For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
CORRECTIONS OFFICERS DESCRIBE A DIFFICULT, STRESSFUL JOB AND CONDITIONS THAT PUT STAFF AND PRISONERS AT RISK
Today, the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons began hearing testimony from corrections officers who described their work environment and conditions that compromise the safety and well-being of both staff and prisoners.
"What we're seeing is a vast, but poorly understood workforce that shoulders tremendous responsibilities, many times without adequate leadership, training, or resources," said Commission Co-Chair Nicholas de B. Katzenbach in his opening remarks. "These failures harm prisoners, put officers in jeopardy, and ultimately have an impact on our society."
One of the line officers who testified was Ronald Kaschak. He described being an employee of the Mahoning County Jail near Youngstown, Ohio, with three years on the job and feeling subject to the whims of senior supervisors who ordered him and other officers to beat an inmate. Kaschak, who is currently awaiting sentencing for the incident, recounted the abuse and explained the fear and confusion that lead less experienced officers to follow even inappropriate orders.
Corrections Officer Lou West described a job that is difficult even under the best circumstances, where leadership is strong and resources are available. "In the pod, there's no getting away from the inmates," said West. "I'm asked to address all their needs and to be ready for any emotional disturbance." In the St. Louis jail where West works, he supervises 67 people out in the open and relies on interpersonal skills and 25 years of experience to meet the demands of the job and reap the rewards of helping people.
Heads of state corrections departments helped to put these personal experiences in context:
Theodis Beck, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Correction described how the job of a corrections officer has become increasingly complex and challenging as the prison and jail population has expanded and grown more diverse and troubled. "Today's correctional officer must be able to look at situations from an inmate's perspective," said Beck. "He must be in tune to the changing situation of aging inmates, know how to deal with offenders who may be suicidal, be able to recognize gang signs and colors, speak foreign languages, and be sensitive to issues involving supervision of offenders of the opposite sex."
Massachusetts Corrections Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy opened her statement by expressing the need for a national look at prisons and jails. "This Commission has opened a dialogue about the problems and challenges of prison abuse and safety faced by correctional leaders," she said. "These issues must continue to remain at the forefront of discussions across the country." She also described her efforts to improve training and support for officers and also to challenge the combative mentality and code of silence that develops in some correctional facilities – putting both prisoners and staff at risk of violence and abuse. "For years, training has encouraged an 'us vs. them' mentality," she said. "The need for boundaries is imperative, yet the consequence of dehumanization is catastrophic."
California corrections labor leader Lance Corcoran, underscored the challenges officers face. "I do not think that much of the public really understands the pressures and challenges of the correctional profession," said Corcoran. "And therein lies the problem. Since corrections is often an afterthought as a profession within the criminal justice system, how can we attract and retain the best qualified personnel?"
Over the course of the two-day hearing, which continues tomorrow, additional corrections leaders and other witnesses will address the personal toll on officers and their families of working in a stressful environment; the need for bettering training, particularly in the use of force; the role of leadership and professional accreditation in promoting safety; and differences between public and private facilities. Go to the Commission web site for a complete agenda and list of witnesses.
The Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons is a diverse, 21-member, nonpartisan panel co-chaired by former United States Attorney General Nicholas de B. Katzenbach and the Honorable John J. Gibbons, former Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Commission formed in March 2005 and will work for one year to explore the most serious problems inside U.S. correctional facilities and their impact on the incarcerated, the men and women who staff facilities, and society at large. The Commission is staffed by and funded through the Vera Institute of Justice.
Download a copy of this release in PDF format.
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