Corrections Community

I have been a Correctional Officer now for 181/2 Years, my choice not to progress to a supervisors position. During my career I have learned that giving respect to the inmates and being consistant with the rules and regulations along with good old fashion common sense gets me respect and complience from inmates and makes the job alot easier. The new recruits I see are young and ready to take on the world, given disrespect to the inmates because they have a badge and uniform on, I have seen this with new supervisors also. If this is the new trend than we better get the riot gear out,,Cause even a mellow hound can turn when provoked! Any feedback on my perspective would be appreciated We are in the people bussiness to provide Care, Custody and Control not punishment. The loss of freedom is more than enough punishnent Officer David M Proulx

I agree with you whole-heartedly.  With the "Y" generation, my concern is lack of people skills.   Also, lack of problem-solving skills.

I would be interested in some examples of the kind of disrespect being given. Thanks.

Examples are as follows go to your f---ing cell, shut the f--- up and leave me alone, saying out loud shitbags, medical issues are blown off, and request for law library blown off,,,, Body language standing at a stance and making loud remarks such as someones gonna get their ass kicked tonight,,,,,,,,, Attitude causes Attitude these inmates have 24 hours a day to study our actions and all the time in the world to make our job more of a hassle. The day of 911 just after the second tower went down, an inmate on my unit confronted me and stated the inmate in one of the cells was crying,,, when I checked it out he stated his father was in the second building. I had mental health and the chaplin on the block shortly to talk with him after advising my supervisor. Inmates are not animals!!!!!!

It has been 30 years since my personal experience. There were some who suffered from the power-trip, but far more who exercised fundamental humanitarian doctrine. Would you say that these issues are isolated to a few, or has it become a systemic problem?

I find myself eating "humble" pie after my knee-jerk response to this topic.  I think new times and changes are coming and I think that's a good thing.  Everyone knows how our profession has historically been viewed in the media and society in general.  I think organizational culture and formal training programs for trainees are the foundation of teaching officers of what is acceptable or appropriate.  I think back to the 28 years ago when I started in this field.  I started in a culture where takedowns were common place, provoking inmates acceptable,  and there was a lot of peer pressure to fit in, to make it.  I wonder, 28 years ago were the senior officers looking at me and saying, "What is up with this new generation, they don't have "street smarts," etc.  And I remember observing and receiving help from Old Schoolers.  Twenty-eight years ago, I had never heard of "Interpersonal Communication Skills in a Correctional Setting."

I've seen positive changes through the years, through professional organizations, training expos, recognizing that this field is a profession where before it was a job or dumping ground for those that couldn't make it on road patrol.  Some changes came through natural maturity and experience.  I think that in our profession some things will stay the same - such as Custody of Inmates.  I think mentoring/training from us Old Schoolers and  Old Schoolers being open to ideas that the new generation will bring to an every changing, evolving profession will bring challenges to all of us and overall that is exciting.

I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

In the public eye Guards were considered knuckeld draggers who were jacked up and beat on inmates as well as demoralizing the inmates in the jail systems. And the only qualifications to be a guard were to be clean of any felonious crimes and be physically fit, the more muscle the better! Now with all the civil rights and laws to protect the inmates such as excessive force to control a situation with an inmate etc etc We as professionals have academies to attend with State Certification in order to work in Corrections,and in order to maintain our certification must undergo many hours of training per year, learning to deal and manipulate inmates to comply by using our head and using physical force when direct orders dont result in compliance this is the difference between a professional Correctional Officer VS. a Guard who wants to use a go get them physical force and degrade the inmates to bring up their own self esteem. The mind is a powerful thing, Example those of you who have had cell extrication classes and have been involved with the process of a cell extrication know that when done right it is a organized method, with disciplined officers know that the team leader is the only one that talks, with the only exceptions of pulling out of a cell example 1 clear,, 2 clear,,, 3 clear. no matter what the inmates yells and says the officers thru training dont speak back and the discipline of the officers leave the inmates in awe,, Man they mean business like clock work the inmates secured in a cell,, minimal injuries the objecttive was met ! The Old School Officers are learning new ways for sure, but in a professional and safer way with less liability !!! The above is my opinion only!

Has there been anyone new to this profession who wasn't cocky or arrougant? We all have growing pains in this profession even those who come in on a so called power trip. It is how each of us who have been in the corrections field for any length of time mentor them and show them the way. If we stand back and let them continue in their current ways with out trying to mentor them and show them a better way, Then that makes us worse than them. We all have a responsibility to the system and keeping it running smoothly or as smooth as possible, it is up to each of us to choose whether or not we will sit back and watch, or be proactive in educating the up an coming. I can only speak for my self, but with out the mentors that I have had thus far I wouldn't be in a supervisory posistion now, maybe even lucky to still be in this career field.

Hi Clan I agree wholehardy the tough part is a click of a half dozen trying to outdue each other, We have an officer that transfered from Florida Facility to NH, and we worked together one evening, He told me during his training academy the instructors treated them like dirt at the end of the academy the instructors told the new officers the reason they where treated like crap was to let them see what it was like on the other end. Also I agree as you said when I first started I can remember the balls to the walls day and unsure of why the senior officers used a different approach to control the inmates this is what the diffence was between books and years of experience