Stand up and be counted - OFFICERS!!!

[Area51]

I found this on another thread, It got me to thinking...

Originally Posted by bigredd

the inmates have been cuddled for so long now and not been told no and had strict control. when they crack down on the inmates and punish them for infractions, then control and order will follow. course that means staff must get off their duffs and do what they were hired to do.

On this part of his quote he is 100% correct, it rests on CORRECTIONAL SERVICES and CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS shoulders to effect the changes we need in our institutions.

I for one am starting to make a difference, with the death of Rivera, I have made a promise to myself to come in and do my J O B... The one I was hired to do, the one I was accustomed to doing at the beginning.

Its not that I haven't been or I am lazy... But with 19 in, most staff want to coast the few remaining years they have... I had developed that mind set as well.

I had thought about putting in for a cushy post (20th on a roster of 130+) but, I think I will put in for D/W compound or another post that I can effect a change for the institution. From there I will be able to accomplish some of the things I see wrong around me in the institution...

Things such as:

Inmates gotta walk and talk... No hanging out or loitering in front of the units.. We have gotten away from that.

Random pat searches. If necessary strip searches...

Check work crews items, are all the items there? Contraband? Why are they in this area?

Keeping the compound clear during chow instead of letting the inmate roam freely. "Walk and talk, Walk and talk" "Pick a direction gentlemen and walk!"

Keeping inmates in check, writing incident reports to make sure they keep themselves in check.

Actually checking security items to make sure they are like they are supposed to be. Taking the time to do the paper work to get it fixed, AND FOLLOW UP ON IT.

Pulling new officers up and demonstrate to them how things are done old school. (I do this now) Make it a point to search them out and give them a hand.

Challenge older officers to do the same. Put them on the spot to make a difference as well. Call them out.

I think it is time we all stepped up to the plate and begin to make a difference in our own institutions. Although it may be a small difference, it will be a part of the solution instead of the problem.

We have grown accustomed to sitting around and moaning about we can't do this, we can't do that, we need this, we need that...

What we NEED is to get off our duffs and begin to make the changes in OUR institutions in the ways we can. As individuals, it will not be that great, collectively... Ants move mountains compared to their body sizes...

These are OUR institutions, WE need to run our house!

This site has been a boon for me. It shows there are older officers that DO care and want to step up to the plate. I think we should follow in their example, WE need to do this as a team!

Anyone want to join with me?

[Jethro-THA]

Very good,
Im gonna print this out and hang it in the LT's office, then Im gonna make a sign above it that says Consistancy or somethin like that.
Lompoc had some signs made in SHU that said "No Shortcuts" but that was the admin's way of PO everyone.
Oh yeah, what is your name that I can attach to my inspirational poster?JK
Im not makin fun, I think what you wrote is a good thing. Thanks

[Iowa #1603]

Excellent post, excellent ideas.

What EVERYONE needs to do every now and then is get back to the basics

Remember the basics.............shakedowns, pat downs, make the inmates follow the LITTLE rules, and then they will follow the big rules.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Excellent ideas. But, what are you going to do when management begins to think of you as a problem because too many inmates are complaining about your 'Gestapo' tactics?

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by Crosstimbers Okie

Excellent ideas. But, what are you going to do when management begins to think of you as a problem because too many inmates are complaining about your 'Gestapo' tactics?

I guess I will make sure I am operating within policy.

If I am within policy...........I probably won't get fired. I may not get promoted or become the employee of the quarter because the administration doesn't agree with my tactics, but I guess I could (and have) live with that.

I doubt very much that administration will tell me (in writing) that I should not follow policy as approved by them................so I should be good to go. I will just have to make VERY sure I don't cross the line on the policy issue.

My .02 cents worth based on my experience and my system. Your mileage may vary..............................

[Area51]

Originally Posted by Crosstimbers Okie

Excellent ideas. But, what are you going to do when management begins to think of you as a problem because too many inmates are complaining about your 'Gestapo' tactics?

Nothing Gestapo is implied. Just simple sound correctional basics. Ones does not have to be a problem child in order to do this.

It is about stepping up and being a leader. It is the best way to get others to follow. Should supervisors decide to help, and TDG had some that will and appreciate the effort once they see you are trying they will back you. Some will shy away, but they are in the minority.

Even though custody has been assigned a position of "Gopher" and "Errand Boys" in the institution, when it gets down to brass tacks. WE are still the backbone of the institution. WE are what keeps the institution going and healthy. If you don't have a business office the institution will function. If you don't have religious services the institution will function, If you do not have Unicor, yes it will function...

Take away Correctional Services the institution falls flat on it's collective face. Period.

WE are what makes the difference, and WE are the ones that need to make the difference, after all, it is OUR institution.

Be apart, do YOUR part...

GS Hilburn

[Jbuttram209]

Wow, this is an amazing post, and should probably be a new thread entitled, what I am going to do to fix the problem. I think that all staff should ensure that they are doing their part before they complain about what anyone else is doing.

As CO's it will be a lot easier to get the administrations attention if you are all performing at optimum levels.. Right now they are all up at a meeting talking about the good old day's when COs did their jobs rather than complaining all the time.

