If You’re A CO And Don’t Have A Colleague Nicknamed Robocop, It’s You – You’re Robocop
Corrections1.com recently posted the question in this headline and received mixed reviews. Here at Federal Prison Tips, we have a ton of viewers who are correctional officers in federal prison.
So, which one earns inmate respect – towing the line, or a hardass role-playing robocop?
Correctional officers are always tuned in to the prison culture. They know who’s writing everything up, and they know who’s screwing around. Most have a good idea of who has a phone and where the phones are coming from – and it’s a matter of time until they catch you in the act.
Respect is a two way street. To get respect, you gotta give respect. That’s especially true for inmates in federal prison. Inmates are acutely aware that correctional officers get to go home to their families every night – meanwhile, the prison is the inmates’ home, and your workday takes place in that home.
At the end of the day, consistency is key. As a correctional officer, you will get more respect from inmates if you arrive as the same correctional officer every day. Don’t try to change it up – whether it’s in the direction of leniency or trying to be more of a hardass, it will appear that you’re putting up an act. You’re blowing smoke up somebody’s ass. And that’s not a good look.