'DOWN THE WALK' SERIES:: Corrections: Setting The Record Straight; Life and Professional Experience as a Correctional Officer Sgt.
Giving expert Insight 'Down The Walk' for the General Public - SERIES #.1-101
'DOWN THE WALK' SERIES:: Corrections: Setting The Record Straight; Life and Professional Experience as a Correctional Officer Sgt. Giving expert Insight 'Down The Walk' for the General Public - SERIES #.1-101
06/09/2022 | FEN: Free Eagle Network -KLCJr77 Productions & Free Eagle Productions
By: K. L. C. Founder & Chief
#Corrections #Prison #Inmates #Life #Officers #Mentality #Truth #Facts #Profession
PREFACE:
My career in Corrections started the first time in 2004 for a brief period at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola also known as ‘THE FARM’. Angola is the largest maximum security prison in America. It sits on 18,000 Acres sided by the Mississippi River on three sides (gator territory) and Venomous Snake infested forest (Tunica Hills) to the north at the Mississippi State Line. The massive low-lying fertile farmland is (7) Seven Miles to (10) Miles in some directions. For potential Inmate Escapees you better have a well laid plan because if Ole Red the Bloodhound and his K-9 friends don’t get you, the swamp and the woods will. Oh, you’d better be in tip-top shape.
MY 12 YEAR JOURNEY:
It was a cool morning of spring that I fully became a Correctional Officer, for you that would be a prison guard. Well, I found out it’s nothing like the movies. After roll-call and assignments were given I picked up my lunchbox and a few drinks and headed out ‘Down The Walk’ as we say in corrections. Angola Main Prison Complex consist of Cell Blocks straight out of the A-Building Entry and Dorms on either side of the ending of the main walkway . I was assigned to the East Yard (that would be to the left side of the ending of the walk). I arrived at my assigned drop to relieve the officer of the night shift. He gave me a small set of keys, log book, and showed me where the post orders, and posted policies were. He gave me his last Inmate Count. After I logged in the log book all my important information and sign in under that; I conducted my first count of the day. You have to report your count to the Walk Sgt or Lt. I did and we have to wait until it is all clear my Central Control. Those Lady Officers don’t play around with the count. Sometimes there’s mistakes but very rarely.
You generally have 2 to 5 assigned Inmate/Bed Shakedowns to do per day. I generally would hit my first 2 right off first thing. Sometimes we find a pig mess with locker boxes and sometimes a well organized library of a box. You got to search it all including the bedding and bed too. The Inmate is patted down (Pat Search). We do not touch private areas. At a select time of the day, you have Mail Call where you hand out Inmate Mail. Lunch to which we call ‘Chow’. Back when I first came on you were allowed to smoke, tobacco that is. (laughing, you really thought something else didn’t you). The Inmates were pros at rolling smokes, that’s where and how I learned to roll them. I took a while but I learned. Sometimes you got a dorm assignment that was smooth to run but others were just a dumpster in Hell. I had a few of those and a mixed bag. As long as you managed your count and done your shakedowns you had it made.
NOW! This is where I have to tell you about the TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. You might want to pay attention here.
Types of Correctional Officers:
1. THE SOFTY: This type of officer can be very dangerous to the institutional facility in many ways. He or She can engage in unprofessional behavior (sexual) that can lead to other Inmates becoming jealous of the relationship to the point of sparking fights that can lead to small riots. This type of officer can be seduced to bring contraband int to he facility as well. This criminal activity can lead to may things. He or he, the officer can ultimately be infected with a host of viral infections that can be very harmful. In the case of female officers, they can become pregnant with a a male Inmate’s child. If the female officer is engaged or married this can lead to break-up or divorce. Her family can be ruined forever be her own action. He if working a female institution can end up having to pay child support if he gets a female Inmate pregnant, Oops. The male officer can have his life ruined as well when it gets out on the 5 o’clock News that he had sexual unprofessional relations with a male Inmate. Both can have themselves facing the ultimate penalty either life as a Sex Offender or Long Prison Time.
(Same for all Non-Officer Staff)
2. THE JOHN WAYNE: To too much to say about this type of officer. He or She that goes into the Penitentiary Setting acting like a over-lording tyrannical dictator will find him or herself seriously/critically injured, or DEAD. He or She can end of having another fellow officer’s life taken by their stupid actions and behaviors. This type of officer can spark devastating and deadly riots. I’ve seen officers like this, I’ve read many reports like this officer, I’ve seen videos of officers like this and even I want to get even with this type of arrogant, ignorant, and stupid officer.
(Same for all Non-Officer Staff)
3. THE FIRM BUT FAIR: This is right where you want to be. It’s your ‘Safe Place’. Being this type of officer will keep you alive well into retirement. This type of officer can make the facility run much smoother and efficient because of Common Sense. You will gain more respect from the majority of Inmates. There is however, that small minority that will hate you and do whatever they can to get you moved out or even fired. You might get extra Peanut Butter Cookies from the Kitchen sent to you by the Kitchen Officer because of your Professionalism. (Note: If the Kitchen Officer okays it, then it’s all good). You might get a good word sent to the Head Warden by some of these Class A Trustee Inmates that respect you. You might get a promotion, who knows. This FIRM BUT FAIR OFFICER is up to you to take on.
(Same for all Non-Officer Staff)
Have you ever just had a royally screwed up night or day at home? Did the (Same for all Non-Officer Staff) really piss you off? Are the children misbehaving in school or at home, or both so bad that you are about to blow your top? Have found out your spouse or fiance has cheated on you? Has someone that you dearly loved passed away? Has your dog died? Are your parents acting like children? Are your parents in serious health or mental health? ….. This right here will make you a 1 and a 2 really quick and cost you the job. Notifying your supervisor is key so that he or she can arrange things for you up to and including time off (even if you don’t have the accumulated time). Sometimes your supervisor can be a pain in the backside. They really do not want you in this mental condition working ‘Down The Walk’. You will be eaten alive on both end of the spectrum.
(Same for all Non-Officer Staff)
END OF SERIES #.1-101
'DOWN THE WALK' SERIES:: Corrections: Setting The Record Straight; Life and Professional Experience as a Correctional Officer Sgt. Giving expert Insight 'Down The Walk' for the General Public - SERIES #.1-101
06/09/2022 | FEN: Free Eagle Network -KLCJr77 Productions & Free Eagle Productions
By: K. L. C. Founder & Chief
#Corrections #Prison #Inmates #Life #Officers #Mentality #Truth #Facts #Profession