Other essays on this theme

Essay: "What Makes a Good Prison Guard"

A good correctional officer, as well as any officer has to first realize that he or she is just like me; a human being. A good correctional officer will always see that, no matter what. They don't view you as a convict or egregious person, but one who has made a mistake or some bad choices in life. They will treat you like you would want to be treated. They will try to converse with you on positive things only. They will boost you up when you are down and raise your head when it's drooped. Someone that will turn a frown into a smile. One that would try to give you some good advice and things to do. One that won't take away your food, shower or recreation because of your voiced opinion. Someone that won't slam you because you had a problem with his or her colleagues, or even, written them up. Someone that won't harass you because of your color or because other officers may do so. A good officer would stand up for you and against their co-workers when they are wrong. Someone that would just smile and say hello, hi or how are you doing today.

Like for instance, there are these officers that left me in the shower for 25 minutes and I almost passed out. I wrote up all three officers for that. Then, I had realized that one of those officers I had written up always treated me with respect and never took anything from me that I was supposed to have. This officer would come by and talk to everyone and smile, just to put you in a better mood if she seen you were down and out. So the next time I had seen the officer, I had told her that I apologized for writing her up because she never had done anything to me that would violate my rights and that she had never taken anything from me. I reiterated that I had apologized for writing her up and that I was going to have the grievance withdrawn from her file. She had replied with I understand how you felt at the time, being in that hot, closed place. I apologize for my negligence in doing my job. I was wrong. A good corrections officer is she. One that can admit when they are wrong and can feel the wrongness that was brought upon me and can realize that she had neglected to do her job. Not many correctional officers will swallow their pride or realize that an inmate has feeling and emotions, as must as themselves. To admit their wrongness, to me makes all the difference between a good officer and a bad one.

Another example, there's this officer that I look up to and I have very much respect for him. Sometimes, I would just lie down on this bunk and have my eyes closed. When he would work the pod, he would knock on the door gently and say, "How's everything going tonight son?" From there, we would talk. It's like he knows me so well already, and he just started working here eight or nine months ago. I am a coyish type of person. He's a real affable ol skool. When I would answer with a single word, he would know that I am thinking about home, and he would say, "Yeah, it's tough on you tonight, huh. You're starting to miss them again, huh? It's all right to be nostalgic." One night, we talked for about four hours. During these hours, I cried twice just like a baby and he told me, "That's right son, get it all out of your system. Get the hurt, pain, loneliness, hate and love out. Everything's going to be all right now son. Everything's going to be all right. You just have to trust me and hear me out son." After I got myself together, I looked up and I had seen his eyes watery and gleaming like from the light. He told me that he was going to be right back. When he got up he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started wiping his eyes and I smiled because it felt good knowing and to see there is somebody here with feelings too and someone with a mind of their own. At that moment, I had felt that I had known that ol skool all my life. That was a private and passionate moment for me and I'm glad that I did share it with ol skool instead of by myself.

It's officers like those two that I had used for an example that make a person want to see another day and realize that there is some hope in every situation. Good correctional officers like that help a person to strive for more and better things in here, like going home and reuniting with the people that we had left. A good correctional officer will sometimes take the inmate and give support when one is not doing well. Just like sometimes I wish that more officers would be nicer. But then again I get to thinking about it and I tell myself if things and all the officers were like them, then the other officers that I had mentioned would not be so special to me.

The problem with dealing with good and bad officer syndrome is that they are just the pawns in this chess game. In order for improvements to be made, it has to start with the wardens. If the correctional officers are not corrected themselves then how can they correct someone that is supposed to be out of hand and out of control? This is just like saying the officers are here to correct themselves and get themselves in line, isn't it?

It is the wardens that poison the correctional officers' minds to have them treat us like we are the dirt under their shoes or the used toilet paper that needs flushing. Out of the three wardens over here, one does his job immediately while the others deplore him for it. The senior warden just goes on the way he's feeling at that time and moment, even if his decision is right or wrong. By him being the senior and with his nonchalant attitude sometimes no one can tell him anything, which makes the majority of these officers obdurate.

But, when these good officers do come around and spread their happiness all over the section and want to talk, I capitulate [sic] myself and give them my individual attention and take heed to what is being said because I probably could use it and apply it to whatever situation or mood that I may be trying to endure at that time. So, my opinion of what makes a good correctional officer is someone that's caring. Someone that's not afraid of amity and someone that can be availed when needed, to stand up and vouch for you.