Some of you know that after the Air Force I spent my career working in federal prisons. I started at a maximum security penitentiary (USP Lompoc) and worked every other level of prison over 22 years. Did a 3 year stint at USP Leavenworth as well.
Working in prisons can and does change you. As the unknown author of the paragraphs below explains, these changes are a coping mechanism to help one deal with the ugly things one sees working with the dregs of society.
Fortunately for me, I was able to retire 10 years ago, have allowed God to intervene in my life and He has wiped away any PTSD I may have suffered from my career.
But there is a lot of truth in the words below, as my BOP coworkers will attest. Working in prisons is not for everyone. Just like police officers on the streets, it takes a special kind of person to work inside the walls and fences that house those who couldn't function normally in society.
Here is an explanation of it that I wish I'd written. I thought it important enough to share and wish I knew who the author was.
"Those who fight monsters inevitably change. Because of all that they see and do, they lose their innocence, and a piece of their humanity with it. If they want to survive, they begin to adopt some of the same characteristics as the monsters they fight. It is necessary. They become capable of rage, and extreme violence.
"There is a fundamental difference, however. They keep those monster tendencies locked away in a cage, deep inside. That monster is only allowed out to protect others, to accomplish the mission, to get the job done - not for the perverse pleasure that the monsters feel when they harm others. In fact, those monster tendencies cause damage...GUILT, ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, PTSD.
"There is a cost for visiting violence on others when you are not a monster. Those who do so know one thing - the cost inflicted upon society as a whole is far greater without those who fight monsters. That is why they are willing to make that horrible sacrifice so that others may live peaceably.
Before you judge one of us, remember this...
Working in prisons can and does change you. As the unknown author of the paragraphs below explains, these changes are a coping mechanism to help one deal with the ugly things one sees working with the dregs of society.
Fortunately for me, I was able to retire 10 years ago, have allowed God to intervene in my life and He has wiped away any PTSD I may have suffered from my career.
But there is a lot of truth in the words below, as my BOP coworkers will attest. Working in prisons is not for everyone. Just like police officers on the streets, it takes a special kind of person to work inside the walls and fences that house those who couldn't function normally in society.
Here is an explanation of it that I wish I'd written. I thought it important enough to share and wish I knew who the author was.
"Those who fight monsters inevitably change. Because of all that they see and do, they lose their innocence, and a piece of their humanity with it. If they want to survive, they begin to adopt some of the same characteristics as the monsters they fight. It is necessary. They become capable of rage, and extreme violence.
"There is a fundamental difference, however. They keep those monster tendencies locked away in a cage, deep inside. That monster is only allowed out to protect others, to accomplish the mission, to get the job done - not for the perverse pleasure that the monsters feel when they harm others. In fact, those monster tendencies cause damage...GUILT, ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, PTSD.
"There is a cost for visiting violence on others when you are not a monster. Those who do so know one thing - the cost inflicted upon society as a whole is far greater without those who fight monsters. That is why they are willing to make that horrible sacrifice so that others may live peaceably.
Before you judge one of us, remember this...
"We witness things that humans aren't meant to see, and we see them repeatedly. We perform the duties that you feel are beneath you. We solve your problems - often by visiting violence upon others. We run towards the things that you run away from. We go out to fight what you fear. We stand between you and the monsters that want to damage you. You want to pretend that they don't exist, but we know better. We do the things that the vast majority are too soft, too weak, too cowardly to do.
"Your life is more peaceful, because of us.
"The current political climate in this country holds that there is nothing worth fighting for. Submission is the popular mantra. Warriors are decried, denigrated, and cast as morally inferior. We know how childish, how asinine, and how cowardly that mindset is.
"We know this - there ARE things worth fighting, and dying for. We know that not every problem can be solved through rational discourse - that some problems can only be solved through the application of force and violence. And, while we do prefer the former, we are perfectly capable of the latter.
We believe that fighting what others fear is honorable, noble, and just - and we are willing to pay the price for that deeply held belief. Why? For us, it isn't a choice...
"The current political climate in this country holds that there is nothing worth fighting for. Submission is the popular mantra. Warriors are decried, denigrated, and cast as morally inferior. We know how childish, how asinine, and how cowardly that mindset is.
"We know this - there ARE things worth fighting, and dying for. We know that not every problem can be solved through rational discourse - that some problems can only be solved through the application of force and violence. And, while we do prefer the former, we are perfectly capable of the latter.
