By Correctional Officer William Wood
Edited by Laura Bedard
Cross-gender supervision of female inmates by male staff presents hazards not commonly found when dealing with male inmates. Situational awareness and good moral character play key roles in not getting “trapped” in a scenario that will have a negative and often career-ending outcome. The need to remind ones self that the women you work with are convicted felons is constant.
Remaining professional at all times will not eliminate rumors or allegations, however, it will ensure staff members a positive outcome in any investigation that may follow on the footsteps of rumor and innuendo.
As a man, I was taught to treat women with dignity and respect. That upbringing holds true today. A year ago, I transferred from a male facility to a female facility because it was closer to my home. I’d always heard that dealing with female inmates was more difficult than male inmates. For me, this turned out to be true. I’d made a rookie mistake by underestimating the female inmates by thinking that if you seem friendlier that they would not be as difficult to manage. Wrong!
* Compared to the male inmates that I’ve worked with, the female offenders more actively use sex and relationships to manipulate both staff and fellow inmates.
* Initially, many male staff will be bombarded with come-ons, which have a tendency to swell one’s ego. It is imperative that male staff be aware of this at all times and not allow themselves to let their guard down. A mistake could lead to many allegations. To allow oneself to be in any situation that could be misconstrued as inappropriate is a mistake that a male officer cannot make. I had a friend tell me once, if you’re not getting hit on by attractive women in the “free world,” what makes you think you suddenly became a sex symbol working in a female prison?
* As a male corrections professional, I often feel that I am serving the role of a parental figure or a boss. By serving as a positive role model, I help them to recognize that not all men can be manipulated. Recently I had a female inmate ask me who the new officer was (an older white male in his early 50s). Without waiting for my response, she said, “That’s a trick if I’ve ever seen one. It won’t take long for him to get cased up.” A male officer always needs to be clued in to this type of thinking.
* In my opinion, one of the most obvious differences between female and male inmates I’ve worked with is the emotional sensitivity — “need factor.” On any given day, when I tell a female inmate to do something (or not do something), I’ll undoubtedly get one of the following responses: Where is that in the rule book?; The other officers don’t make me do that; How come she doesn’t have to do it?; and my favorite, Why? (This is where my experience and patience as a parent come in handy.) Can I have a Tylenol now?
A recent incident in which several male officers were investigated and arrested for sexual contact with the female inmates demonstrated once again that remaining professional at all times and having a good morale character are as important as ever. More than anything, though, I ask myself how I’d want someone to treat my daughter if she were in here. I am blessed to have a wife who works in the same prison as me, and who understands that the inmates are what they are: convicted felons.
About the author
William Wood is a corrections officer at CCA/Gadsden Correctional Facility in Florida