Corrections.com - The Largest Online Community for Corrections: Jails and Prisons. Comments.

Oct 19, 2007

marymayfield

Article: The Way Back Home: The transition factor

I think this article is true and very informative. I agree and believe this is a population that has been over looked for too many years. I feel that we as people have problems adjusting to change, we are living on a daily basis seen the changes happening without being in prison. So if you are in prison (in a closed environment)not seeing the changes happening how well will you be able to adjust. One is expected to migrate back into society(after paying their debt) without any problem. It will never happen. This population of people need to be taught how to deal with every day issues and learn rejection (because this is what our society will do to an offender once they become an offender debt paid or not)

Oct 11, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Eyes on the skies

Just thought to say how inspiring it is to hear about what’s happening in some prisons in the USA. I am really impressed by the TLN and the potential it has to support prisoners and, quite literally, transform their lives. I work as a teacher in a UK prison and we have nothing to match this. Prisoners have TVs in their cells to keep them from going insane due to lack of meaningful activities. However, just like the rest of us, they are mostly brought down by the kind of rubbish that gets broadcast these days and many of them choose instead to listen to the radio or to their own diskman – at least they can get some inspiration out of music. Yes, I would that we had some such tool in UK prisons. Perhaps it will come at some point in the future. Hope so!! Best Wishes, Roz Ffitch (HMP Camp Hill, Isle of Wight, UK)

Oct 05, 2007

murfunit

Article: Mission: Success – Three tiers of force

I must comment that this article is thought provoking. Use of Force is definitely a response to something that has gone egregiously wrong in the Correctional scenario. In the expanse of microseconds a professionally trained officer must respond to contain and stop a violent scenario from escalating. The decision to lawfully go ahead with force must be second nature based on the skills and training that the officer has received from "the job." Then once the situation is contained and controlled the officer must literally stop the force instantly. Now that's a heck of a recipe for stress but Uniformed Correctional Officers go through this exercise everyday, everywhere. The common thread to lawful deployment of force is training. The skills inherent in use of force training must almost become organic in the Correctional Professional. The topic of "when to" or "if I" or "should I" use force is hotly debated and scrutinized daily because it is such a dramatic response to a scenario requiring its use. I say all of us should keep the scrutiny and the debates going while we keep training. It keeps the Use of Force process honest. Ultimately our Profession spends a lot of time seeking alternatives to use of force and trains officers to look for signals in inmate behavior that can be addressed by violence diffusing methods. Many potentially violent scenarios have been quelled before getting to the use of force stage. This is indeed the most taxing part of being an officer when emotions, a natural part of anyone's make up, have to be placed aside to react professionally. Trust me, professional training makes all the difference in the world for the officer to be on top of his/her game and to respond, not react, lawfully. A very good article. John J. Murphy, Jr. Captain, NYC Department of Correction

Oct 03, 2007

alytle

Article: Mission: Success – Three tiers of force

Mr. Barhart; As the mother of a TDCJ inmate, I want to thank you for your article " Mission: Success – Three tiers of force ". In my wide search of the internet, I have located many sites directed toward correctional officers, law enforcement officers...etc... but I have found very few concerning the family mambers and loved ones of inmates. I will not stand up and preach that my son was wrongfully convicted, my son made the choices that he made and he messed up. He is not a violent offender, and God willing he will get to come home in Feb. 08. My son chose to drink and drive, and almost took the life of his own son in the process. My son was man enough to admit guilt, regardless of the outcome, and that outcome was being sentenced to 4 years in the TDCJ system. I have read so many articles, and visited so many sites, that I had nightmares at night. You Sir have eased my mind at least a little, knowing that there are COs in the system that have and use common sense. Please don't take this as a negative comment toward correctional officers in general, I have spoken to many on-line and they have been a source of information. But, I have had several attack me for having the nerve to come to "their" site and ask questions. If I don't ask questions, then I have no idea about the facility that my son calls home. Thank you again Mr. Barnhart for a wonderful article. Mrs. A Lytle Texas

Oct 01, 2007

ms meanie

Article: Inmates crochet for children

hello there i am an CO1/ Correctioanl Officer in a prison called Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri level 5 Max how can the network help me?

