Page 7 - 2021_MJ_Complete

guest
editorial

Yes, Correctional Officers Are LEOs

A riot has broken out in the They stand tall in the face of that corrections has evolved. Anthony Gangi
mess hall and, within seconds, adversity and risk their lives It’s a noble and honest law
two suited teams stand at the to maintain an environment enforcement profession.
ready. In a military fashion, that is conducive to rehabilita- Jails and prisons are no
the team members enter the tion. It’s an environment that longer considered warehouses
mess hall and form a line promises hope to the hopeless. with little personal interac-
between order and chaos. Recent cries of civil unrest tions limited to a simple turn
Before marching forward, they on the streets have become of a key. Inmate rehabilitation
wonder if today will be that the center of attention as small has now become the main
tragic day. They clash. Inmates portions of the citizenry take focus and interpersonal staff
fight to gain ground, but the an aggressive stance against interactions with the criminal
suited teams armed with their protectors. This may feel element are made every day.
batons maintain control. Lives a little strange to those on the Correctional officers’ level
are saved as inmates who outside, but to correctional of control relates to their abil-
are not involved are quickly officers, this defines their exis- ity to enforce the rules and
escorted to safety. Those who tence. It is an existence that is regulations that govern a com-
chose to riot are subdued and centered on a subset of society munity in constant movement.
escorted to medical for evalua- who wishes to violently break They are the “keepers” who
tions. Today, the line could not away from authority and find remain surrounded by the
be broken. utopia among the subsequent “enemy.” They remain weap-
For the moment, the riot chaos and disorder that would onless as they walk the tiers.
has been quelled. The suited ensue. Law and order is all that Their ability to communicate
teams hang up their gear and these officers have to maintain becomes paramount.
movement within the facility control over a subset of soci-
goes back to normal. Today ety dominated by hatred and Continued on page 68
they were lucky. Tomorrow, greed.
who knows?
Don’t Call Us “Guards”
Walking the Thin Blue Line There are some who will
Within these walls—and read this and quickly belittle
defined by many as turn keys, what correctional officers do Correctional officers
jail guards, or overpaid baby- from a perspective that is far
sitters—are men and women removed from the dangers
who live and die by their that lie within. Their limited are part of the united
sworn oath to protect and knowledge of who correc-
serve; men and women who tional officers are will cast blue family; don’t
have earned their badges and doubt in the hearts of others
belong to the brotherhood/ who believe and have faith
sisterhood of law enforcement in the services they provide. isolate them.
professionals. They are cor- By remaining on the outside,
rectional officers. those with a negative view
will always be limited. But, if
they could experience the cor-
rectional officers’ world, unre-
stricted from the dangers that
wait, they would see firsthand

AMERICANJails MAY | JUNE 2021 | 5