Corrections officers and staff have sounded off on a host of topics in the Corrections1 forums this year: Are you out of shape? Hear what your fellow officers might be thinking! Do you wear a vest? If not, your fellow officers will tell you why you should. And about those feel-good smoking bans -- do they simply create more contraband and make your job twice as hard, or is there an actual benefit?
But why put words in your mouth, when YOU SAID IT:
What is your smoking policy? If your state or facility has instituted a complete ban on tobacco products, has this, in fact, created more violence and tension around yet another “black market” commodity?
I agree that tobacco has been more of a priority – and more expensive on the black market – than a lot of drugs. As a smoker, I have to say that it SUCKS that I can’t smoke on the job, but it’s the price we must pay. It has kicked off a lot of incidents because of debt and smuggling territory; but nothing we can’t handle. Co809
I work in Washington state, where we banned smoking last year. Being a K-9 handler, I have noticed that the introduction of tobacco has moved ahead of the introduction of narcotics. Good/Bad? It is just another form of contraband I must deal with. K9Cop7658
As a CO in a WI county jail, all of our county buildings are smoke-free. We usually don’t get too much grief about this. To put a positive spin on it, say we have “the best smoking cessation program there is.” medic753
I work in a county jail in KY. We just went smoke-free. Notice I didn’t say tobacco-free. Commissary still sells smokeless tobacco A.K.A., dip, chew, etc. So no, it’s not worth the ban because the diehard smoker inmates are drying out the dip, finding any kind of wrapper and rolling their own. Bbblemaster
We went tobacco-free back in 1991. There were some attempts to ease the transition for the population to include veggie strips of celery and karats with meals — no patches or gum though. Not to terrible of a transition. More so for staff than the population. The best thing is that I gave up smoking at the same time; I have to say that without the ban I may not have been successful in quitting.WP2112
It seems to me that our inmates seems to focus more on getting tobacco than drugs since my jail went tobacco free. kyjailcoWhat Security Threat Groups do you have?
Every DOC in the U.S. has gangs or STGs to some degree. Not all departments have them in the numbers that states such as CA, TX, AZ, FL, IL, OH, or NY, have them, but the gangs are nonetheless just as dangerous to the staff, other inmates, the facility and/or the community.
If you have gangs, regardless of whether they were members of the local Bloods or Crips or if they are currently Mexican Mafia, Aryan Brotherhood or any of the other major prison gangs, let’s discuss them here.
Here in PA, we have several. I noticed gangs like the Aryan brotherhood on the rise. We have Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, NEATA, some motorcycle gangs, some MS-13 and varioius local gangs, from Philly and Pittsburgh. If anyone has any info on MS-13, please email me. Pafrank
I am an investigator in a new unit with the Travis County SO in Austin, TX. Our facilities do not segregate known confirmed STG inmates. Not sure why, my best guess it is a liberal department, but you live with it. If anyone wants ideas on management strategies or ideas, let me know. I’ll ask a contact with I have within a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison unit. Dtom72 We have mostly Bloods but the local “crews” are quite numerous. Also we have some high level MS-13 gang members being held as federal inmates. Typically, due to the very controlled environment we have its not much of an issue. Jailcop
I serve as the STG Coordinator for a 1,900-bed facility housing at present approximately 170 confirmed and 200 suspected STG members. We have a 130-bed STG Housing Unit where confirmed members are housed. This unit has programs in place that an inmate can complete in order to become eligible for gang renunciation. This is only after an inmate has (1) completed all required programs (2) possess or earn GED or HSD (3) has met disciplinary guidelines (4) has completed renunciation process (5) has successfully completed a one year monitoring period with no STG or major disciplinaries. We accept inmates from all TDOC facilities and the Unit has restrictive movement both inside and outside the pod. Tntrapper
We had about five or six members from the Seven-Alls in our facility. Every one of them had “1017" tattooed on their body. A few had it on their arms, and a couple had it on their necks. Some of them had brick walls tattooed on their arms also. “HB” (head bustin) was also tattooed on them. Alexpa777
Out of shape officers a liability to other COs?
