Page 70 - 2021_MJ_Complete

Guest Editorial
Continued from page 5

The Pressures of Being a Don’t Isolate Corrections In their fight, they have lost
Correctional Officer In the eyes of those who many but continue to remain
Correctional officers need to oppose, correctional officers strong. Failure to recognize
remain firm, fair, and consis- become a reflection of the their importance is a failure to
tent in their dealings with the criminal element they super- recognize a brother or sister
inmate population. They need vise. This reflection presents a who would die for the same
to show no fear in a world that major conflict because it sepa- things those on the outside rep-
is dominated by predators and rates them from their brothers/ resent. Embrace the complete
aggressors. They are the law sisters in blue and brings them circle of law enforcement and
within these walls and any- closer to the offenders in their acknowledge those who lurk in
thing less than direct obedience charge. The more they stand in the shadows and perform their
from the inmate population isolation, the more they begin services in the dark. Embrace
is seen as a threat to their to question their importance. them as law enforcement pro-
existence. It is within that last statement fessionals and see them as they
Their interactions with the that some may mistakenly see you: one united blue family.
offender population consist of see being a police officer as a
multiple elements that define step up from working in the Editor’s Note: Reprinted with
the role of a law enforcement “tombs.” permission from Corrections1
professional, minus the recog- As law enforcement profes- by Lexipol.
nition. These professionals stop sionals, correctional officers run
assaults, prevent suicides and parallel with police officers and
homicides, suppress gang activ- their contribution to society For over 18 years, Anthony Gangi
ity, seize contraband, conduct is embedded in the personal has worked in corrections. He
investigations, make arrests, sacrifices that they make on a served on the custody level and
and, most importantly, prevent daily basis to maintain their has moved through the ranks from
line officer to supervisor. With a
escapes. All of these elements sense of control over the “kept” background in psychology, he has
assist other law enforcement and ensure that those who become a leading expert in inmate
agencies in maintaining a safe are locked away are given the manipulation. He is the host of
and secure society. It’s by this chance to become productive Tier Talk, which can be found on
definition they have secured members of society. YouTube. He currently serves on
the Executive Board of the New
their place in the law enforce- Even though correctional Jersey chapter of the American
ment family. officers may stand unrecog- Correctional Association. He can
But there may still be some nized by those who remain be contacted at gangianthony@
who deny corrections is law outside, they are still motivated yahoo.com.
enforcement. They maintain to do their job by their sworn
a perspective in which cor- duty to protect and serve. Being
rections and law enforcement a professional means you do
remain unequal and any chance the job because the job has to
to create a sense of equality get done. Correctional officers
gets pushed aside. As law make sacrifices the public may
enforcement across the country never know and may never
is under attack, this kind of care about. They risk their lives
mockery is misplaced. every day in service to the
public.

68 | MAY | JUNE 2021 AMERICANJails