Blog #18

All Corrections Officers are required to complete a formal training before they begin their assigned duties. The state and federal systems usually train men and women together and require the same curriculum and testing. In reading Britton’s study it is quite obvious that most state department’s of correction are underfunded, while the federal system has more money because of the government’s contributions. It is interesting to note that federal officers seem to have a higher level of satisfaction compared to state trained officers as well. Most officers see their trainings as slightly helpful but claim that the real training is done “on the job”.

I found one particular section of Britton’s research to be shocking. It seems time and time again CO’s claimed that their co-worker had helped them with their job, but inmates trained them. Officer’s repeatedly affirmed the fact that inmates actually helped them learn their new job, and did it willingly. The inmates actually seem to want order just as much as the Corrections Officers do. One CO claimed that if he really wanted to know how to do something or find out what had happened he would simply ask one of the inmates.

Male and women officers also noted that violence within prisons was exaggerated greatly during their training. In fact some of the videos shown during training caused recruits to quit. These officers interviewed claimed that the video violence and the portrayal of male violence within prisons were overblown. I survey in 1995 proves their accusations showing that 91% of prison’s recorded no such violence in regards to rioting throughout an entire year.

Men and women inmates are quite different statistically and this transcends into the way they are treated during their sentences. Men are more likely to be serving time for violent offenses. Men have longer criminal histories. And men are more likely to escape once in custody. Because of this male inmates are subject to higher security standards than that of females. A different training regime needs to be instituted due to these drastic differences within male and female prisons. The proof is in the pudding. Corrections Officers time and time again say that the training is based solely on male inmates and prisons. Why is it that these officers are not being trained properly?