What is the purpose of an after-action review (AAR) following an incident?

• A. To assign blame to staff.
• B. To identify strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned, and to update procedures and training.
• C. To log inmate movements.
• D. To create new policies for unrelated incidents.

Answer: (B)

An after-action review is a learning process conducted after an incident to identify what went well, what didn’t, and the lessons learned, with the goal of updating procedures and training. It focuses on improving future responses, not assigning fault, so staff can grow from the experience and prevent recurrence. By examining actions taken, gaps in communications or resources, and why certain outcomes occurred, the review produces concrete changes to protocols, equipment use, drills, and staff training. It isn’t about logging inmate movements or creating policies for unrelated incidents—those aren’t the purposes of the AAR. The emphasis is on actionable improvements that strengthen preparedness for the next incident.