Reminiscing
When I started writing articles for Desert Waters I told the boss lady Cat (I never have learned to pronounce her name right) that I not only hoped my letters would help staff to stop and think and realize that in Corrections some things never change, but that perhaps in time others would start to write to Desert Waters and give their experiences and outlook on Corrections.
This is now happening. Staff are writing and doing a good job, and I feel it is time for a old man to slow down. I love helping Staff when I can, but I’m from a generation that is for the most part gone in Corrections. Yes, it is still very dangerous in this line of work, but I look back now and wonder how in the world we lived through it. We had no panic buttons, no radios or any of the equipment that Staff has nowadays. You did what you had to do and did not give it too much thought, or it would really make you wonder if you chose the right line of work.
I did learn a lot from Corrections. I had always thought of myself as an old southern boy, but I realized that in prison that wouldn’t work. I decided that if I was going to work in there I must make some changes. I realized that for me to do my job that it must make no difference what a man’s color was or what his beliefs were. Nor could his crime make a difference. I started only handling them as men until they proved different. Even then I would not bum rap or lie on a report to get them. I would even tell them, “I don’t have to bum rap you, all I have to do is watch and you with your attitude will mess yourself up.” It never failed and I guess the word went out that I was strict, but fair. I did nothing to be liked or win a popularity contest. I learned to not sweat the small stuff but to be fair, firm and consistent. I learned never to make threats. I would tell them, “If you do that, this will happen. If you think you have to get violent then you do what you think you want to do and I will do what I know I have to do.” I learned that a warning given the right way meant more than a threat. A threat was like a challenge to them. A warning was like you were trying to help. Was I trying to help? Yes, I was trying to help my fellow staff and myself from maybe having serious problems. Example: You tell a problem person that you hear there is some kind of crap going on. You tell him that if he knows anyone that might be involved in it to tell them that it has to stop or things are really going to get tight. He knows you know it is him, but by not choosing to point him out you are giving him a chance to save face. Of course he will deny it, but nine times out of ten it will stop. And this is what you want to happen. I’m not saying these things will work for everyone, but you might be surprised how many times they do work.
Take Care,
The Old Screw
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