PRISONER EXPRESS

Good correctional officers are rare and hard to find. There is such a high demand for them these days. Their work is hard and the pay is low. So, what does make a good correctional officer? To be a good correctional officer I feel that a person must be compassionate, have patience, be consistent, have a set of rules and guidelines to follow, be called into account for their actions, and have good, continuous training.

Being able to show compassion for others, yet still being able to maintain a position of authority is needed when being a correctional officer. It takes a certain type of person to connect with others. Not everyone is suited to working with people, especially when those people are often times considered social outcasts, criminals and dangers to society. Because of these thoughts, many prejudices might start to evolve and show in the officer's attitude. So, a sense of fair play is needed. The inmates in prison must be treated as human beings. They are not there for others to torment. For the most part, the prisoners are at the mercy of the officers. It's my belief that the majority of inmates aren't bad people. Most are like any other person and everyone deserves respect. When you give respect, you get it. An officer can be assertive, yet still be empathetic.

Patience is a necessity for a guard at any prison, wherever it's located. There are so many different attitudes and personalities that the officers have to deal with. Employment within a prison means a high-pressured job, in a fast paced environment. With so many inmates and so few officers to be in charge of them, the guards must be able to keep their composure at all times. They should know or be taught how to act calmly without anger. Having patience would also include having the attitude and perseverance to be flexible and remain cool under all the adversity that they will receive. Most inmates are as suspicious of the officers as much as the officers are of them.

Consistency would go a long way to ensuring a smoother running prison unit. If an officer comes in one day and jokes around, laughing and allowing the inmates to break any rules and basically do what they want, how do you respect them the next day when they come in and want the prisoners to obey they rules? Remaining consistent is what is needed. I don't believe that the officer had to be too rigid, too narrow minded, yet he or she can't be too lenient either. There has to be a balance in order to create a sense of stability. If an inmate knows when an officer walks in what that officer does or doesn't tolerate, there's less chaos and more structure. To remain in harmony, the officers must act the same everyday they are at work.

Rules and guidelines for the officers to follow are set in place so that no one person is able to take it upon themselves to become a judge and jury over another. There is a limit to the type and amount of power a correctional officer should have. These rules and guidelines are there to serve as regulations that must be followed in order to have unity. Rules are meant to lead in the right direction, to direct the officer's conduct and to regulate their actions and behaviors toward others. Not being able to deviate from the written guidelines leaves less room for the officer to be indecisive. One of the most important concepts an officer should always remember is that they are there to secure and contain and not punish.

When officers break these rules and guidelines, they must be called into account for their actions. As with any good business, there is a chain of command set into place. There is a specific responsibility with each person along the chain and for the others that are below them. Frequent evaluations should be utilized. Along with the evaluations, there must be questions asked about the officer's conduct. There is always a reason for every action, so what is the reason why an officer did something. If the reasons aren't sufficient then the officers should be reprimanded. On the same side, officers should be able to have their suggestions and input considered. They are the ones, after all, who have daily contact with the inmates.

Efficient and continuous training provides better understanding of interactions between officers and inmates. This training also furnishes options on the variety of ways an officer can control their reactions. Because of the many prisons being built, so many officers are needed so quickly. Unqualified people are being thrown into these positions. These people don't last long, particularly with little or no training. Updating the training annually and being informed of changes within the unit keep the officers work efficient and knowledgeable.

Sociology classes give a better understanding of the different activities and relationships of people. I think these classes would be a benefit to the guards. This allows for better communication between both staff members and offenders.

Where do we find these paragons of humanity? It sounds as if the many expectations for a job as a correctional officer are way too high and complicated. I believe that all it takes are qualifications that each of us is taught as values and morals as we grow into adulthood. It doesn't take a lot of effort to have compassion, put forth patience, remain steadfast and consistent, and follow rules and guidelines. No one is infallible, but even when officers do wrong, they should accept the consequences for their actions. With the appropriate training, individuals can be formed into successful, competent and positive security officers. Time must be taken to perform the proper training and teach correct ethics for those searching for a job as a correctional officer.