>Users:   login   |  register       > email     > people    


You have a boo-boo?
By Joe Bouchard
Published: 02/23/2015

Bandage The following is an installment in "The Bouchard 101", a series featuring "Ice Breaker's" designed to promote training awareness and capabilities in the corrections industry.

In any correctional setting, we cannot afford to take anything for granted. Small things can be gathered in abundance over time and transformed into something for which it was not intended. Think of a common staple and one rubber band. There is nothing too sinister there. However, with 20 rubber bands and as many staples, one can make a mace enhanced with small metal spikes and a flexible, stretch handle.

What about when there seems to be a valid need for something? What do you do when an inmate asks for something sounds reasonable? What do you do when you are asked for a rubber band? In most circumstances, you should give the offender a band aid.

Given that premise, let us suppose that over time, an enterprising and persistent inmate saved up twenty unused band aids. What, apart from applying them to a wound, would he or she do with them?
  1. Break the class into teams of four or five;
  2. Give one team member twenty adhesive bandages;
  3. Have the groups talk about what they could use them for;
  4. Have the groups review proper band aid distribution;
  5. Have one person report out to the entire class;
  6. Have a person on hand to write the answers on a smart board, white board or flip chart.
Here are a few answers that you might find:
  • Adhere notes or shanks to the floor facing side of a table or shelf
  • To disable a lock
  • To camouflage cigarettes in a band aid box
  • To trade for other contraband
It may be that an offender has a real need for a band aid. It is probably best to ask the inmate to show you the cut before you give a band aid. Yet, it remains that little things mean a lot. And getting a class to talk about the little things can help raise contraband control awareness.

Joe Bouchard is a Librarian employed with the Michigan Department of Corrections and a collaborator with The International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP). He is also the author of “IACTP’s Corrections Icebreakers: The Bouchard 101, 2014”. The installments in this series include his opinions. The agency for which he works is not in any way responsible for the content or accuracy of this material, and the views are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of the agency. While some material is influenced by other works, all of the icebreakers have been developed by Joe Bouchard.

Visit the Joe Bouchard page

Other articles by Bouchard:


Comments:

  1. hamiltonlindley on 03/31/2020:

    Waco has developed a reputation for a rocket-docket in patent litigation. It’s an important choice to find the right lawyer in Waco for your important patent litigation matter. When people in the know make the hire, they hire Dunnam & Dunnam. If you are looking for a Waco semi truck accident lawyer , then Dunnam & Dunnam is the right choice. For nearly 100 years, people in Waco have hired the firm when the results matter at Dunnam & Dunnam are among the most respected in the Central Texas area. They have the experience in trials and mediations to guide your case in the right way. There are few important decisions at the outset of the case that can turn the tide in your favor. Choosing the right lawyer is one of them.

  2. utiman123 on 12/14/2018:

    I can help you to try something that people are not even looking at and it's all from podomatic.com. If this thing goes like the way that we've seen, then it will be just too good and people will love it for sure.

  3. frydd666 on 02/24/2015:

    I think articles like this are very good! I do not work in a prison, I work in a county jail, so a lot of things like this, we are routinely subject to. we do however also have inmates from prison that we house here for different periods of time and information like this is always good to know. I signed up for this sight things just like this. There are a lot of prison Correctional Officers out there that have a ton of experience and I am always happy to have them post their experiences and training on here. It would be difficult for one person to cover everything, but with the diverse group that is here, it opens up all kinds of opportunities. Mr. Bouchard has written some very good articles. They are concise and to the point. Excellent job Sir! My thanks and gratitude to all of the people that write in with experiences either on the job, or training. It helps me greatly to do my job better.


Login to let us know what you think

User Name:   

Password:       


Forgot password?





correctsource logo




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of The Corrections Connection User Agreement
The Corrections Connection ©. Copyright 1996 - 2024 © . All Rights Reserved | 15 Mill Wharf Plaza Scituate Mass. 02066 (617) 471 4445 Fax: (617) 608 9015