Silently We Serve

[Unchained]

Next month (May 5-11)is National Corrections Officers Week. The motto of the Corrections Officer is "Silently We Serve". Any police officer in the United States has my respect for doing what they do to keep law and order in our great land. The police officer walks into many unknowns, and earns every ounce of glory and gratitude that he receives.
The Correctional Officer is much less known and honored. He/she too faces each day not knowing if it will be their last. Inmates have 24/7 365 thinking of ways to kill us. When you take a man's freedom, only those who do this job truly know what it does to them. Folks say "I can imagine". No you can't. You will never know unless you are walking when you hear the clang behind you, and you know that if an inmate kills you, he earns fame throughout the prison system in our state. He becomes a big man-the ultimate feather in the cap of an inmate is to take the life of a Correctional Officer. I ask each of you to take the time when you see one of us to simply say "Thank you for keeping us safe". This is a thankless job-we don't hear it nearly enough.

Poem submitted by Philadelphia Corrections Employee Latanya Long
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind:

Just as the men and women in blue attend roll call before their tour of duty,so do we, but instead of being armed with pistols, we are armed with whistles.

Just as the men and women in blue, we too do not know
if we will greet our loved ones at the end of the day.

It takes a Correctional Officer to deal with society's undesireables, the overcrowding of prisons,the thanklessness of the public, and to efficiently carry out the duties of a job that so many criticize and so few want.

During our tour of duty, we are not only Correctional Officers we are also: police officers, firepersons, suicide watch,coroners, nurses, counselors,computer operators, mailpersons, newspaper delivery persons, the United States parcel service, and more...

And with all of this in mind at the beginning of our tour...
We will stand tall beneath our hats.
With pride we wear our shields.
And with unity, integrity, and professionalism,

Like soldiers we march side by side into our
unpredictable institutions both bona fide and qualified to handle any situation that may erupt.

So please, do not call us "prison guards". Acknowledge us as professionals, and address us as Correctional Officers.

This lady did a superb job of putting into words what the Correctional Officer feels. The ultimate insult to a C/O is to call us "guards". The occupation requires so much more than just being a "guard".

I would recommend any person whom is on here and looking for work to consider the occupation. The pay is good, the schedule is good, the benefits are really good, as is the insurance. The camraderie, the brothers and sisters that you have cannot be put into words. You learn to trust each other, rely on each other, support each other, care about each other/look out for each other (you have to in this line of work). If you do not possess the ability to think on your feet, the ability to handle change, or people skills, you need not apply.
Thanks friends

Amen to all that you said brother. If people only knew what went on behind those razor wired fences. Some may learn why the career Correctional Officer, usually has a shorter life span than most.
That one constant of never knowing. And biggest thing those who reside inside those walls.
They don't even need a reason. Like you said, serving 2 life sentences, what do they have to lose, with taking down some one, esp. an Officer. If any thing that is their ultimate thrill, to get their fame within the system.
Good post i am sure many in the area, who work at ROSP, WRSP, Units 18, 29, 31 and others all took notice, and said yes, some one who knows what we work in.

They have my respect, I wouldn't last a day.

[Unchained]

You just have to learn to leave it at front search when you walk out. I try to use perspective, and say "Hey-any day that I get to come home is a good day". I don't care how brutal the day was, I am still free, and on my way home. It has taken me almost 7 years to learn that.
What gets my goat personally is hearing folks say "Is it kinda like Green Mile?". Folk see movies like The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption, and that's what they A S S/U/ME it is like. Folks: Things don't go down like that at all-maybe 50 years or so ago, but not in 2006.

BTW spuds-you have my respect for doing what you do as well (speaking of thankless and dangerous occupations). There's alot of similarities there. We both worry our loved ones sick, but what do you do? A man has got to put food on the table.

[Unchained]

Some stats provided by Federal Bureau Of Prisons on the life of a Correctional Officer:
Average Life: 58 years
Mortality rate : 2nd highest of any occupation
Divorce: 79% of career officers (20 yrs service or more) have been divorced at least once
Alcohol Useage (career officers) 73% consume alcohol on regular basis when not on duty

I love you guys - and there isn't any "criminal" coal. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Then some wonder why folks who work in the system have so much stress, some will never understand.
Staggering statistics. And what very few know is Bureau of Prisons, they get their stats from federal prisons most of the time.
I wonder what DOC stats would be like.
If your lucky and you put in your time and get out at 50. That is a whopping 8 yrs you get to spend in retirement.
Oh not to mention the divorce you went through. And then alcohol problem because of all the stress.
Most don't realize what the job incurs. Your job and the life of your friends and co-workers are always on the line. And who most of the time who are you required to cater to. Yet with that smile and grin. They know the game. You have to cater to the very person who is doing the time. Who in a heart beat would shank you and never think twice about it.
Like i said earlier. What aer they gonna do. Give'em more time. Only thing left is the death sentence, and that would be another 20 years away for him, while your being buried.
Well it is a rough life. Silently serving is correct.
You can't talk to people about it, hell don't don't if i would want some to know. Like you said bro. family has enough to worry about.
Most think a job with the state is pie. Some may be. But not when you work in DOC at any position.
My hat is off to all that work in the Department, and to all those who work underground and construction.
Thanksless jobs. And never heard of unless there is a death.
What a shame.
From me to each of you in all these occupations. Thanks ladies and gentlemen for making it happen and getting it done.

And to my friends in DOC. Leave it behind. I know it can be hard at any level. No blood on the floor, no one in the hospital and no families being notified. And every one went home alive, even the bad guys, to their home on the inside. Good Day in DOC Land.

[Unchained]

Dang Red-you're gonna make folks think I have an alcohol problem on here (haven't touched the stuff in nearly 15 years). I do however fall into the divorce category, but i'll not blame that on the D.O.C.
Like you though, I do think that the stats would be higher at the state level as opposed to the federal level (especially at ROSP/WRSP). The majority of fed inmates are non-violent drug offenders.
Good post-especially liked the part about not only having to worry about your life (which is a load in itself), but having to worry about the lives of your brothers/sisters. And they wonder why it gets overwhelming?

[Unchained]

...and we don't worry about the ceiling crushing us either bro. Miners and Correctional Officers could start a p i s s i n g contest that would last until the end of time. Alot of respect for each other though. When you live in SWVA, you have to do whatever it takes to get things done.

[img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]OK ,I give we'll call it a draw. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]Just take care and be careful. We both have folks that would miss us.