By Tammy Adcock
Correctional facilities are often viewed solely as places of punishment — institutions defined by bars, schedules and strict rules. From the outside, the role of a corrections officer can appear limited to enforcement and control. In reality, the profession demands far more. Every shift requires officers to balance lawful authority with the responsibility to see the people in our custody as human beings, particularly when they are at their lowest.
Inmates arrive from every corner of society. Some come from stable backgrounds and made a single catastrophic mistake. Others come from long-standing dysfunction marked by addiction, mental illness or generational criminal behavior. Many are lifelong addicts. Many have never known consistent structure. Some have experienced domestic violence, poverty or trauma that shaped the path that ultimately led them behind the walls. Regardless of their history, once they are placed in our care, they are entitled to be treated with dignity.
| RELATED: How to stay in charge of your communication style in corrections
Recognizing humanity does not weaken authority — it strengthens it. Maintaining safety, structure and order within correctional facilities is essential. Policies must be followed and boundaries upheld. Yet professionalism in corrections includes the judgment to understand that bad days happen on both sides of the cell door. When an incarcerated individual learns of a death in the family, receives news of job termination or is told their parental rights have been severed, the emotional impact can be overwhelming. These are pivotal moments when an officer’s empathy can prevent a crisis.
Recognizing humanity does not weaken authority — it strengthens it.
Such interactions occur in an undeniably high-pressure environment. Officers manage conflict and stress while carrying significant ethical responsibility. Decisions must be made quickly and fairly. Authority shapes responsibility and justice inside correctional facilities, but the manner in which it is exercised shapes outcomes. A calm voice, patience and respectful communication often do more to preserve order than any disciplinary report.
One of the most important components of the job is de-escalation. The ability to defuse volatile situations protects staff and inmates alike. This skill is not optional; it is central to modern corrections. Many inmates live with chronic mental health issues — conditions that existed long before their arrest. Others find that being behind bars feels safer than the environments they left, particularly those escaping violent relationships. Understanding these realities helps officers respond appropriately rather than react emotionally.
Correctional professionals influence rehabilitation and long-term outcomes every day. How officers handle confrontation, set expectations and demonstrate restraint can determine whether an inmate engages in programs or withdraws in anger. The emotional and psychological demands of the role require officers to practice self-control, impartiality and compassion simultaneously.
Professionalism, judgment and restraint remain the foundation of security. Schedules must run. Searches must occur. Rules must be enforced. But doing the job beyond safety and security means remembering that the men and women in uniform hold power over people who are often frightened, grieving or struggling. When authority is guided by empathy, it shapes not only safer facilities but a more just system.
Where authority meets humanity is where corrections truly works. Treating inmates first as humans — while still maintaining order — is not a contradiction. It is the daily balance that defines the profession and gives deeper meaning to the badge.
About the author
Tammy Adcock has worked in corrections for the past five years, focusing on safety, professionalism and de-escalation in high-stress environments. She also brings a strong background in trauma-informed education developed outside the correctional system. Her understanding of trauma, behavioral responses and human stress informs her approach to communication and humane, accountable interactions within secure facilities.
| WATCH: The 8 most effective de-escalation techniques in corrections