Sep 30, 2007

Malden

Article: Lockdown luxury

Very interesting news story about a landmark known to many Bostonians. Brought back many memories. Great writing style with great stylish writing. Every "sentence" really kept your interest "locked in". "Time" reading this article was "time well served". Who is "culpable?" Writer Ann Coppola. Keep it up,Ann. Malden

Sep 27, 2007

Warden Hood

Article: Leadership for the 21st century - A human approach, Part I

I enjoyed reading "Leadership for the 21st Century" by Atherton and Heaton. Today's challenge for prison leaders is to ensure that taxpayers are getting a strong investment in their return in corrections. By applying effective leadership tools as mentioned in this article, the public will observe safer communities and better managed correctional facilities. I had the honor to hear Gene Atherton present leadership topics on several occassions. He can teach leadership because he has been a leader. He knows in the highest sense, leadership is integrity. Someone once said, "The qualities of leadership are universal: they are found in the poor and the rich, the humble and the proud, the common man, and the brilliant thinker. But wherever they are found leadership makes things happen." Hopefully all correctional professionals will read and apply this article .... and make things happen. Robert A. Hood Warden (ret.) United States Penitentiary "Supermax" Florence, CO. [Currently National Security Specialist for GE Homeland Protection] robert.hood@ge.com

Sep 26, 2007

rflirt

Article: Judge rhymes ruling over egg

I work in a federal contract prison in California and can not stand the frivolous law suits that are filed by inmates. I understand it is their right to file. I also understand that in stead of programing in a positive manner they pass their time in this manner. They waste a great deal of time with court personnel and the jurors that have to go and spend time away from work or families to listen to the B.S. that they try to fill the court systems with. I love the response that the judge sent this idiot but cannot understand why we wasteour time with these types of law suits. It is just prison propaganda that is used to file the courts up with nonesense. They should have a court system inside the prisons that can hear these type of suits and the inmates should have to attend every hearing and listen to everything that law abiding people have to listen to when these things are brought to the courts. The inmate is loving every minute of the attention that he gets as a rsult of acknowledgements given to him by him being able to go to court. He gets out of prison for a while and eats differently and gets to see different people because most of the time no one comes to see him inside and people have to listen to his B.S. and responde to him. What a waste of time and money on something that will go nowhere. Signed amazed and confused at the justice system. Is there one, really?

Sep 17, 2007

jasonmdurham322

Article: Crossing the line

oops wrong article.....

Sep 17, 2007

jasonmdurham322

Article: Crossing the line

We found the hard shields to be more of a hassel than the small ASP padded bags, the pads reduce injuries to officers and detainees and your dont have to do the hand the shield out bullshit just let it drop. When we first started training with the pads we didnt believe they would work, we now love them! They seem to be working well for us. We go in 5 man stack with the bag man responsible for the upper middle or head, man #2 left upper, man #3 right upper, #4 left lower, #5 right lower. Simmilair to all posts. ....if I said it, I believe it!

Sep 14, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Crossing the line

I work with the South Carolina DOC. I read the recent article on Crossing the Line. It was a very timely article and very much on target. I think we need to not only acknowledge this issue but to move forward to heighten awareness so that it can be more effectively addressed. It's not a new issue but one that tends to get pushed to the side. -Deloris Glymph

Sep 14, 2007

murfunit

Article: We remember still

Joe Bouchard's article is "on point." Here in NYC we were musing among ourselves after 9-11 "What if Correction Officers were on those doomed airplanes?" While this may be a wishful projection, I suspect there might have been an alternative outcome on that day if Correction Officers were involved in this scenario. This is a very strong statement, but this is what our profession does for a living: Preventing or stopping "thugs" from carrying out evil deeds. How many times have we stopped a razor-bearing inmate by putting them in body holds? While the Al-Qaida trained terrorist is a thug raised to a higher order, and no doubt a major problem to control, it is my belief that trained Correction Officers can thoroughly contain terrorist scenarios that do not involve firearms. The Correction Officer, I believe, looks at terrorists in the same vein as the gangs that inhabit our jails. The methodology is pretty much the same, that is, gangs and terrorists alike try to seize control by disrupting normal operations and creating extraordinary motivators to put the majority of the population and staff off balance. Thus they create a small window of opportunity to make themselves known and to have control. Per Mr. Bouchard's statements vigilance and prevention are the only ways to contain this menace, which Correction people know very well. 9-11 is held very closely to the NYC uniformed community, wherein the Correction Department participated fully along side the other agencies in the response to the World Trade Center tragedy. John J. Murphy, Jr, Captain, NYC Dept of Correction

