Topic: A Broader View / Is it really as negative as it sounds?

Sometimes the facts and truth can come back on you. The balancing act is what or how will the truth affect you and at what are you willing to endure to voice your view.

Topic: Letter of The Law / Hiring Males for Female Facilities

The issue today is PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) and how facilities reduce the risk factors with males working in Female facilities. For years men weren’t allowed to work in our female prison with positions that had contact with thew women. Now with PREA employers are twice as careful with these issues in opposite gender facilities. We in our facility (local short term holding facility) don’t allow positions to be filled by males that have direct supervision of females unless it is just for a minute and within full view of surveillance.We lost an officer last year because of inappropriate behavior by a male officer with a female inmate. The risk is to high and expensive for the business or agency. I’m don’t know this is the reason for your predicament but certainly it probably was an issued discussed by the facility.

Topic: Security Central / Alternative to cell extractions

Over the years because our cells have fixed seats and desk we have developed a 3-4 man entry. This maximizes the limited floor space and O2 availability(just joking).When I was a CERT leader I didn’t usually pick the largest CO for entry, usually the stocky ones we could see over and the ones who drooled the most:-) Sometimes the female officers were the most efficient at taking them down, don’t know why, I didn’t ask but they were particularly focused on technique!

Topic: Health & Wellness / Physical Conditioning?

Irish Assassin, The people I see at WM seem to be many of the same people I see at the jail so I have felt them before! Yikes!!!

Topic: The Club House / Patch trading

I can get you a patch from Douglas County, Omaha nebraska and possibly the state of Nebraska.

rsharman43@hotmail.com

Topic: A Broader View / Correctional staff - alcohol and/or drug addiction?

Congratulations to all those who have overcome their addictions, I applaud you all.I can’t say I know what it is like but as a son of an alcoholic mother,uncle,grandfather,great grandfather I do know these are very serious conditions. EAP is instituted where I work but does not apply to my addiction of workoholic, this is why I didn’t retire. For so many years we in corrections have fought the good fight about corrections being thought of by the public as “2 steps below a crooked cop”. We are professionals, officers not “guards”. Those of us that live the righteous life in corrections take offence to our own that break the rules and bring bad publicity to our profession. No mercy comes from me to those I work with that break the golden rule of our brotherhood(unisex meant). Never put my coworker in danger, I have their back 360 degrees even if I don’t personally care for them. Trafficking contraband does exactly that, it puts my brothers ans sisters in danger.I consider all of you professionals here on these forums as my brothers and sisters, if you ever get to Omaha my house is your house, I have three extra bedrooms.

Topic: The Club House / Hospitalized Inmates getting visits?

Jason: As insensitive as it may seem, there are simply too many security issues that outweigh the needs of the family. Illustration #1:Officers(unarmed) transport an inmate to the emergency room(1986) met at door by armed brother of inmate. Result:escape of inmate and trauma to escorting officers(requiring psych evaluations) one officer out for good with ptsd. Example 2:Max prisoner (2004) went to dr. office. Family knew which dr. was contracted and when inmate went to dr’soffice found planted gun in a ziplock in the dr.s office toilet tank. Everyone in the dr.s office were terrorized and inmate escaped to Omaha where he eventually died in shootout with police. I know these weren’t your brother but corrections can’t take the chance that something really bad can happen when outside the control of the facility. I am sorry you lost your brother and your experience wasn’t as you would have liked but we must as part of the criminal justice system protect our officers,staff, and the public first.No consolation to your family I know.

Topic: Health & Wellness / Physical Conditioning?

It’s a neck fusion from an altercation w/2 inmates in “97”. No not 1897!! I decided that rather than take the 30k pay cut to take the pension I’d keep working until: 1) I die 2) My 10 yr old convinces me to buy her a horse 3) My wife admits she desires me other than every other Friday!! 4) Walmart hires me as a greeter but allows me to pat search everyone coming and going!!!

