very likely factor is the lack of training being provided to those in supervisory positions specific to supervi...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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16:00
Episode 56: Legal Mail #2
In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation with attorney Alisa Brodkowitz dealing with legal mail. In this episode, they discuss a recent case that came before the 11th Circuit Court as well as a bill that is currently ...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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40:43
Episode 55: Legal Mail #1
The Shakedown is excited to interview Alisa Brodkowitz, and attorney and the CEO of Lightning Law to the podcast. While at JAILCON, host Aaron Dawson and Ms. Brodkowitz struck up a conversation about legal mail and decided the discussion ...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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17:12
Episode 54: Layers of Safety #3
Hopelessness and despair are potent emotions that can profoundly influence us. Often, it isn’t difficult to find events in our lives to promulgate those emotions. However, we do not have to surrender ourselves to them, we can take s...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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18:00
Episode 53: Layers of Safety #2
Where do suicidal ideations come from, and is there anything that we can do to help protect and fortify ourselves against them? In this episode, host Aaron Dawson continues the conversation from the previous episode, sharing some simple...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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17:40
