THE UNSPOKEN/UNHEARD VOICE OF A CORRECTIONS OFFICER: What its like, what its REALLY like living behind the walls: All too often, I hear people badmouthing prison guards and Im really just tired of it! These men and women are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and our friends, etc. They have one of the toughest jobs in the country_( you just never hear about it). Theres a reason for that. Who do you talk to about what goes on in there? Who can we tell, other than each other, really??... I mean we want to talk about it, but most of us just dont....because the last thing any of us want is for our families to be worried all day while were at work. So...what you hear is the good stuff...,the jokes we play on each other, the drama thats going on in someones personal life, etc., but what about the REAL things we see day in and day out?...I mean seriously, does anyone here ever remember hearing anyone say, growing up, that they wanna be a prison guard when they grow up?.. Well I cant and I grew up in it. My dad was a guard for 34 years and was great at it. BUT nothing he said to me or tried to teach me couldve prepared me for what I was about to see and live through for my career choice. Actually, I truly feel that none of us chooses that job for our careers. It chooses us!.. Cause most of us have nothing else. Especially, if you are to live here in Elmira, NY. The prison guard town that has 2 jails. Most of us dont have another job that will match the pay and benefits of that one offers so we take it not knowing what to expect. That job changes a person. It does something to your soul! I mean think about it, these scum of the earth that were afraid of and try to protect our families from live there!. The people who kill and/ or rape our loved ones or even far worse haneous crimes are sent to prison and prison guards come face to face with these criminals every single day, all day long! To make matters worse, we are outnumbered 4:1 and even 40:1 at certain times of the day!...I used to get asked frequently, are you ever scared?.. Damn right I was scared sometimes. Even being maybe the biggest and strongest CO in the jail, I had moments where I was scared... BUT, I always knew that no matter what, my partners in blue HAD MY BACK!!! When all is said and done and push comes to shove, the brothers and sisters I worked with were the tightest, most loyal group of people Ive ever seen!!! ( theres definitely something to be said for that too!) Against all odds, these men and women are WILLING to go to battle for each other each and every single day they walk through those gates!! We are all afraid at times: afraid we might bring some disease home to our families. You have no idea the amount of diseases that run rampid in our prisons! Another thing: all day long, a CO is asked favors by inmates. Whether it be passing a note to another inmate or getting extra food at the chow line. It happens. Think about that for a minute. This scumbag who mightve just killed or raped a little girl just asked you for a favor!! REALLY??!!! Its not as easy to just say,NO either. Sometimes, it makes for a long day.... Cause lets face it, a CO is locked in there just as much as an inmate is with nowhere to go! We all hear about the personal problems COs have too!... Maybe he/she has marital problems...or drinking problems,etc. So many things get bottled up in a prison guards mind and most of those thoughts, we take to the grave with us! So basically, Im asking EVERYONE out there who sees this, PLEASE: The next time you wanna bash or badmouth another Corrections Officer, take a minute to consider who keeps you and your families safe at night. Every officer behind those walls does their best to insure that these criminals stay in jail and cant get out. They put their life on it!!!!.. Please start giving these men and women some damn respect!!.. Not because Im telling you to, but because THEY DESERVE IT!!!!! Thank you!!!!...may GOD be with each and every officer that works beyond the walls of every prison. Its a thankless job, but somebodys gotta do it!
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:08:39 +0000
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