Topic: Health & Wellness / Physical Conditioning?

I work in a Jail, I only have to run 100 feet, where is the inmate going? But I do wonder about hiring 5’ 8" 350lb whatever the sex? I’m 6’ 4" 270lb can’t run anymore at my age, but damn I can shoot. 7 soon to be 8 surgeries (neck fusion) decided not to retire but if you don’t hear from me after the 28th then you will know the neck fusion didn’t go well. Maybe this blowhard should retire?

Topic: Security Central / Alternative to cell extractions

With you Irish, most of the time they don’t give us any other option but 3.

Topic: A Broader View / Ohio DRC Hiring Freeze??

Just a question to ask: What and who makes it hell, administrations or the inmates? Seems to me the inmates are pretty predictable.

Topic: Letter of The Law / Prison Rape Elimination Act

It’s really not that tough to get in compliance. we passed ours because we were on top of it in 2003. Mostly the inspectors are concerned about the policies and then practices. You’d probably be surprised how most of the requirements you already have met with your current in-house policies. It is the law and we must look to meet them. As some of you that have years of experience know there could have been many rapes prevented in both male and female facilities with just simple policies and the participation of officers/staff on preventing them from happening. The death of that Correctional officer in Monroe,WA a couple of years ago may have been prevented had some of these policies and practices been in place. believe it or not some of the recommendations will make our job safer for us. Just saying!!

Topic: The Club House / Going from State Prison to County Jail

Here’s a wonderful article to read and explains the issue much better than I:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/asylums/special/excerpt.html

Topic: The Club House / Going from State Prison to County Jail

Stick with the jail FRY666, I decided not to retire due mainly to job satisfaction. That or being Irish I just don’t know when to get out (with my insanity :-) ) No offense IrishAssasin you still have yours!

Topic: The Club House / Going from State Prison to County Jail

There is hope. I believe we as a society are coming full circle. I read recently an article in the Journal of psychiatric something or other that one of the proponents of decentralizing the regional asylums is now lobbying to return to centralized treatment centers that he so adamantly worked against in the 70’s. However he would like to see more safeguards in place to prevent the abuses that led to the dismantling of the previous system. I agree with him there must be better oversight of potential abuse of the mentally ill much in the way of PREA regulations. He now recognizes that many mentally ill simply cannot function in community treatment and be allowed to be on their own. Much of the rise of homelessness can be correlated to that 70’s-80’s mainstreaming of the mentally ill. I believe that a study (if not done already) would indicate a greater expenditure of taxpayer money is wasted in the current system on collateral costs (ie… jails, police, mental health treatment, hospitals) than if many of these patients were centrally located. Most important these people would be getting better treatment since they don’t have to go find them. They don’t take their meds, take care of themselves, clog the hospital emergency rooms. While working here at my jail I also worked at Creighton Medical Center part time for the last 24 .5 years. I can attest to the number of mentally ill people come in the ER time after time. One came in (name withheld) 5 times in one 24 hr period. He would come in by squad, stay a few hours , be released and then a tourist would call a squad on him again over and over.We as taxpayers paid for this. It is a complex issue but i would rather pay for a centralized treatment center than the current system. Sorry, ranting again.

Topic: The Club House / Going from State Prison to County Jail

i can relate to your dilemma when mention the women. I too am knocking at the 60 door. remember that the women are coming from a hugely different environment than the men. Most women in Jail are there as a result of
crimes they committed but after many years of abuse,drug use and other factors. That is why they need to be classified from a “needs” perspective. The mentally ill pose even a greater dilemma for corrections. Many are housed in Jails as a result of the mainstreaming of the mentally ill from the 70-80’s where they closed the centralized treatment centers “asylums” to community treatment. the there wasn’t enough money or other resources to provide stable environments. So they go to the streets and end up in jails. So now the jails
resources are stretched and officers haven’t had enough training to effectively control those who are afflicted. It’s a tough job but rewarding.