Sep 08, 2007

co5kaytie

Article: Crossing the line

I was an officer at a maximum security mens prison for almost 4 years. I had to resign because I was considered a "soft" officer. however I performed my duties and was a good correctional officer. I accepted a letter from an inmate unknowingly and was in the process of writing him up for an infraction but did not do so in a timely manner. At the same time "rank" had decided to "run me off" saying I was crossing over. I was not. The letter did not tie me to the inmate because my name was nowhere on it..I am in the process of appealing the decision because I was not counseled or coached or transferred to another area. My justification is I did not blatantly have a sexual relationship or pass contraband of a serious nature (drugs, money, cell phone). I had several good performancae evaluations before a certain senior officer had decided I was not one of his macho robocops and a threat to his regime of "officers who have a power trip that they are God". Any comments? Still a CO5

Sep 07, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Waiting for the “SHU” to drop

I've been an NYS CO for more than eight years and I have seen many inmates seriously misbehave and interrupt the daily operations of a whole entire correctional facility. If these inmates are indeed mentally ill they should not be in a general confinement facility. Mentally ill inmates pose a serious threat to the safety of staff and fellow inmates alike. Their unstable behavior makes a dangerous place all that more dangerous. If the state cannot confine them for the safety of all others involved, tell me what can be done. -James Fitzpatrick

Sep 07, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Crossing the line

I have worked as a CO in a small (population between 120-130 inmates) county jail for 18 years. Over the years there have been more incidents involving inappropriate inmate-officer activity with female officers, but the female officers have always been allowed to resign due to a lack of evidence. The incidents involving male officer-inmate activity resulted in prosecution. I don't know if this happens in other facilities but this would definitely skew the statistics. -Rinda Ueckert, Hall County, Nebraska

Sep 07, 2007

murfunit

Article: Waiting for the “SHU” to drop

The "SHU" bill is interesting. Based on what I am reading the bill formalizes the road to a special housing unit. My own correctional experience (24 years at Rikers Island) tells me there is more to this bill than meets the eye. Effectively it places Correction Operations into the Mental Health business, especially since due process "tickets" required by the bill become a tracking mechanism for inmates with special behaviors that are remedied by special housing. Quite frankly Corrections does not belong in the Mental Health business, because our mission is pretty clearly stated: to provide care, custody and control to individuals who have been charged with criminal offenses by the courts. When we find our correctional processes being over run by medical or mental health processes, we find the character of our mission compromised. The best example I can use is about the inmate who acts out egregiously enough that he/she is required to be placed in Punitive Segregation. While the "due process" period is open, that inmate may be savvy enough to indicate that his/her actions are indicative of a mental health problem. The punitive process stops and the inmate goes through the mental health process. If the inmate crafts a good enough mental health defense, Punitive Segregation time may be avoided all together. Hence the Special Housing Unit is invented to answer this need. I think clearer guidelines and review boards that see this scenario clearly could plug loop holes that allow inmates to "play the system" to their advantage. Now for inmates with genuine psychosis or mental defect: the law should be followed with the inmate being turned over to the mental health professionals or the State Mental Health Department. I am afraid to say that Corrections has become the vehicle for holding many unsafe individuals from society, when other municipal agencies should be responsible for their care and treatment. This is where I think the "SHU" bill could become dangerous for inmates and correctional staff alike. It creates the potential to "shoe-horn" inmates into "SHU" housing that actually may not be suited for their needs. This adds a burden to correctional staff who have to deal with this action until someone makes a determination that this inmate did not belong in an "SHU." I personally feel that the Mental Health business needs a thorough review of its mission for mentally incapable people who act out dangerously, psychotically, and/or violently. Jail is not necessarily the answer for this group of people.

