>Users:   login   |  register       > email     > people    


Tales From the Local Jail: Respect
By Gary F. Cornelius, First Lt. (Retired)
Published: 08/26/2019

Jail cells If you are a baby boomer like me, you have heard the hit song by the late and great Aretha Franklin, ‘Respect’. We in corrections have also hear this word repeatedly. In training, we are told to treat the inmates with respect. In addition, we are told that to receive respect from the inmates, we have to give respect to the inmates.

And-let’s be honest. Despite our best and sincere efforts to give respect to inmates, there are some inmates that will never, never treat staff with respect. I am not naïve.

Nevertheless, we work every day with inmates. In my jail in-service training classes I emphasize that jail correctional officers (COs) must strive to achieve a ‘Smooth Shift’. The ‘Smooth Shift’ is a shift with little or no incident reports to write, no inmate arguments to break up, no fights between inmates and all of the inmates do what we ask (or tell) them to do. In my working jail floors days, I, along with my colleagues, always strived for this. I discovered that no matter the type of inmate-the hard-core, first timer, or immature, I received respect for the most part when I gave it.

In my Managing the Inmate Population-General Population in service class I discuss respect as a useful acronym for training. Here is my view:

R: This means regarding inmates as human beings. They are people with problems. I realize that some are uncooperative and defy authority. The majority just want to do their time and either go into the state prison system or be released. They want very little difficulty.

E: Educate yourself on how inmates do time and what they are feeling. In my class, I discuss the Seven Needs of Inmates (Johnson, 2002). Inmates need:
  • Activity: such as programs, recreation, libraries, television, etc.
  • Privacy: as much as possible the environment should be quiet, peaceful and inmates can get away as best they can from things and people that irritate them.
  • Safety: inmates do not want to be hurt, harassed or have their property ‘messed with’.
  • Emotional feedback: inmates, as all of us would like to be appreciated, cared for, and be thought of as people with value-not just criminals. They would like relationships to reflect these along with staff showing empathy.
  • Support: many inmates like programs and opportunities to improve themselves-and deal with the problems that resulted in their difficulties with the criminal justice system.
  • Structure: inmates are more calm and cooperative if the facility is run fairly, and events such as recreation, meals and visiting occur on time.
  • Freedom: inmates want to be treated as adults, and appreciate opportunities to govern their own conduct. In other words-they like to be treated as adults.
Jails are not perfect. Many inmates defy the rules and make the COs’ workdays miserable. They use some of these needs against us. They may lie to get a private cell to themselves. They may ‘con’ or fool staff for entertainment for a twisted sense of activity. On the other hand, they may ‘butter us up’, using emotional feedback in order to try to get us to sympathetically believe that they are not ‘that bad’. Nevertheless-if these seven needs are met and staff exercises command presence and authority, things do go along more smoothly.

S: Speak to them like adults-and most likely, they will speak to you like adults. Do not be condescending or sarcastic.

P: This means being a professional, maintaining your guard against manipulation, and not divulging personal information. Professionalism means looking and acting like a correctional officer that knows the job-and knows security, policies and procedures. It also means keeping calm and not acting like a ‘hothead’.

E: Practice empathy - not sympathy. Empathy is understanding or identifying with the thoughts and feelings of a person. Sympathy as mutually sharing the feelings of another and feeling compassion or sorrow for another’s situation. Empathy is objective. An inmate says ‘my whole life is ‘crap’ because I am in here-I lost my job and my wife is threatening divorce’. An empathetic person understands-but still knows to act professionally and not cross boundaries. A sympathetic CO says, “Oh-I am so sorry! Do you want me to call your family for you? How terrible! Whatever can I do?’ (Cornelius, 2009).

C: Exercise both clarity and common sense. If you give inmates orders, make sure that it is clear and they understand. Conversely, if they come to you with problems, make sure that they clearly state the situation to you-and listen. Good listening skills shows respect of others. Also-use common sense when interacting with them. Treat them as you would like to be treated. Do not run ‘hot and cold’; be calm.

T: Think about the ‘fallout’. The results of your actions can be both positive and negative. If you disrespect inmates, two things will happen. First, word will get around among the inmates that you are a negative CO, and one to e avoid. Second, inmates will not approach you with problems or information about inmate activities (such as contraband, etc.) If you respect inmates, inmates will talk to you-and may let you know what is going on, both with themselves and their surroundings. You need inmates to talk to you.

Thank you for reading this. And-please think about respect, and how much ‘smoother’ the jail runs if everyone, inmates and staff, respect each other.

References:

Cornelius, Gary F. Managing the Inmate Population: Day 2, General Population. In Service Training Class, 2019.
Cornelius, Gary F. (2009). The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation, Second Edition. Alexandria, VA: American Correctional Association.
Johnson, Robert. (2002). Hard Time: Understanding and Reforming the Prison, Third Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Lt. Gary F. Cornelius retired in 2005 from the Fairfax County (VA) Office of the Sheriff, after serving over 27 years in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. His prior service in law enforcement included service in the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division. His jail career included assignments in confinement, work release, programs and classification.

