Corrections Officers Can Make a Big Difference

The job of a corrections officer is not extraordinarily difficult. For much of their shifts, correction officers are glorified babysitters. They make their rounds to ensure prisoners are not harming themselves or others, occasionally enforce rules, and generally provide an authoritative presence to ensure prisoners govern themselves appropriately. That said, though, corrections officers face complexities in their jobs that many other people do not. 

A primary complaint of prisoners is that some corrections officers treat prisoners like they are less than human. We are nothing more than numbers or bodies to many officers. That does seem to be changing some with newer (i.e. younger) officers who appear to view prisoners as worthy of dignity. Perhaps it is just that these officers have not yet been corrupted by the influences of prisoner behavior and other officers who hate prisoners. 

The prison environment is fraught with negativity, so I admire officers who can come to work every day, be exposed to hateful coworkers' attitudes, be treated with disdain and disrespect by some prisoners, and work a terribly boring job--and still keep a good attitude. I imagine that it must be difficult to maintain a positive, hopeful attitude about prisoners when officers see so many return to prison again and again. The abysmal re-offense rate has got to affect how some officers view us. 

Officer training changes with the times, and from what I hear newer officers are receiving more training in conflict management, rehabilitative measures, and social work. As the primary authorities who interface with prisoners on a daily basis, it makes sense for corrections officers to be trained in these areas. They, more than anyone else, have the ability to closely observe a prisoner's need for thinking and behavior changes. Some officers also have the ability to help transform a prisoner's focus and thinking--as I've seen happen with several prisoners I know. 

Changing lifelong thinking and behavior patterns is hard work, and it's bound to include some failures. When officers recognize these facts and continue to encourage and counsel prisoners who, to others, appear hopelessly committed to stupidity, they deserve praise for a job well done. We need more corrections officers who come to work with this sort of purpose rather than simply punching a time clock to pay bills. Perhaps it is unfair to ask such an extraordinary thing of corrections officers, but if prisons are to turn out more reformed people who will go on to live productive lives as safe citizens, something has to change. 

The corrections industry likes to tout "safety" as its primary aim. If that's true, "safety" must include a day one focus on returning prisoners back to their communities as safer, more responsible citizens. To that end, the job of corrections officer should not be filled by retributive-minded people who believe it is their job to "punish" prisoners by making their lives miserable. These jobs should be filled by people who care about releasing prisoners who have been changed for the better by their prison experience. They should be filled by officers who are properly trained and willing to encourage and facilitate the transformation process necessary for many prisoners to become safe citizens. Such a task requires a lot more than reform-minded officers, but that's a great place to start.