Incorrectional Officer

I think I have the least respected job in western culture. I have been thinking about this a lot recently and it is something that has been pestering me like a toothache. Just a slow and never-ending reminder of something that isn't quite right.

Correctional Officers, especially ones like me, whom work at the county level, are relatively despised, degraded, disrespected or dismissed completely. It truly is a thankless job, but one, unfortunately, that is essential in every society.

Not being liked by the inmate population is to be expected. There is and always will be that sense of resentment no matter how well they are treated. They are surrounded by concrete and steel and as far as they are concerned-- the officers are the ones standing in the way of their freedom. They don't even know me-- don't know my life and don't know my history but they see the badge and know that they have been conditioned to have nothing but contempt for it.

It shouldn't bother me but it does. I don't enjoy being looked at like I am a representative of tyranny. I can handle it, obviously, but that doesn't mean it doesn't take its toll. I don't need them to like me but I sure as hell want to walk out those doors knowing that I am still a good man.

Some inmates have a good rapport with me and occasionally that gets them into trouble. Simply talking to me can cause them to not be trusted, or worse, get hurt. The thing is, most of the inmates know that I abhor snitches. I like talking to people, inmate or not, but they certainly aren’t doing anything that would label them a snitch.

But all of that was to be expected when applying for this unheralded position. Inmates are "supposed" to hate us, but why do our colleagues have to be so egotistical and degrading?

I always thought that law enforcement personnel were all on the same side, but apparently I am naïve in my thinking. Everyone from police officers to sheriff's deputies to state troopers-- they all look at us like we are the little brother that was a failure. It is condescending and humiliating. If I wanted to be a cop, I would be. Hell, I never even wanted to be in law enforcement at all. I took the silly civil service test because I was out of college and didn't have a job. I had no idea what the hell I was even doing during that exam but apparently having too much common sense is the key to doing well.

It would be one thing if I were going around acting like a big shot because I have a badge, but I renounce people who do that. When I am off duty, the only time I ever carry my badge with me is when I go out of town. Even still, I have never once used my position in an attempt to get out of trouble or to further myself in any specific way. The way I look at-- I go to work, do my eight hours, then I come home. That’s it.

I guess I don’t like the fact that people make assumptions about people based on their job. It is, after all, a natural thing to do, but I feel I am so far removed from the average personality of this field that I feel embarrassed about it. I may work as a C.O. but that isn't who I am.

There is a stigma about those who work in law enforcement that seems to haunt me. I am not like most other people, let alone others in my field of work, so I strongly oppose the generalities that come with the title. There is the notion that people in this career are on an aggrandized quest to gain influence over people. In essence, they seek comfort in having power over others, and in turn, oftentimes abuse that power.

Take a look at how the media represents the profession of corrections. Repeatedly, we see corrupt officers violating the sense of justice by showing unfair treatment against the incarcerated. Always hitting inmates and denying them rights for seemingly no reason at all. Modern day culture has made the guards no better than the ones they are guarding. As far as the public is concerned-- everyone behind the walls is a criminal unfit for society.

Oh, and the average life expectancy of a correctional officer-- 58. How about that for a kick in the junk? Life itself doesn’t even respect the job. Go figure.