The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) recently opened a new wellness center at Rikers Island for staff that features a gym, serenity room, and business center. NYC DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie spoke with the Amsterdam News for a Q & A about the new center, as well as the importance of health and wellness support for staff. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
AmNews: You seem to have a real commitment to this project. Could you talk about that?
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie (LM-L): It is very much a priority initiative for me in particular, because I think staff is our most important resource and in Corrections, we ask a lot of our staff. They are teachers, mentors, caretakers, supervisors; providing safety and security to everyone in our care. That can be challenging, it can be stressful. Our staff spend a lot of time on the job … and I think it’s important as a department to invest in the staff so they can be better versions of themselves — giving them these resources, giving them the time to take a break, take a breather, so they can continue to provide the public safety that we need. [To make] sure all New Yorkers are kept safe, we have to prioritize their mental health. We have to prioritize their physical health and well-being so they can continue to do their work and do it well.
AmNews: Can you describe the wellness center?
LM-L: In deciding what type of equipment we placed in the gym, we got feedback from staff — what are the things that they would like to see — so we have an elliptical, we have pull-up machines, we have kettlebells; all the things that you would see in a normal gym. That’s what’s there in the serenity room. That’s a big initiative for me because I think sometimes working in Corrections can be very busy and can consume your day. I think staff need a place where they can go and decompress and practice mindfulness, give themselves a break from what it is that they;re doing on a daily basis.
In addition, we have the business center. Typically, our officers are on posts throughout the day — they’re in housing areas, they’re providing care and resources to our people in custody, so they don’t get a chance to go turn on a computer. The business center offers them the ability to do that whether it’s before or after their tour. We wanted to make sure that the staff have those resources available to them.
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AmNews: Have you gotten any feedback from staff about the program?
LM-L: I spend a lot of time talking to staff. I tell staff all the time that my role as commissioner is to serve them and it’s not the other way around. I went around and solicited a lot of feedback about what they thought about the program, and a lot of them were excited about the opportunity — the fact that they can work out before their tour, after the tour. Having this resource right on the same property, right next to where they’re going to work, is a lot more beneficial.
We’ve had a number of events, including a Women’s Conference. We just had our first Men’s Conference [where] we tackled [issues] that people have questions about and don’t necessarily know whom to ask. I had a lot of psychiatrists at the conference.
I also believe in a holistic approach. It should be physical, mental, spiritual, and financial; focusing on the whole person and making sure staff know that these resources are available to them.
I’ve heard great feedback. I am big on talking to staff, getting their input before we do anything. It’s very important for us here at the Department of Correction to get feedback from staff before we make decisions, because their input is critical to making sure these things are successful.
AmNews: Could you talk about how the center focuses on women and women of color?
LM-L: A wide majority of our staff are women. [Some] of the people who work here come from the same communities. That moment that you have with that individual in custody can actually change the trajectory of their lives. Our staff do a very important job in the public safety arena.
AmNews: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
LM-L: We’re expanding this program throughout all of our facilities because, again, it is critical that we invest in the well-being of our staff, so they can show up and do their jobs better. The job of corrections officer is very challenging but rewarding, and it’s important that readers know they will continue to keep all New Yorkers safe.