Inmate/Staff Relationships

Daiona08 · Jun 22, 2015

I've been a Correctional Officer in a state prison for the last 16 years. I am also currently enrolled in Nursing School. I've worked with Death Row, Ad-SEG and General Population Offenders. I've seen it all. I remember starting in Corrections when I was 18, fresh out of High School, thinking to myself these stories can't be real. I am now 35 and I tell you these incidents are common and real. Some get caught before their plan can be carried out and others are able to proceed with their plans.

Tina, RN · Jun 22, 2015

So interesting. I absolutely can't wrap my head around this. But, as amoLucia mentioned, it's like teachers getting involved with students. Wrong on so many levels, and tons of risk. Terrible, terrible idea...

Thanks for the insight, everyone!

Barbara H. · Jun 22, 2015

Beats me why some women want to loose everything getting involved with inmates. ...if you want to get involved with a looser why not find one on the streets...there are plenty around and it will at least not get you in trouble professionally...

ms pooh · Jun 27, 2015

Hi, I have been in corrections for about 9 years now, in a private camp(3 years) and now in a state camp (6 years) The first orientation that I went to a LT. told us that if you practice these 3 rules you will not get caught up in the games inmates play.

1. Never give an inmate anything, not even the time of day.

2. There is no such thing as a good inmate, they are in prison for a reason.

3. Always be fair, firm and consistent. If you are going to do something special for one inmate then be prepared to do for the other 1500 or 3000 other inmates. If you are not willing to do this don't do it for one inmate.

Be courteous and 9 out of 10 times the inmates will be courteous.

Qteapi · Jun 27, 2015

My sister worked with men's correctional for 30 years and retired from the same facility she started with....she was not having it...she always made it plain....y'all can't do nothing for me up in here making pennies and can't do nothing for me on the outside when you can't get a j-o-b ....so step off....they didn't mess with my sis! Hehehehe....had another sister to work with men's correctional for 15 years they didn't mess with her either....she had the same spill as my other sister....so it is done every day not to fall for inmates but it is done just as often as those ones who do fall for inmates. My sister said you have to be intentional about drawing the line daily!

RNforLongTime · Jun 28, 2015

I think I read a comment here that said the only thing an inmate can offer you is Prison Time....that's it. I'm polite and nice to all the inmates...they'll say hi to me if I see them on the Walk or on my way to chow. I say hi back. Or say hi first. I'm a friendly person. IN NO WAY am I flirting with them. Just merely treating them like a human being

SinMiedo · Jul 6, 2015

My dad-- a recently retired DOC Lt-- told me when I started working corrections, "If an inmate has something coming to him, give it. Otherwise be polite, be alert, and stay in your lane."

I feel like it was a pretty comprehensive guide to working in corrections in one tidy statement--in addition, of course, to "Put in your 8 and hit the gate; Don't take that mess home with you."

Sadly, some of the other gems of advice he likes to dispense are a bit off colour for this board, lol.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2015

I don't know how common it is, but a gal I went to school w/ got involved with a winner. She was maybe 5 yrs older than me, but it was a small town. Her brother was in my class in HS, and her sister was 3 yrs ahead of me in the same college. We rode together on occasion because school was 3 hrs away from home.

Anyway, the gal in question got into a relationship with this animal and later (after she was fired and he was released) lured another guy over to her place. Her boyfriend was laying in wait and then killed him and they disposed of the body. Crazy. I'm not sure if she's still in jail; I think he was sentenced to life but not 100%

ixchel · Jul 6, 2015

I don't know how common it is, but a gal I went to school w/ got involved with a winner. She was maybe 5 yrs older than me, but it was a small town. Her brother was in my class in HS, and her sister was 3 yrs ahead of me in the same college. We rode together on occasion because school was 3 hrs away from home.
Anyway, the gal in question got into a relationship with this animal and later (after she was fired and he was released) lured another guy over to her place. Her boyfriend was laying in wait and then killed him and they disposed of the body. Crazy. I'm not sure if she's still in jail; I think he was sentenced to life but not 100%

Holy crap. I've joked that if you want to kill a person, ask a nurse how. If you want to hide a body, ask a cop where. I imagine a corrections nurse might be talented at both. lol

jojo489 · Jul 6, 2015

I noticed a lot of these posts refer to a woman working in corrections getting sucked in by a prisoner....just wanted to throw in there that male correctional employees are just as likely to get sucked in.

I know someone who worked at a women's correctional facility...ended up getting an inmate pregnant. Lost his wife, his kid, his job and his freedom for a while. Also came to find out the inmate had AIDS. And his relationship went on with that particular one for months before it was exposed. Devastated his entire family, and because of the timing, the baby had to be tested as well. Luckily, no one showed positive.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2015

Holy crap. I've joked that if you want to kill a person, ask a nurse how. If you want to hide a body, ask a cop where. I imagine a corrections nurse might be talented at both. lol

No kidding! To clarify, this woman wasn't a nurse. She was a CO, not far out of school either.