He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Criminology, Law and Society Department at George Mason University since 1986, where he has taught four corrections courses. He also teaches corrections in service sessions throughout Virginia, and has performed training and consulting for the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association and the National Institute of Justice. His latest book, The Correctional Officer: A Practical Guide: Third Edition was published in April 2017 by Carolina Academic Press. He has authored several other books in corrections. Gary has received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in Social Science from his alma mater, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an Instructor Appreciation Award from George Mason University.

Visit the Gary Cornelius page

Other articles by Cornelius



Comments:

  1. lailasheikh on 04/23/2020:

    [url=https://www.google.com/]google[/url] google

  2. fentwaomio on 10/29/2019:

    A stabilitása mellett a támogatást magában foglaló jelentős réteggel együtt az Altra gondoskodott arról, hogy a poliuretánhabcipőkben lévő hornyok felvegyék a szabadságot, és továbbra is biztosítják az alap további tiszta Adidas Ultra Boost Clima cipők eladó hajtását a jelenlegi kezelése alapján.

    A cipő futtatása közben a társaság megmarad.

  3. fentwaomio on 10/27/2019:

    Pro vyvážení lze také vytvořit skutečnou horní vrstvu ze dvou vrstev Jacquard nylonu. Ve střední části nohavic je vnitřní popruh, koupit boty Puma Hybrid Rocket který udržuje neformální obuv v konstantní poloze, zatímco 3 ramenní popruhy v horizontálním aspektu z obuvi umožňují tenisovým botám přizpůsobit skutečné utažení utkání.

  4. fentwaomio on 10/24/2019:

    mjukt topp, Reebok DMX Run 10 skor rea det kan vara svårt ibland att få det perfekta underhållet när det gäller golfbollsskor-idrottare tillsammans med högre länkar. Anslut de verkliga flexibla snören fritt, det känner inte riktigt säkert tillräckligt; anslut detta begränsade såväl som det kan vara obehagligt.

    Dessa människor verkar utmärkta, men. Den faktiska tuffa singeln och även den TPU-mekaniserade köpskor-aspektmusikgruppen ger Cloudswift ett extremt speciellt utseende.

  5. fentwaomio on 10/23/2019:

    ced een aanzienlijk onderscheid sportschoenen in vergelijking met dit afgelopen jaar Adidas Y-3 Kaiwa schoen kopen is in de werkelijke hiel. De werkelijke materialen hier zijn veel zachtere herenschoenen en veel luxer in vergelijking met vorige editie.

    De werkelijke versieringen informele schoeisel aanmoediging zal het zijn werk in het versterken van de werkelijke mediale en horizontale attributen vanaf de bovenkant. Dit specifieke naaien elimineert instructie schoeisel de eis met betrekking tot overlays of zelfs binnen laatste jaren situatie driedimensionale rookdruk over de hele attributen.

  6. fentwaomio on 10/21/2019:

    obuwie dotyczące Buty Caterpillar Swingshift sprzedaż zsuwania.DNA konkretnego buta pozostaje niezmienione: konkretne buty do biegania UltraBoost 20 będą poza butami lub butami mimo wszystko umieszczone, ponieważ są najbardziej miękkie z kolekcją marki Enhance, która jest dowolnym wydajnym butem, który został opracowany, aby poradzić sobie z najlepszymi Pracuje. Szczególne wrażenia z pod stopami pozostają luksusowe, jednak mogą odczuwać mniejszą sprężystość i miękkość w porównaniu do wcześniejszych wariantów. Chociaż wszyscy mamy.

  7. fentwaomio on 10/18/2019:

    i ligner dig 'vil du bruge til motorvejen skrubber. I tilfælde af at den ikke fungerer uden forsinkelse, skal du bevare reproduktionen, indtil til sidst ideen om, at din Fila Disruptor III sko udsalg misfarvning kan være sneakers, ser ud.

    Nylon overdel sammen med strikkede overdel er generelt bare tingene for sportsfolk, da disse er åndbar tekstil, selvom de kommende greb løber joggesko de mange støv sammen med luftbårne snavs enhver kvindelige sneakers holder op med at stå op, når du finder dig selv at jogge uden for huset. For at skrubbe skal du først bruge en delikat børstehår til at tørre ud.

  8. fentwaomio on 10/15/2019:

    molto simile a un calzino si abbina alla cassa del mesopiede e al controsoffitto sul tallone posteriore per mantenere i piedi delle calzature da istruzione all'interno della posizione delle calzature da calcio.

    Attraverso Scarpe Salomon Speedcross 4 vendita le variazioni ispirate alla cultura per le versioni da trail, le calzature d'acquisto UltraBoost attuali hanno avuto diversi design e silhouette. Tuttavia, le calzature attuali mantengono costanti diversi punti, proprio come una suola gommata per calzature economiche Ls appiccicosa, per non parlare dell'attuale noto aumento Farrenheit.

