I work in a prison - AMA

[VictoriaBun]

Just that really. I am not a uniformed officer but work in a Bcat jail and work with prisoners.

Why do prison officers treat visitors like dirt when they go to visit the prisoner?

When you say great like dirt. How exactly ?
Although I've worked in the prison for 9 years, I've never been to the visitors centre so haven't seen the process of visitors entering the prison. I would like to think everyone is treated with respect. I'd hope that most officers would treat everyone well once they have carried out the obvious checks. Put in a complaint of you feel you are repeatedly getting badly treated.

What percentage of prisoners do you feel belong in there or need to be in there?

Like being rough in the search, making sly comments about said prisoner to you, one even told a child (not mine) that his dad was in prison not at work!

I'd answer the question about the percentage of prisoners who deserve to be there to be 100% if they have committed a crime serious enough to warrant a sentence.
But there are prisoners who have not committed a crime but have taken that crime from a family member or friend so that they do not end up in prison. i.e. older brother already a petty criminal in and out of prison, will say it was them so that their younger, not yet received a sentence brother does not get a criminal record.

Also you see the same men in the winter who come in for a short sentence. They are homeless but commit a petty crime so they spend the winter months somewhere warm and being fed. Very sad but it happens.

What sort of crimes do you struggle to attribute to the offenders?

Do you ever feel scared of the prisoners

What sort of support is there for prisoners in prison to identify why they offend etc are there rehabilitation goals for long term offenders and who ensure these are met?

Thank you for answering my question.

Do you think you become less compassionate and more hardened as time goes on? Is it hard to maintain a respect for the people you serve in jails, and their families? Have you worked in the prison system for long?

How often do you see someone leave prison where you think, "He REALLY shouldn't be let out now"?

I work in a Bcat male prisoner which also holds young offenders. So that means 18-21:year olds. They are housed in a separate wing but would mix with adult prisoners (over 21) at work ,the gym or education.
I would say the 18-21 year olds are much more challenging than the older men.
I don't judge any prisoner due to his crime, many I would never know what they have actually done but also quite a few will chat to you and are quite open and will tell you.
My prison has a sex offenders wing and I do work with them also. These prisoners usually do not discuss their crime. You often hear about what they have done once they have been sentenced and it has been on local radio/newspaper.
A few prisoners are also more 'notorious ' and their crime has reached national newspaper / tv.

I'm not scared of prisoners on the whole but I am always fully alert to the situation around me. I have had an extremely violent prisoner come into my area of work but 3 prisoner officers accompanied him. I was told to stay at arms length and not turn my back. I have a panic alarm near my desk, and carry abrasion to call for assistance of required.
I have 3 prisoners who work for me so they (kind of ) look out for me. I can have an additional 15 or so prisoners in the room as well.

Can I ask how you got into working in a prison? I would love to do this but feel like I couldn't afford or have time for another degree or college course now I have children.

I'd like to think I'm a compassionate person, and if I can help someone I will endeavour to do so. You do have to be aware of what is acceptable to comply with prison rules. For example if a prisoner have you a letter and said he did not have a stamp to post and could a stamp be put on it and posted out. I would not do this and would report him to security. It has been known for prisoners to groom staff into doing things for them which start small and then gets bigger.

There are many non uniform positions in prison. Kitchens, medical,education, admin etc. Also electricians, plumbers many do not need a degree . It's more about having a prison in your area.

I have worked in my prison for 9 years, and saw it advertised in my local newspapers job page. Easy as that !

Do you feel safe at work and, sorry 2 questions, do you feel supported?

Thanks for replying. I will definitely look into this as there is a young offenders institute in our area. Well done for doing what you do!

Some prisoners are released and you know you will see them again. They will even joke about seeing you again soon !
If I'm honest for most prisoners a prison does not rehabilitate them.

There are many courses in prison which can address the reason a person has come into prison. Take drug use for example. A man has committed a crime due to drugs. He gets a sentence and whilst in prison will receive medication ( methadone perhaps ) he will have regular drug tests, will be put on a drug rehab course and will get the help he needs. But drugs are available in prison via smuggling in by new prisoners/visitors/ drones and yes corrupt prison staff, so he could still get access and choose to return to his drug life once he gets out. It's known as the revolving door.

What's your opinion on 'Custy Cosy Proson Life?'

I.e) Tv, game consoles, etc.

Do you think manual labour should come back?

Where is the manual labour gone 🤷🏻‍♀️
For example Shaw Shank Redemption😆

Cushty it was meant to say 🤦🏻‍♀️

In the prison I work in all prisoners are encouraged to work .
They go to some form of work (or education ) from 8.45 am until 12 . Then 1.30 - 4.30. It can be as cleaners on the wing, working in the laundry, various work places, packing tea,coffee,sugar sachets into boxes to go out to other prisons. Doing some light assembly for an outside company . Training courses, making up computers, brick laying, decorating training and lots of other forms of work. They do get paid and we are talking £10 - £25 ish. Out of that they have to buy stamps, paper, toiletries (they get issued horrible soap,toothpaste,deodorant ) but most buy their own. Also extra food, coffee tea sweets etc. It is known as canteen, and often the price can be a little more expensive than we would get from the supermarket.

A friend of mine also works in a prison - hers is Category A though, and there’s some pretty notorious criminals (ie well known murderer etc). We were discussing how realistic prison-based tv shows etc are when it comes to depictions of relationships between prisoners. She was telling me how it’s very much against the rules for inmates to engage in any kind of sexual contact with other inmates, but at the same time they know it happens, so condoms are handed out. How common is it? The famous prison tale of inmates bumming each other in the showers etc either consensually or otherwise?!