Guard Types
While employed at the Hampton Sheriff’s Department I always experienced the different characteristics or attitudes in Correctional Officers. I considered myself as Pollyannas this because I have seen how my colleagues would treat those that were incarcerated with disrespect and disregard to their needs however minor there were. I was the opposite gaining an inmate’s respect was important to me because they would follow my orders.
Hard asses on the other hand were difficult to work with this is because they stirred inmates to be confrontational and or hostile toward those with these attitudes. This usually had long lasting affects which extended over to the next shift. In addition if the Shift Commander for that section is restrict and stern with inmates regarding jail policy and procedures then that same attitude trickles down to their subordinates. I disagree that hard asses are inexperience officers because even those that are experienced display this trait.
More importantly I would always run into one or two correctional officers that are burnout. These individuals are robotic in their actions since they have been doing the job for 10 to 15 years. They avoid confrontation and will flee on the sign of danger. They are not interested in promotion since that is an increase of unwanted responsibility. If called to do anything out of the ordinary will confuse and frustrate them.
Banks, C. (2013). Criminal justice ethics. (3rd ed., pp. 163-164). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE
