By C1 Staff
A story out of Illinois regarding a correctional officer striking a detainee in an unprovoked attack is a reminder of the stress levels correctional officers and staff members are under every day. This being said, we here at Corrections1 reached out to our Facebook followers to see what kind of methods they used to remain calm, even when under the relentless and tremendous pressure that is working within a correctional facility.
Linda Denny: Stress builds over time and accumulates like anger. It can be difficult to tolerate negative responses from inmates until the one who looks at you cross-eyed puts your stress “over the top.” If you let go on that inmate, the report will still read unprovoked with the same consequences. Recognize your stress and keep on top of your actions. Be ready to back up coworkers, not to contribute to inmate grievances. Stay safe, not sorry.
Dane Valdivia: Fair, firm and consistent. Always be very direct with inmates. Tell inmates ‘no’ if the answer is ‘no.’ Follow through with your ‘yes’ answers. Be the same officer to all the inmates. Treat them like they are human. Respect begets respect. But don’t make it personal whether good or bad. Deal with a situation however necessary and move on. De-escalate is your goal. Remember, you go home (hopefully safe) at the end of the day. They don’t. Leave the job at the job. Leave your home life at home. And do it all again the next day.
Gary Thivierge: I maintain calm by not getting ‘emotionally invested’ in any interaction with inmates, whether it be casual conversation, verbal direction, or enforcing the rules. I do my job, I go home, I leave the job at work.
Dustin Lawrenson: I look blankly at their face and in my mind try to divide a random number like 200 by 13. By the time I get my answer they’re mad I haven’t reacted to them and usually walk off or shut up.
Clyde Byers: My best advice from an old timer inmate was, don’t promise me something you can’t deliver and don’t give one inmate something that you can’t give the rest of us. Good advice from an inmate.
Amy Eugster: Laugh it off sometimes. Sometimes it is good to not be so serious all the time. It’s not a weakness.
Eddie Peterman: I reason as much as possible; I talk/communicate, I try to be fair and I do not get caught up in why someone is serving time. I try to leave emotions out of my job (after 25 years it’s not an issue for me at this point). I try to be consistent, leave my own problems at the door and I never play games with inmate “issue” items, and I always focus on being able to go home at the end of my shift safe, along with my brothers and sisters.
Nicole Bouwens: I find a quiet place to hide and take a few minutes to calm down and work through my feelings. I have also formed tight bonds with other officers that I can trust and feel comfortable talking to when I am having a bad day.
Linda Oaksmith-Gillen: I used to say “it’s my Friday, give me a break and don’t start any fights.” And remember, their time is their punishment! Don’t aggravate them, even the ones you are looking to bust for something. Take a step back and watch. Pick your fights and stay cool. I do not enjoy the officer that shows up with guns a-blazin’, screws things up every time; those officers forget approach determines response.
Raymond Chin: I just remember, they may get the last word, but I will get the last laugh, because at the end of the day...I am going home.