By Todd South
The Chattanooga Times Free Press
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Clifford Lanier is a 30-year veteran of the Georgia Department of Corrections, and his latest assignment is as warden of Walker State Prison in Rock Spring, Ga.
He served at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga., and served as deputy warden at Walker State Prison before being promoted to warden.
Walker State Prison is a medium security facility that opened in 1972, and the prison has capacity for 615 prisoners. Currently about 600 are housed at the facility.
Inmates from the prison comprise valuable labor crews that perform duties on occasion for local governments, including Catoosa County, Fort Oglethorpe, LaFayette, Ringgold and Walker County, and in the Correctional Industries Metal Fabrication Plant.
The prison also trains a 10-man firefighter team that responds in mutual aid situations to assist other fire departments in fighting area fires.
Mr. Lanier recently talked with the Chattanooga Times Free Press about his career priorities and goals as warden.
Q: Why did you get involved in corrections work?
A: My father was in the military and a lot of his work was similar. I started work as a corrections officer at Savannah, Ga., in 1978.
Q: What are the duties of a state prison warden?
A: The No. 1 thing all wardens and staff have to do is protect the public. We have to make decisions on who’s eligible to go outside. You’ve got to make sure the place is run according to policy. No. 1 is never to jeopardize the public.
Q: What’s the most unique thing about being in a prison?
A: The role of a corrections officer. They are asked to do something we do not ask of anyone else. They are asked to supervise from day one. You’re walking in the door and you’re in charge.
Q: What are some changes you’ve seen in your three decades in corrections?
A: We’re more professional now; there’s more extensive training. Back then things were done by the seat of your pants most of the time.
In the past 30 years the inmate population has changed a lot. There are more drug problems, meth problems, gang activity among inmates. You’ve got to be smarter than before.
Copyright 2008 THe Chattanooga Times Free Press