We believe that fighting what others fear is honorable, noble, and just - and we are willing to pay the price for that deeply held belief. Why? For us, it isn't a choice...
It is what we are. We are simply built that way."
~ Author Unknown
~ Author Unknown
Some people will never understand are life's and all the stuff we go through. Are life's aren't easy, this job can change you! This store hits the nail right on the head. J.Gonzalez S.O.S COLEMAN FL.
ReplyDeleteLove the way this was written. Thanks for posting this. I also retired from the prison system and thank God that I was able to. I have a lot of friends for one reason or other never made it out to see retirement. Glad to see someone put this in such great words.
ReplyDeleteI beleive the author of this is The Honerable Mick Adams , Warden
ReplyDeleteReally? Any way to verify? I'd love to know who wrote it so I can give him/her credit.
DeleteYou have to walk those ranges to understand this....
ReplyDeleteI have to atest to some of this,I am an educated buisness owner now but at one time I was locked up in prison with all of the people that as this story puts it,a menace to society. This needs to be outlined more so,not all prison guards are as squeaky clean as it states and not everyone locked up are a menace to society,there needs to be categorization of both. I try my very best to be as honest and as good a person that I know how to be these days and have for many years,but in this day and time you can get sent to prison for most anything and all that separates you from some of them is one wrong decision or the blink of an eye. I am not boohooing my time I got sent there,at the time it was the best thing ever happened to me,helped me to change things that needed changing,but those that make a career choice to be a prison guard does just that,they choose to be, nobody starts off life in grade school drawing pictures of being a prison guard someday. I have family that have been in law enforcement, military ,and yes prison guards as well,and I pray for every one of them,and it's very true that not everyone are cut out to be a guard,the few ones that are carry themselves different, they give respect and they get it,those that are not cut out for it needs to find a different career because they give the rest a bad name and there again,it's a career or job,it's nothing that at anytime you can't choose to do something different. Only an opinion from experience and not meaning to disrespect anyone's thoughts or opinions not my intentions. Thanks for giving me the opportunity for my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and congratulations on turning your life around. The majority do not.
DeleteAs you said - not all correctional officers (the preferred title) are squeaky clean but the article doesn't say they are. It doesn't address it. It addresses the things that correctional workers deal with on a regular basis. Those same things would apply to inmates. They see the bad things too and they don't get to go home at the end of 8 hours. But that's a topic for another article.
Treating people with dignity is a two way street, whether you're locked up or supervising those locked up. It's taught in training but not everyone understands it. Continued success to you.
It does take a special person to do the job! But I will also comment on Hollers comment about this, you don't end up at a United States Penitentiary from making change in the collection plate at church. If you are at a USP you have proven yourself to be a menace to society and a threat to humanity. Just wanted to clear this up and also say I have never been sitting on the couch watching TV at home with my family and arrested. Life is about choices folks, everyone has them and some choose to cause harm to others and property. I guess I just treat others as I would like to treated and lawfully obtain the things that I feel is needed.
DeleteSo true working in this environment u look at everything different even when you are not at work. You notice things that other people don’t, you are always on alert
ReplyDeleteYour exactly right No Know It All ,that's what has happened to a lot of society these days,no respect nor dignity ,there isn't any sir or mam in people's vocabulary . And to clarify ,I'm not the best with words ,my hats off to the men and women that are correctional guards ,just the same as the people locked up ,a few bad can give bad name for the rest ,just in the case of inmates ,there are a lot more bad . There was a few guards over the state that actually took the time to set down and talk to me ,grown big Burley men ,men that could have probably broke me into over their knee ,and those men made a difference in the rest of my life one of which I saved him from a trash poker to the back of the head ,and to this day we are the best of friends. That place isn't for the light at heart ,on either side. My mom use to say ,it takes a special kind of woman to be married to truckers ,military and law enforcement.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Scott. Congratulations on turning your life around. Most correctional workers want to make a difference, both in the lives of those entrusted to them and to society. Sometimes it's the most difficult job in the world. Other times it's rewarding and satisfying. I loved my job, particularly as a Lieutenant and Captain. And I know several inmates in whose lives I did make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI believe the unknown author was pretty accurate with the 4 main types of damage done by burying the monster down deep within the soul not to be exposed to anyone especially by those you love. In a way you get a very small glimpse of what Jesus felt on the cross from the pain of the sins that everyone has committed. That awareness begins to manifest when you retire and have the time to begin to notice what that damage has begun to take from you as you scramble to minimize the effect. God Bless and continued success in your retirement.
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