Sep 04, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Crossing the line

Yes I know several officers that have gotten into intimate relationships with inmates and have lost their jobs. Most of them resigned so that weren't charged that I know of. I worked the prison system for 10 years and I can see how inmates try to get into your personal lives to get close to you. They try all kinds of ways from offering you canteen items to compliments, to religion, even money. They try to play on your emotions by playing close attention to your moods and ways. If you read the Bible or have any kind of book they play close attention and ask inappropriate questions. In the prison system a female has to be strong and not be caught up in the game. To the inmate he has nothing to lose and it gives him something to brag about to the other inmates, because he is going to tell, they always do. I have seen nurses, even a female Chaplin get caught up as well as female officers. I learned in the academy that you never give an inmate anything and you don't take anything from them and you will be alright. That's how I have lasted 15 years and I don't allow them to ask me my personal business. The inmates tell others that I'm a switch out, one day I seem nice to talk too and the next day I'm all business. I keep them off balance in trying to figure me out. -GS

Aug 30, 2007

ru

Article: Crossing the line

Definitely a good article and a subject that needs more coverage.

Aug 30, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Crossing the line

I think this was an excellent article; it would be great to see more specific training for all DOC staff regarding such concerns - especially staff that are deemed most vulnerable to such situations.

Aug 28, 2007

CCNNreader

Article: Becoming a prison town

I was most impressed by reading this article. Having worked for more than 10 years with corrections I received a lot of the alienation from the community as well. Working in a prison is not always what it seems. The pay is great, but the mental and emotional stress is greater. When I say greater, I mean stress can create physical problems. There was a report done some years ago, which stated correctional employees have a higher rate of divorce than any other law enforcement agency. Now that is saying a lot. Corrections employees have a relationship with other employees. In other words, they congregate amongst themselves leaving old friends out of the network. This can create a them vs. us environment. I don't believe the alienation is purpose, but who can you relate to other than another corrections employee regarding stress. One that works with corrections is more than likely consumed with his or her work. This places stress on family and friendship. When having a new prison in town most of the employees are overworked. The only good thing is the prison will boost the economy. What communities should consider is having the prison contribute to the economy more so than the employees who are just working there. Contributions to city/local government to eliminate the stress from the taxpayers, etc. Thanks for the opportunity to write my opinion.

Aug 27, 2007

Brian

Article: Prison halts kosher meals

This should be their religious diet.....EAT OR STARVE!!!

Oct 19, 2007 marymayfield	Article: The Way Back Home: The transition factor I think this article is true and very informative. I agree and believe this is a population that has been over looked for too many years. I feel that we as people have problems adjusting to change, we are living on a daily basis seen the changes happening without being in prison. So if you are in prison (in a closed environment)not seeing the changes happening how well will you be able to adjust. One is expected to migrate back into society(after paying their debt) without any problem. It will never happen. This population of people need to be taught how to deal with every day issues and learn rejection (because this is what our society will do to an offender once they become an offender debt paid or not)

Oct 11, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Eyes on the skies Just thought to say how inspiring it is to hear about what’s happening in some prisons in the USA. I am really impressed by the TLN and the potential it has to support prisoners and, quite literally, transform their lives. I work as a teacher in a UK prison and we have nothing to match this. Prisoners have TVs in their cells to keep them from going insane due to lack of meaningful activities. However, just like the rest of us, they are mostly brought down by the kind of rubbish that gets broadcast these days and many of them choose instead to listen to the radio or to their own diskman – at least they can get some inspiration out of music. Yes, I would that we had some such tool in UK prisons. Perhaps it will come at some point in the future. Hope so!! Best Wishes, Roz Ffitch (HMP Camp Hill, Isle of Wight, UK)

Oct 05, 2007 murfunit	Article: Mission: Success – Three tiers of force I must comment that this article is thought provoking. Use of Force is definitely a response to something that has gone egregiously wrong in the Correctional scenario. In the expanse of microseconds a professionally trained officer must respond to contain and stop a violent scenario from escalating. The decision to lawfully go ahead with force must be second nature based on the skills and training that the officer has received from "the job." Then once the situation is contained and controlled the officer must literally stop the force instantly. Now that's a heck of a recipe for stress but Uniformed Correctional Officers go through this exercise everyday, everywhere. The common thread to lawful deployment of force is training. The skills inherent in use of force training must almost become organic in the Correctional Professional. The topic of "when to" or "if I" or "should I" use force is hotly debated and scrutinized daily because it is such a dramatic response to a scenario requiring its use. I say all of us should keep the scrutiny and the debates going while we keep training. It keeps the Use of Force process honest. Ultimately our Profession spends a lot of time seeking alternatives to use of force and trains officers to look for signals in inmate behavior that can be addressed by violence diffusing methods. Many potentially violent scenarios have been quelled before getting to the use of force stage. This is indeed the most taxing part of being an officer when emotions, a natural part of anyone's make up, have to be placed aside to react professionally. Trust me, professional training makes all the difference in the world for the officer to be on top of his/her game and to respond, not react, lawfully. A very good article. John J. Murphy, Jr. Captain, NYC Department of Correction