Topic: The Club House / Female going into corrections

Neither one. It isn’t a question of your emotional position, first Policy and Procedures. You can be empathetic but you must always follow P&p. Those rules are there for your as well as the institutions protection. The inmates are farther down on the priority list but certainly important.As far as enforcing the rules you must be fair and firm, but not malicious or denigrating. Have compassion but follow the rules, the worst thing that can happen is you will be successful. There is very little discretion with defined policies and procedures. Just when you think you’ve sen it all, you’ll see something new!

Topic: Security Central / Alternative to cell extractions

Mick is right, not only the excess CO2 but when the inmate passes out into unconciousness that becomes a life threatening condition. On the way down he could hit his head or othewr vital areas.The cell extraction techniques practiced today are as MIck mentioned have been developed over nearly a century of evolving practice to minimize not only injury to the inmate but also to the officers, that is also very important. The taxpayer is the one who ultimatly pay for anyones injuries.

Topic: The Club House / TDCJ

You may still run into that problem where ever you go that is managed by a local,county or state entity. However some of the states that have privately managed facilities may not have that hiring requirement. CCA, Wakenhut etc…

Topic: Letter of The Law / Accreditation - pros and cons

Id be willing to bet the newer inmates are more violent due to the result of society in general. More fatherless households,economy,Government policies that does not promote working over dependence on government. There are many social issues also including more violence (raw) in the entertainment industry, idleness among the teenage group due to “child labor laws”. I remember picking beans, berries and fruit alongside migrant farm workers when I was 13, learning the value of work and achievement. I then de-tassled corn when I was in the middle teens here in the midwest. Now the government wants to cease all youths from working until they are 16. The issues are complex and can’t be solved overnight. We in corrections are the end destination for many of those children, we can’t solve the societal problems except our own families and those around us. Volunteer for mentoring, church youth groups. One program I would really like to see is more programs in churches where good hardworking men, successful in life men who can mentor and teach young impressionable youths how to BE good MEN!! As I told an inmate years ago when he was complaining how hard it was to be in prison, I stated to him (correct me if I’m wrong here): The really tough men I know are the ones going to work every day, putting a roof over their families heads, food on the table,spending time playing as well as helping with homework, taking care of business and doing it year after year until their kids grow up and do the same thing like those of us on this forum. That is a win!! To help our neighbors and showing kindness to those less fortunate and a had up, not out. If we went back to those values we had way back, we could stem this tide of violent children, one kid at a time. I apologize for getting on my soapbox, but I won’t apologize for my humble opinion.

Topic: The Club House / TDCJ

From where? Remember, is the grass any greener on the other side?

Topic: Security Central / Security and Safety

JD, here at our facility it is the resposability of Correctional staff to provide the oversight of the Contracted Medical staff. I would check with the NCCHC ( National Commission on Correctional Health Care ) to see what the standards are that apply. Secondly I would also check your state ,county and local statutes or State Jail Standards. It would seem unfathomable to me that the facility would not provide the security for contracted civilians, but as I have found out on these forums some states are definitly not up to modern standards.

Topic: The Club House / Hospitalized Inmates getting visits?

I believe in HisSillySally’s case the FACT he was terminal and the general condition of the patient (risk factors) HSS was allowed to visit at the Hospital with few restrictions. This type of Hardship situation was considered I believe. While we always look at safety and security first we in general(Corrections) are not discompassionate to the families of those who are our wards.

Topic: Security Central / Best way to handle unruly inmate

cROSBY sTILLS&N&Y, wAYLON, wILLIE, bLUEGRASS. i HAVE ALL THE CD’S. asS FOR cORRECTIONS i STILL HAVE THE SCARS, THEY ARE KIND OF “LIFE’S TATTOO’S”!

Topic: Security Central / Inmates barricading cell doors, Ideas to combat this Read for example of cell door

If you inject some Vaporized OC (Safariland) it wont be long before they will be trying to get out.