Tales from the Local Jail

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to check out my new blog.  Please take a look at the photo on the right.  When the good folks at the Corrections Connection asked me about starting a blog-and I am grateful-I was asked to choose a photo.  I chose a desk within a cell for a reason.

To those of us familiar with working inside a jail-with its good days, bad days, pressures and stresses, it seems at times that we too are  inmates,  being locked in with them throughout our workday.   In my travels, I have spoken to many jail officers who have told me that they have to stay at their posts and reliefs are few.  One can feel locked in.

The “About” page can give you an idea about what this blog is about.  However, many of us have been asked by good citizens-“You work in a jail?”   This blog can help the jail staff by discussing ideas and training that can enhance the job inside a jail.

I have told people that work in a jail that they are part of a “noble profession”.  Why?  Jails are a critical component of the criminal justice system.  Jails confine lawbreakers who are newly arrested or are convicted in court.  Many of these criminals are angry or are experiencing serious problems, such as mental illness, substance abuse or behavioral issues based on a criminal lifestyle.  They have problems-and the jail officers and staff are on corrections’ front line in dealing with them.

The title of this first post is “A Noble Profession”.    Working inside a jail is a noble profession because:

• Jails generally have to meet standards which dictate training and operational guidelines.
• Jail officers receive good training which parallels training in other areas of law enforcement.
• Jail staffs must enforce rules, regulations and gain the compliance of inmates.
• Jails confine people that do not want to be confined and often are resistant to authority and supervision.
• Jail staffs are subject to assault and dangerous situations.
• Jail staffs protect the public by securely confining accused and convicted criminals.

I like the last one-jails protect the public.

The bottom line:  jails are keepers of the public trust.  By doing so effectively and professionally, jail staff-sworn and non sworn- are part of a:

Noble Profession

So-when you are on your post surrounded by offenders and working hard, don’t ever sell yourself short and forget that.

  

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