Corrections Community

I am the wife of a Maryland Correctional Officer. The state has had 2 officers killed at the hands of inmates in the past year. I'm asking for input on what your system does (or would do) if this happens. The enitre state is very understaffed, and the inmates pretty much run the institutes. I created a group to support wives of officers in my local area.

Please give me your input!

I was a north carolina inmate once,from my exsperiences almost all the officers that were attacked or killed. It was by inmates with life sentences or more. I personally think that inmates with sentences of life or more should be kept away from general population and also corrections officers under more secure housing. They have nothing to loose,so they will not only hurt or kill other inmates but also officers.

They are all pretty much put together. And the one who killed the officer here in Hagerstown, was serving a short sentence, and another to serve in another state! Just goes to show that the State of Maryland makes life for the inmates too cushy that they dont want to leave! They have it better on the inside than on the outside!!

It doesn't matter where you work. Understaffing in local,county, state and federal facilities is common place. The only way to change it is to pass minimum staffing legislation. As long as the municipality has to pay the costs of maintaining a facility, I believe they will remain understaffed.

I think if you were to ask any correction officer if their facility is understaffed, they would say yes.

Posted so long ago, I have a reply.  I'll be glad to email you if you're still interested.

Good luck!

yes please

I am in California at one of the facilties and we too are really really understaffed. I am sorry to hear what happend there.  It is not the most easiest job and it can happen to anyone of us. There is not much you can do with lifers though and it's true as the inmates say, they have nothing to lose and they will kill u if they feel the need. Unfortunatley it is part of the job.   We have lost a few officers lives also and it is very hard but what can we do? We train and stay alert but if it is going to happen, it's going to happen. My co-workers are like family to me and I start my shift with them and I end my shift with them. We are one when we work and if someone gets hurt, we all get hurt.  I honestly don't see our prison system getting any better. I really don't. You have people on the outside making decisions that they feel is for the best and they have never stepped foot into the prison system. So until they get people who have been there, they will continue to make judgement calls  which they feel will work.

Hi there. I'm sure you have already heard of this organization, but if you haven't, I recommend visiting it. www.desertwaters.com is an organization dedicated to corrections professionals AND their families. It offers a great amount of support. I see that you started a support group, so this might interest you. Good luck!

Tracy