Why be a corrections officer?
I teach in a local jail and love my job other than when I have to engage with the few officers who are so mean and seem to be on a regular power trip. I honestly question "why do this job if you're just going to walk around getting off on ruining everyone else's day?" The reality is, most inmates will be released back into our communities, and most are going to programs to better themselves. I don't think that necessarily needs to be celebrated. Everyone has trauma and experiences suffering, but not everyone's trauma and suffering leads to crime. I get it. I grew up with a patent in prison and spent many years angry until I discovered many of my parent's poor decisions were beyond control and out of desperation.
Anyway, because of my lived experiences, I have incredible compassion for many of my inmates students but have no idea what Correction Officers go through on a daily basis. I also know what it feels like to be harmed by people who have and haven't been brought to "justice." I asked the programs director for the detention center that i teach at if I could virtually introduce myself and my program to the CO's, in an effort to ease the tension i experience with some of the "mean" and passive aggressive officers. She said "yes" and I would like to do that in a way that acknowledges their daily, lived experiences, in the same way i have to for my students as a teacher.
So, I'm reaching out... Would anybody be willing to answer one or more of the following questions?
How did you find yourself serving as a corrections officer?
Why did you choose to be a CO? Did any of your life experiences influence your decision to enter this field?
What are the hardest parts of your job?
What parts of your job bring you joy?
As a CO, what advice might you give programs leaders or teachers for cultivating positive relationships with officers?