Oct 03, 2007 alytle	Article: Mission: Success – Three tiers of force Mr. Barhart; As the mother of a TDCJ inmate, I want to thank you for your article " Mission: Success – Three tiers of force ". In my wide search of the internet, I have located many sites directed toward correctional officers, law enforcement officers...etc... but I have found very few concerning the family mambers and loved ones of inmates. I will not stand up and preach that my son was wrongfully convicted, my son made the choices that he made and he messed up. He is not a violent offender, and God willing he will get to come home in Feb. 08. My son chose to drink and drive, and almost took the life of his own son in the process. My son was man enough to admit guilt, regardless of the outcome, and that outcome was being sentenced to 4 years in the TDCJ system. I have read so many articles, and visited so many sites, that I had nightmares at night. You Sir have eased my mind at least a little, knowing that there are COs in the system that have and use common sense. Please don't take this as a negative comment toward correctional officers in general, I have spoken to many on-line and they have been a source of information. But, I have had several attack me for having the nerve to come to "their" site and ask questions. If I don't ask questions, then I have no idea about the facility that my son calls home. Thank you again Mr. Barnhart for a wonderful article. Mrs. A Lytle Texas

Oct 01, 2007 ms meanie	Article: Inmates crochet for children hello there i am an CO1/ Correctioanl Officer in a prison called Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri level 5 Max how can the network help me?

Sep 30, 2007 Malden	Article: Lockdown luxury Very interesting news story about a landmark known to many Bostonians. Brought back many memories. Great writing style with great stylish writing. Every "sentence" really kept your interest "locked in". "Time" reading this article was "time well served". Who is "culpable?" Writer Ann Coppola. Keep it up,Ann. Malden

Sep 27, 2007 Warden Hood	Article: Leadership for the 21st century - A human approach, Part I I enjoyed reading "Leadership for the 21st Century" by Atherton and Heaton. Today's challenge for prison leaders is to ensure that taxpayers are getting a strong investment in their return in corrections. By applying effective leadership tools as mentioned in this article, the public will observe safer communities and better managed correctional facilities. I had the honor to hear Gene Atherton present leadership topics on several occassions. He can teach leadership because he has been a leader. He knows in the highest sense, leadership is integrity. Someone once said, "The qualities of leadership are universal: they are found in the poor and the rich, the humble and the proud, the common man, and the brilliant thinker. But wherever they are found leadership makes things happen." Hopefully all correctional professionals will read and apply this article .... and make things happen. Robert A. Hood Warden (ret.) United States Penitentiary "Supermax" Florence, CO. [Currently National Security Specialist for GE Homeland Protection] robert.hood@ge.com

Sep 26, 2007 rflirt	Article: Judge rhymes ruling over egg I work in a federal contract prison in California and can not stand the frivolous law suits that are filed by inmates. I understand it is their right to file. I also understand that in stead of programing in a positive manner they pass their time in this manner. They waste a great deal of time with court personnel and the jurors that have to go and spend time away from work or families to listen to the B.S. that they try to fill the court systems with. I love the response that the judge sent this idiot but cannot understand why we wasteour time with these types of law suits. It is just prison propaganda that is used to file the courts up with nonesense. They should have a court system inside the prisons that can hear these type of suits and the inmates should have to attend every hearing and listen to everything that law abiding people have to listen to when these things are brought to the courts. The inmate is loving every minute of the attention that he gets as a rsult of acknowledgements given to him by him being able to go to court. He gets out of prison for a while and eats differently and gets to see different people because most of the time no one comes to see him inside and people have to listen to his B.S. and responde to him. What a waste of time and money on something that will go nowhere. Signed amazed and confused at the justice system. Is there one, really?