Do you ever get embarrassed by the appearance of your fellow COs when you make outside hospital runs and the public sees him/her either sleeping on the job or as a real slug? Does anyone feel as strongly about this as I do?
I agree. I want my fellow officers to be in great shape if I am in trouble. It scares me to see some of my fellow officers having trouble running or keeping up with the day-to day-job, let alone if there’s an emergency. Why is it when a person becomes a CO and gets into great shape and knows how important it is to be in shape, then when they get on the job they become overweight and tired. rhondalinger
I would like to suggest to officers out of shape to at least try to find a “work out buddy” someone who can guide you to a proper routine. I know some of you are out of shape due to lack of motivation, or just because you don’t know any routine. We don’t need you to be a body builder – just be able to assist without passing out. Let’s stay in shape for each other. coa0270
I am of the firm belief that we as correctional Officers should be leading the pack when it comes to Defensive tactics training. The question here is not how fast an officer can run a mile or how much weight that he/she can bench. The thing that we need to focus on is endurance – the capability or endurance to hold off an attack for that small period of time that it takes for responding officers to arrive. I find that a lot of times officers that work on a shift are just doing their time and hitting the gate. They are not utilizing the gym or doing any kind of fitness training.craig193
I am most definitely out of shape, and need to lose those inches. Thankfully I have the endurance to be ale to hands on with these guys for at least 4 min 47 sec. (I only know this because I successfully tested the theory last month and got to watch the video when it was done.) It was also a reminder that I need to do something. Besides, as a FTO and supervisor, it isn’t the best example to set. ladysgt85Why would a facility ban body armor?
I don’t understand any reason why a facility would ban the use of a vest. I can understand saying it is too much cost to purchase vests for everyone. The institution I work for now is a county facility and there is thought of purchasing vests that are stab- and ballistic-safe. I think this is an awesome Idea because being a county facility, everyone is eligible for transportation runs – and a fitted ballistic vest is always better then a “closest-sized” vest. Personal protection is everything. The main goal at the end of the shift is to go home. I don’t think there should ever be a policy that says you can’t better those chances by wearing a vest.
Consider this: When Officer M. Gonzales was stabbed to death at CIM in California, his vest was lying in a warehouse on prison grounds. It had not been issued to him because the department figured it would wait until all the vests were there, and then issue them. This vest may have saved his life. During an investigation and a subsequent lawsuit, it was determined that the department was held liable for not giving him his vest.Co809
I work for the PA DOC, and we are required to wear a stab vest at all times when in uniform, and that includes food service and maintenance. Yes, they are hot, uncomfortable, and a bitch to wear, but the alternative isn’t good either.Swoomer
In Indiana, our facility officers do not (and are not authorized to) use PPE vests or anything else not provided by the department. However, trip officers are required to wear level 3A concealable armor that the department issues on a case-by-case basis. It is kept in a secure area, issued during the prep time for the trip, then returned when that detail is complete. sbriggse13Can anyone suggest ways to decrease jail overcrowding. Need your help badly.
Use the death penality in a timely manner, and zero tolerance for major gangs and violent crimes.wildbill30093
Most systems engage in either some kind of diversion programs or an early release matrix, or both...or build a new, bigger jail! jail1To decrease overcrowding, the public must be made aware of problems. Gaining public support is the #1 way. I have a program to make alternative programs available that was introduced to the juvenile justice coordinators, judges, police officers, school counselors, teachers, churches and many other city, county and state board members in the state of Florida. I have since stopped the program dead in its tracks due to lack of public support. lockdownking
If you can up with the ultimate answer to Jail overcrowding you will be the most famous person in the corrections world. Also, when you find out let the rest of us know. medic753
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