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A corrections officer once told me that when justice settings. However, this article discusses
he joined his agency, other custody staff would not another kind of code of silence: the “I’m
talk to him. But after he dealt with the murder of an good!” code of silence—one that, sadly, may
incarcerated individual without blinking an eye— be of epidemic proportions in corrections
showing no signs of emotional distress—he was and detention work settings.
warmly embraced by veteran staff and welcomed The “I’m good!” code of silence is
into the fold. He told me the message he received about peer and organizational pressure
that day—loudly and clearly—was that he should for staff to deny and cover up their
never reveal he was affected by what he witnessed personal distress and emotional turmoil,
at work, no matter how gruesome. especially when these are due to the impact
of the job. This code of silence is just as
How the Code of Silence Works damaging as the code of silence regarding
This officer continued to work for another 14 professional misconduct, and it can be deadly
years in corrections, serving on the front lines. when it affects staff well-being.
During the course of his (outwardly, at least)
successful career, he went through two major Why the “I’m Good!” Code of Silence Exists
relationship breakups, became dependent on alcohol Becoming emotionally impacted by the job
and tobacco products, and developed a propensity may be viewed by staff in various criminal justice
to play violent computer games after work for workforce cultures as evidence of being “weak,”
five or more hours at a time, almost daily. He also not worthy of respect, undependable in a crisis, and
suffered from numerous post-traumatic symptoms ultimately unfit for the job. Consequently, the peer
for which he sought no professional help until they pressure to conform to this standard of “I’m good!”
became incapacitating. Up until that point, the is very powerful.
possibility of addressing his mental health struggles This mindset typically starts at the training
was not even a conscious option for him. This officer academy, where new recruits are indirectly
was operating under the oppression of the “I’m traumatized by viewing videos of assaults, riots,
good!” code of silence. and other incidents of violence, injury and death,
When we hear the term “code of silence,” and discussions of inmate suicide, self-mutilation,
most of us think of the peer pressure to not report or in-custody death due to overdosing on street
policy violations or any other type of professional drugs.
misconduct committed by coworkers in criminal
2021 © Caterina Spinaris, PhD, LPC

8 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022 AMERICANJails