How Do You Teach a Class or Get Other Jobs in Federal Prison?
When Kyle Sandler, founder of Federal Prison Tips was incarcerated at the federal prison camp in Montgomery, he taught business classes, public speaking classes, and other ACE classes. ACE stands for Adult Continuing Education, and is how most formal classes are categorized.
He did so by going to the education department and talking to the inmates who work there before talking to the staff. That is the key element to securing most jobs in prison, orderly or food service positions not included.
You don’t want to go straight to the staff and potentially displace another inmate’s job – that’s a great way to make enemies in prison, which you obviously don’t want to do. Oftentimes in federal prison, there’s actually a pecking order amongst the inmates. You don’t want to step on an inmate’s toes who’s been working the same job for years.
It’s about respect. Respect is a big deal in any prison system.
First, you need to befriend the inmates working in the department or position you’re interested in, find out what openings exist, and talk to them about what you could do to contribute. Ask them if there are any openings. See if you’re going to be a fit with the existing culture and group of inmates that currently “run” that section of the prison.
Once you feel comfortable with the response you’ve received, that’s when you should go to staff to discuss applying for the position. Ideally, an inmate in that department has already gone to staff with a recommendation for your employment.
The truth is, staff may be the bureaucrats doing the paperwork for a particular department, but it’s the inmates who make the day-to-day operations happen. That fact is not lost on anyone.