If everyone did their part, it just might inspire the Higher ups to do theirs.

[all4114all]

AMEN!!! I have had this discussion at least six times in the last two weeks with my new unit. When I explain my expectations (rules will be enforced, contraband taken, etc. etc. etc.), I am invariably told, "Well, I try but I am just one person and I can't do it all by myself."

My response: "Well, I am doing it, and I expect you to. And others will follow."

My theory is, If I can get one or two to do what needs to be done, the others will also begin to do so because they look like doofusses if they don't.

Positive Peer Pressure!!!

[ww1flyingace]

Originally Posted by Iowa #1603

I guess I will make sure I am operating within policy.

If I am within policy...........I probably won't get fired. I may not get promoted or become the employee of the quarter because the administration doesn't agree with my tactics, but I guess I could (and have) live with that.

I doubt very much that administration will tell me (in writing) that I should not follow policy as approved by them................so I should be good to go. I will just have to make VERY sure I don't cross the line on the policy issue.

My .02 cents worth based on my experience and my system. Your mileage may vary..............................

Problem is much of what management does isn’t policy or is just their interpretation of how this policy will be implemented. Everything isn’t black and white. This is how they - the inmates and management - have eroded our ability to do our jobs and control the prisons. They are smart enough to read between the lines and exploit them. Meanwhile we just continue to do our jobs as always and shake our fists at them when they beat us once again.

Management has a strategy, and we dont. They want a few things:

They want to maintain their jobs and get promoted up to region or central office (Many Im sure because they want to get away from inmates).

In order to do this they have learned that they must maintain the illusion that their dept, prison or region is quiet. They are trying to stay out of the "Funny papers" as much as possible. Which means no lock downs, force cell moves - no 583s for minor scraps. As few BP-10/BP-11s or congressionals as possible.

Which results in the administration caving into inmates demands instead of saying "no" and possibly losing a legal battle or having Lappin wonder why this warden cant keep their prison quiet.

We officers dont have a plan. We just come to work everyday and accept the orders of management like good little soldiers.

The last few years have taught us not to do our jobs. What is the point in searching an inmate when we are just going to piss them off and have management tell us to back off or simply not support us. Our Special Act Awards are gone - and the BOP promotes inmate lovers. Doing your job and not taking shortcuts to get it done is seen as a career killer.

We have to be smarter than that - the 1000 plus thugs we are surrounded by are smarter in this regard. They have 24 hours a day to consider these things. To sit down and break down policy and try to exploit and anticipate the weakness of the administration.

We do need to know policy, and we do need to do our jobs. But this is a new age where simply doing the above things wont save the prison. Yes it may influence a few people, and allow you took look upon yourself in the mirror. But doing the above things is not sufficient. We are being attacked with smart bombs and were still throwing rocks and spears.

Custody has to take the prisons back. We have to make management do their jobs.

[Iowa #1603]

Originally Posted by ww1flyingace

The last few years have taught us not to do our jobs. What is the point in searching an inmate when we are just going to piss them off and have management tell us to back off or simply not support us. Our Special Act Awards are gone - and the BOP promotes inmate lovers. Doing your job and not taking shortcuts to get it done is seen as a career killer.

The point of searching inmates is to prevent:

Never Forget April 3, 1997. S.W.
Never Forget June 20, 2008. J.R.

I would rather kill my career than be a victim.

My strategy is to go home IN ONE PIECE at night PERIOD.

ANYTHING or ANYONE who stands between me and the gate at the end of my shift is in trouble.


I work in a 1200 inmate maximum security prison. We have an open yard. With the exception of maybe 150 inmates in segregation.....those inmates can all be out in the yard at the same time.

It is the policy of my institution that all Correctional Officers complete 3 inmate patdowns each shift.

That is approximately 200 line staff (those in towers or special assignments are exempt) doing 3 patdowns per day =600 patdowns a day. That is roughly 1/2 the population being searched each day. That is of course if the staff are following policy.

Some take it to the extreme........one officer last month turned in 257 patdowns.................he also wrote an average of 2 disciplinary reports a day for the month..............mostly because of his shakedown habits


Our cellhouse officers are mandated to shake down 3 cells per shift. Hopefully random cells. Policy actually stated that the cells will be shaken down 2 times a month manditory..................3 if possible.

Our institution is one of the safest in the United States. Every inmate knows that at any time they could be searched.................they don't carry shanks....they have them.....but they hide them and "if needed" they have to go get them. For the most part, the inmates still get mad at staff......but they have time to think about what will happen if they assault staff with a weapon................................... and even if they use a weapon to assault other inmates.

I think I am starting to understand the BOP upper management mindset as much as one looking inside from the outside can. This is only because I have read this forum for the last few months.

One of our max institutions had a warden a few years ago who was a BOP retiree. He left the BOP as an AW at Oxford........and was a FORMER Iowa counselor before his BOP career. He lasted just over 20 months as warden before he was removed. He just didn't fit in with the way we do things.....................I seem to remember that staff was about to put a hit out on him (semi seriously) before the director fired him.