Sep 17, 2007 jasonmdurham322	Article: Crossing the line oops wrong article.....

Sep 17, 2007 jasonmdurham322	Article: Crossing the line We found the hard shields to be more of a hassel than the small ASP padded bags, the pads reduce injuries to officers and detainees and your dont have to do the hand the shield out bullshit just let it drop. When we first started training with the pads we didnt believe they would work, we now love them! They seem to be working well for us. We go in 5 man stack with the bag man responsible for the upper middle or head, man #2 left upper, man #3 right upper, #4 left lower, #5 right lower. Simmilair to all posts. ....if I said it, I believe it!

Sep 14, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Crossing the line I work with the South Carolina DOC. I read the recent article on Crossing the Line. It was a very timely article and very much on target. I think we need to not only acknowledge this issue but to move forward to heighten awareness so that it can be more effectively addressed. It's not a new issue but one that tends to get pushed to the side. -Deloris Glymph

Sep 14, 2007 murfunit	Article: We remember still Joe Bouchard's article is "on point." Here in NYC we were musing among ourselves after 9-11 "What if Correction Officers were on those doomed airplanes?" While this may be a wishful projection, I suspect there might have been an alternative outcome on that day if Correction Officers were involved in this scenario. This is a very strong statement, but this is what our profession does for a living: Preventing or stopping "thugs" from carrying out evil deeds. How many times have we stopped a razor-bearing inmate by putting them in body holds? While the Al-Qaida trained terrorist is a thug raised to a higher order, and no doubt a major problem to control, it is my belief that trained Correction Officers can thoroughly contain terrorist scenarios that do not involve firearms. The Correction Officer, I believe, looks at terrorists in the same vein as the gangs that inhabit our jails. The methodology is pretty much the same, that is, gangs and terrorists alike try to seize control by disrupting normal operations and creating extraordinary motivators to put the majority of the population and staff off balance. Thus they create a small window of opportunity to make themselves known and to have control. Per Mr. Bouchard's statements vigilance and prevention are the only ways to contain this menace, which Correction people know very well. 9-11 is held very closely to the NYC uniformed community, wherein the Correction Department participated fully along side the other agencies in the response to the World Trade Center tragedy. John J. Murphy, Jr, Captain, NYC Dept of Correction

Sep 08, 2007 co5kaytie	Article: Crossing the line I was an officer at a maximum security mens prison for almost 4 years. I had to resign because I was considered a "soft" officer. however I performed my duties and was a good correctional officer. I accepted a letter from an inmate unknowingly and was in the process of writing him up for an infraction but did not do so in a timely manner. At the same time "rank" had decided to "run me off" saying I was crossing over. I was not. The letter did not tie me to the inmate because my name was nowhere on it..I am in the process of appealing the decision because I was not counseled or coached or transferred to another area. My justification is I did not blatantly have a sexual relationship or pass contraband of a serious nature (drugs, money, cell phone). I had several good performancae evaluations before a certain senior officer had decided I was not one of his macho robocops and a threat to his regime of "officers who have a power trip that they are God". Any comments? Still a CO5

Sep 07, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Waiting for the “SHU” to drop I've been an NYS CO for more than eight years and I have seen many inmates seriously misbehave and interrupt the daily operations of a whole entire correctional facility. If these inmates are indeed mentally ill they should not be in a general confinement facility. Mentally ill inmates pose a serious threat to the safety of staff and fellow inmates alike. Their unstable behavior makes a dangerous place all that more dangerous. If the state cannot confine them for the safety of all others involved, tell me what can be done. -James Fitzpatrick

Sep 07, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Crossing the line I have worked as a CO in a small (population between 120-130 inmates) county jail for 18 years. Over the years there have been more incidents involving inappropriate inmate-officer activity with female officers, but the female officers have always been allowed to resign due to a lack of evidence. The incidents involving male officer-inmate activity resulted in prosecution. I don't know if this happens in other facilities but this would definitely skew the statistics. -Rinda Ueckert, Hall County, Nebraska