  9. fentwaomio on 10/11/2019:

    blish par lui-même comme un participant principal dans les chaussures de sport dans les années 1980. En 1982, cela a lancé son type de chaussures RunBird au sein de chaussures informelles. Les États-Unis ont également lancé un tout nouveau logo, qui orne néanmoins les articles Mizuno de nos jours. Les chaussures Chaussures Adidas ZX700 RunBird actuelles ont donné lieu à un certain nombre de chaussures importantes dans les années 80. Les chaussures d’atmosphère Atmosphere Genova STREET ont présenté le précurseur du plat d’influx de la société, un bon endroit qui aide.

  10. Ericka on 10/04/2019:

    Thanks for the information! It's crazy some of the tales and stories you hear from those who have gone to jail. I think yours have been very beneficial! Thanks! KW | Phoenix DJ

  11. harmonxjim33 on 09/27/2019:

    Your new valuable key points imply much a person like me and extremely more to my office workers. With thanks; from everyone of us. subway surfers apk

  12. capitaliraq on 09/18/2019:

     اجمل نيك , احله نيج , احلى افلام سكس , احلى الاكساس , احلى سكس , احلى سكس اجنبي , احلى سكس عراقي ,


  13. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    no one can describe how grateful i am for this article. Thank you Treasure at tampines pricing

  14. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    more should be done to ban the sale of guns. great article affinity at serangoon price

  15. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    appreciate the writer for this great article Leedon green condo floor plan pdf

  16. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    thank you for sharing this important article that we can all benefit from Ki Residences Condo Floor Plan PDF

  17. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    can't wait for the next article to be out Jadescape price list

  18. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    the contents are great and insightful, hope to read more of this genre of article Treasure tampines

  19. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    I really enjoy reading this article, kudos to the writer affinity at serangoon singapore

  20. ekcy on 09/07/2019:

    I really enjoy reading this article, kudos to the writer affinity serangoon singapore

  21. emilyislaa05 on 09/07/2019:

    An inmate on the Arizona state jail looking for release because of "Merciless and inhuman" remedy, told a decision that he was shot at by jail guards because he turned into the running to break out inmates. He stated those inmates wanted to force him to devote "Unnatural Acts." | Cheap Custom Writing - CheapEssay247.

  22. denzelpaul05 on 09/06/2019:

    A legal professional in Amarillo launched a Online Essay Writing Companies | trove of files on Tuesday that he said shows the metropolis is operating what essentially quantities to a borrowers’ prison that forces thousands of terrible human beings at the back of bars absolutely because they couldn't pay municipal fines for minor violations. According to the Amarillo globe-news, numerous of those people thrown in jail by the city of Amarillo were disabled, consisting of a “veteran on social security who owed $539; a lady residing on $490 a month from social safety disability who owed $520; and a lady dwelling on $723 a month in disability blessings who paid $sixteen of a $225 pleasant.”

  23. deion2019 on 09/05/2019:

    Legitimately, the CBD made from hemp can be acquired or imported freely in all of the 50 states. Therefore, no prescription is called for.smok x priv So why is hemp-based CBD legal? It is since hemp consists of big amounts of CBD and extremely little THC. That's why cannabidiol does not fall under the Controlled Substances Act. That's not so for marijuana and THC. While it is not completely a federal plan, various states have actually thought of plans on the legalisation of CBD, which is one of the cannabinoids included in marijuana, even though it is non-psychoactive.smok mods As part of legislating clinical cannabis, a number of states have actually laid legislations concerning CBD and its products. Under the U.S. federal regulation, all hemp-based items are legally identified as nutritional supplements. Hence, all CBD items consisting of vape juice are completely legal in the entire United States. The only exemption is for the marijuana-based CBD items which could be legal or forbidden. On the whole, the UNITED STATE allows the use of CBD juice without a doctor's prescription. If anything, smok tfv12 CBD can barely be detected in medicine examinations given that it is secure, all-natural, as well as non-psychoactive.

  24. JohnDave on 09/04/2019:

    From its meaning, Respect is the way of treating someone. From sayings, You have to respect others and others would respect you. It's give and take relationship to have peaceful environment. Tree Service Woodbridge VA

  25. Edu on 09/02/2019:

    It has been wonderful information. it is very useful. Polygon

  26. MichaelHussey on 09/02/2019:

    This kind of act should happened everywhere when you give respect to someone it comes to you in a same as said that "give respect and take respect" and we as a human lacking their we didn't give respect to the people and expect to people give them respect everything is given take I am from AssignmentMasterUK here I get a chance to know how to give respect to others.

  27. casseverhart13 on 09/02/2019:

    I really loved it the way of the stuff provided in this article. carpet cleaning

  28. annajohnsn on 08/28/2019:

    Respect is very valuable to a person even it is an officer or an inmate. People can suffer their life in prison when if there's no room for respect slip and fall attorney california . Most inmates that are not respected in prison habitually begin off with a level of respectability when they first come into prison.


Login to let us know what you think

User Name:   

Password:       


Forgot password?





correctsource logo




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of The Corrections Connection User Agreement
The Corrections Connection ©. Copyright 1996 - 2024 © . All Rights Reserved | 15 Mill Wharf Plaza Scituate Mass. 02066 (617) 471 4445 Fax: (617) 608 9015