Topic: The Club House / Riot at the Adams County Corretional Center in Mississippi

I too feel your grief. I have lost brothers and sisters in my tenure. It is always a question of, what if…how did it…who’s to blame…what could I have done….IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME….. We are all in a very unpredictable field of work! These questions will never be answered. No-one can predict anyone in this field, public, state/provincial or private, maximum, medium, or minimum! We are dealing with people! Their mind, intent and emotions will change everyday and most times we won’t know it or recognize it. Please have comfort knowing that all our corrections colleagues chose a difficult and dangerous field to protect us and all of you. We all know this going in and unfortunately some will pay the ultimate sacrifice. It is horrific that it takes occurances like this to make us all remember that what we do and how we do it affects not only ourselves but everyone around us. To the injured, please know that your efforts and experiences through this will not be forgotten. Take care of yourself and your family before you come back to work. Your families have suffered as much as you! I pray Officer Carithers family and friends can find peace in knowing she was doing a desperately needed and often thankless, stressful job which she obviously believed in very much. In solidarity, respect, and gratitude.
Brad Fleming, Correctional Officer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Topic: Health & Wellness / Medication administration in small jails

Hey all. I too had the job of dispensing meds. At our institution the nurses placed all their meds in small envelopes for distribution for the inmates at the prescribed times. My problem was I didn’t have any training in meds and they wanted us to sign the actual med sheets showing what they were getting. I didn’t agree with this (who would, you’re setting yourself up BIG TIME) and created a signing sheet that simply stated which inmates received their medication envelopes at what times. I never received any flack from it because I’m sure the Management Team knew they would lose any argument on it. Careful what you dispense because one wrong med can end a career pretty quick.

Topic: The Club House / New Treatment Staff- advice?

I must consider leaving here if there I can’t be sure what I say isn’t going to be used against me(us). Sorry all but I am ticked.

Topic: The Club House / New Treatment Staff- advice?

This community is far too important not to have moderators. We talk about very serious, important and in some cases sensitive stuff. I really can’t believe there are no moderators. I have to trust this site to be secure. Am I the fool here or are we all being taken?

Topic: The Club House / New Treatment Staff- advice?

Glad I could help. A couple more very important pieces of advice. If you say your going to do something-DO IT. That doesn’t mean you have to put down other things to get it done. Sometimes it just isn’t important enough. You may have to do it another day or put the task onto someone else. Just let the inmate know what is going on. You will get alot of co-operation from them if they know you as a straight shooter. Also, don’t lie to them. They know more about what goes on than you think so trying to pull one over them may (probably will) backfire in your face. Treat them with respect. I know that will get alot of old timers rolling their eyes but it is true. If you ask/tell them things respectfully and politely they will respond better to you. Once they stop giving you the same treatment back (and it will happen eventually), you can treat them like pieces of sh&t for the rest ot the time you deal with them. It will be their fault that you treat them like that and you can remind them of it always. Good luck in your life as a CO.
Play smart, play safe, and play hard!

Topic: The Club House / Comebacks

FOCUS! (F*&K Off Cus Ur Stupid)

Topic: The Club House / New Treatment Staff- advice?

Welcome to life in the joint. as you have found out, the relationship between CO’s is much harder than that with inmates (inmates will always behave like inmates) I have been pounding the floor for 21 years and have learned alot about staff interaction. I always advise new CO’s to forget everything they were taught out in the fancy schools and learn from the inside. Keep your eyes and ears open! Forget about offering your opinion because the staff won’t respect you and your knowledge yet. Follow the actions of staff and find one who seems to have the work ethic you were trying to develop. Ususally you can approach these officers because they will think like you and be willing to show you how it’s done. DO NOT use short cuts which will develop into bad habits. You will not get any respect from anyone that way! You must know how to operate within the walls properly and safely first. You can slowly make changes to your routine as you deem them necessary later in your career. Stay the line and protect each other always!

Topic: The Club House / Co-Workers

Welcome to life in the joint. as you have found out, the relationship between CO’s is much harder than that with inmates (inmates will always behave like inmates) I have been pounding the floor for 21 years and have learned alot about staff interaction. I always advise new CO’s to forget everything they were taught out in the fancy schools and learn from the inside. Keep your eyes and ears open! Forget about offering your opinion because the staff won’t respect you and your knowledge yet. Follow the actions of staff and find one who seems to have the work ethic you were trying to develop. Ususally you can approach these officers because they will think like you and be willing to show you how it’s done. DO NOT use short cuts which will develop into bad habits. You will not get any respect from anyone that way! You must know how to operate within the walls properly and safely first. You can slowly make changes to your routine as you deem them necessary later in your career. Stay the line and protect each other always!

Topic: The Club House / The "new" System?

I would like to comment on the apparent lack of integrity of the justice system, whose ideas and morals we are bound to uphold. The “system” as we know it has become weak and flawed and that, unfortunately, translates into a changing of officer’s basic abilities and behaviors. Society’s moral groups now dictate how we are to behave within the very walls we must patrol. Our management teams, whom we need to support and protect us, are powerless to maintain institutional control and disciplinary procedure in the face of public ideology and backlash. Fear of retribution on all levels has led us to become a “tolerant” system. A system where “turning your back” to avoid involvement and possible prosecution, has become the norm. Our system, to placate the social masses, is just as quick to throw people “with integrity” to the wolves as they would one without integrity. Not a system needed in the bowels of criminal institutional life where threat of violence is a daily occurrence. I for one DO believe in the integrity of the role I carry and IT IS NOT AN EASY ROLE THESE DAYS. Having to get in the face of fellow staff and management over what is “the right thing to do” has been very disturbing. I have been pounding the floors for 21 years and will, hopefully, be doing it for another 13. I don’t mean to offend any of my hard working Correctional peers; this is just how I see it. I am hopeful that the integrity of the “system” gets fixed so I can carry out all facets of my duties as a just officer. I would like to go home after every shift and feel comforted in knowing I did my job to the fullest of my abilities and that the actions of those I affect will be as just.