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Inmates Save Deputy.
- Thread starter Bro. Curtis
- Start date
I worked in law enforcement for many years. As a whole, inmates will treat you with the same degree of respect and care you show them. Of course, there are some who are just evil sociopaths, but most are good people who made poor choices.
Not the new breed of inmate. 18-20 year old street punks and gang members have no respect for anyone, no matter how they are treated.
The deputy was very fortunate. A lot of inmates would be just as likely to laugh and toss high fives while the rest of them bet ramen noodles and tuna packs on whether or not he dies.
A correctional officer should never delude themselves into believing inmates will help them in a crisis.
I worked for many years with inmates. I have seen first hand what they do, the good and the bad. Did I ever say I would depend on an inmate to help me? The problem arises when an officer trusts an inmate.
A little touchy on the subject it seems.
I disagreed with your statement that inmates "as a whole" will respond with respect if they are treated with respect. That may have been true as few as 15 years but it's not true anymore. An officer can never look at inmates "as a whole" anything. And you are correct...never , ever,ever trust an inmate.
Nevertheless, they should be treated firmly, fairly, and consistently.
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I worked with them as recently as two years ago. I treated them with respect and 99% reciprocated the behavior. They called me Captain and I called them Mr. Jones, etc. You should see the difference in how easy my day was as compared to the officers who called them "inmate." The sheriff would regularly call me in off the road to deal with situations at the jail. He would always say "they will listen to you."A little touchy on the subject it seems.
I disagreed with your statement that inmates "as a whole" will respond with respect if they are treated with respect. That may have been true as few as 15 years but it's not true anymore. An officer can never look at inmates "as a whole" anything. And you are correct...never , ever,ever trust an inmate.
Nevertheless, they should be treated firmly, fairly, and consistently.
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There's an update to the story that indicates that is happening.
I believe that incarceration is primarily about punishment, but rehabilitation can happen if the inmate is willing.
I'm sure your simple, humane and respectful treatment of these men went a long way toward giving them a new start in life. I want to thank you for that.
Firm, fair and consistent is the key. Calling them Mr. Jones is simply calling them by their name. Not a big deal at all.
Sometimes an officer will receive a measure of respect for doing those 3 things. Just as often, it makes no difference at all.
Street punks and gang members will treat you with respect if they want something in return. But they may be the same ones who would choke the life out of you while you were lying on the floor helpless.
They call me Boss, or Officer or Mr. -------. I won't tolerate anything else. You should see the difference that makes. When I Enter an open dorm of 54 men, they get fully dressed and take their seats, just as the rules require. I won't tolerate anything else.
If they approach me for special treatment, I will write them a disciplinary or have them locked up , depending on what they are trying to manipulate me for.
Their crime has no effect on their treatment. I am the same officer every day. The rules are the same every day. I enforce them the same every day. I really don't care how they feel about me as a person. I am not their friend and I never will be.
It's called being a professional.
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We can always count on Carpro to find the negative in anything and everything.
I worked with many "professional" officers over the years.
My background is Narcotics and vice. Maintaining a network of people who owe you huge favors works much better. You can be nice and get along just fine. You don't have to be drill Sgt. I have spent a lot of time playing Tonk, spades, throwing quarters, and shooting dice with the inmates. Its kind of fun actually. Getting to know them on a personal level is not a crime. You might even lead a few to Jesus every now and then if you see them as people.
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Your job was different. I leave the deal making to the supervisors. I accept no favors from inmates and offer none. Every day I walk among 2100 inmates with no weapon.
I never fool myself about what's going on and who they are. My life is on the line every time I Enter the gates. There is a sign over the gate that tells all who enter that, as a hostage, your life is forfeit. No hostage will ever get out the gate under any circumstance.
It is obvious you look down on professional correctional officers, yet if I do the things you say you do, I'd be walked off the unit in disgrace. I've seen it happen to many officers.
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I never fool myself about what's going on and who they are. My life is on the line every time I Enter the gates. There is a sign over the gate that tells all who enter that, as a hostage, your life is forfeit. No hostage will ever get out the gate under any circumstance.
It is obvious you look down on professional correctional officers, yet if I do the things you say you do, I'd be walked off the unit in disgrace. I've seen it happen to many officers.
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We had capacity for 400 and usually had about 350 to 375 at any given time. I am sure our SOP was much less rigid than yours. It worked well for us. And like I said, you can even lead some inmates to The Lord, but first they have to see that you really care. I helped a lot of inmates out simply to help them, did not expect anything from them. (Keep in mind, all favors I am talking about are perfectly legal.)
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"Rigid" is a good term to describe the policies that govern the behavior of TDCJ correctional officers. Sometimes it seems to be too rigid.
Yet we are considered fully staffed with 43 officers on a unit that always has about 2100 inmates, every one of them a convicted felon.
And no more tan 50 of them what you would actually call behind bars.
The system works or we could not do what we do with so few people.
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There is less leway in dealing with sentenced offenders than in dealing with unsentenced offenders. Those yet to be sentenced are always looking to help themselves out. We loved to play lets make a deal.