Sep 07, 2007 murfunit	Article: Waiting for the “SHU” to drop The "SHU" bill is interesting. Based on what I am reading the bill formalizes the road to a special housing unit. My own correctional experience (24 years at Rikers Island) tells me there is more to this bill than meets the eye. Effectively it places Correction Operations into the Mental Health business, especially since due process "tickets" required by the bill become a tracking mechanism for inmates with special behaviors that are remedied by special housing. Quite frankly Corrections does not belong in the Mental Health business, because our mission is pretty clearly stated: to provide care, custody and control to individuals who have been charged with criminal offenses by the courts. When we find our correctional processes being over run by medical or mental health processes, we find the character of our mission compromised. The best example I can use is about the inmate who acts out egregiously enough that he/she is required to be placed in Punitive Segregation. While the "due process" period is open, that inmate may be savvy enough to indicate that his/her actions are indicative of a mental health problem. The punitive process stops and the inmate goes through the mental health process. If the inmate crafts a good enough mental health defense, Punitive Segregation time may be avoided all together. Hence the Special Housing Unit is invented to answer this need. I think clearer guidelines and review boards that see this scenario clearly could plug loop holes that allow inmates to "play the system" to their advantage. Now for inmates with genuine psychosis or mental defect: the law should be followed with the inmate being turned over to the mental health professionals or the State Mental Health Department. I am afraid to say that Corrections has become the vehicle for holding many unsafe individuals from society, when other municipal agencies should be responsible for their care and treatment. This is where I think the "SHU" bill could become dangerous for inmates and correctional staff alike. It creates the potential to "shoe-horn" inmates into "SHU" housing that actually may not be suited for their needs. This adds a burden to correctional staff who have to deal with this action until someone makes a determination that this inmate did not belong in an "SHU." I personally feel that the Mental Health business needs a thorough review of its mission for mentally incapable people who act out dangerously, psychotically, and/or violently. Jail is not necessarily the answer for this group of people.

Sep 04, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Crossing the line Yes I know several officers that have gotten into intimate relationships with inmates and have lost their jobs. Most of them resigned so that weren't charged that I know of. I worked the prison system for 10 years and I can see how inmates try to get into your personal lives to get close to you. They try all kinds of ways from offering you canteen items to compliments, to religion, even money. They try to play on your emotions by playing close attention to your moods and ways. If you read the Bible or have any kind of book they play close attention and ask inappropriate questions. In the prison system a female has to be strong and not be caught up in the game. To the inmate he has nothing to lose and it gives him something to brag about to the other inmates, because he is going to tell, they always do. I have seen nurses, even a female Chaplin get caught up as well as female officers. I learned in the academy that you never give an inmate anything and you don't take anything from them and you will be alright. That's how I have lasted 15 years and I don't allow them to ask me my personal business. The inmates tell others that I'm a switch out, one day I seem nice to talk too and the next day I'm all business. I keep them off balance in trying to figure me out. -GS

Aug 30, 2007 ru	Article: Crossing the line Definitely a good article and a subject that needs more coverage.

Aug 30, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Crossing the line I think this was an excellent article; it would be great to see more specific training for all DOC staff regarding such concerns - especially staff that are deemed most vulnerable to such situations.

Aug 28, 2007 CCNNreader	Article: Becoming a prison town I was most impressed by reading this article. Having worked for more than 10 years with corrections I received a lot of the alienation from the community as well. Working in a prison is not always what it seems. The pay is great, but the mental and emotional stress is greater. When I say greater, I mean stress can create physical problems. There was a report done some years ago, which stated correctional employees have a higher rate of divorce than any other law enforcement agency. Now that is saying a lot. Corrections employees have a relationship with other employees. In other words, they congregate amongst themselves leaving old friends out of the network. This can create a them vs. us environment. I don't believe the alienation is purpose, but who can you relate to other than another corrections employee regarding stress. One that works with corrections is more than likely consumed with his or her work. This places stress on family and friendship. When having a new prison in town most of the employees are overworked. The only good thing is the prison will boost the economy. What communities should consider is having the prison contribute to the economy more so than the employees who are just working there. Contributions to city/local government to eliminate the stress from the taxpayers, etc. Thanks for the opportunity to write my opinion.

Aug 27, 2007 Brian	Article: Prison halts kosher meals This should be their religious diet.....EAT OR STARVE!!!

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