This article was given to me by the wife of a fellow Correctional K-9 officer in Delaware.

The Other Side of the Wall

"I Also Live the Life of a Correctional Officer"
I've lived the life of a Correctional Officer for the past 13 years, but not in the way you would think. I don't wake up in the morning and dress in the required uniform that is "supposed" to protect me from getting hurt if stabbed by a homemade shank. I don't drive to work, thinking of scenarios that may and can happen during my shift, and hope I survive since I work unarmed. I don't walk through the heavy steel gates that slam shut behind me, leaving me closed off to the outside world to maintain security for an average of 75 inmates to just me. (And NOT the much less ratio that Administration would have you think.) I don't step one foot inside a prison, yet I still live the life of a Correctional Officer. Who am i? I am the spouse of one. I live the highs. I live the lows. Unfortunately, the lows are overshadowing the highs more and more each day. It's taking a toll on everyone: the officers, their spouse, the children.
What started out as a place where you knew what your post orders and the rules were is now a place where rules change from day to day, sometimes person to person. The requirements and standards for being hired have lowered dramatically over the past few years. The requirements for Correctional Officers are now being compared to that one who works at a car wash or Mac Donald's. We're talking about men and women who maintain security for the public from murderers, rapists, burglars, etc. It's more than making sure there are no smudges on the windshield or if the coffee it too hot to drink. Not everyone can do this job. The consequences of these changes are taking a toll in many ways. The security of knowing "your back will be covered" if something "goes down" is just about nonexistent. Good, experienced officers that have been there for many years are leaving in record numbers. These officers have been the glue that kept the prisons together. It's more of an unsafe feeling than ever!! Solutions MUST be found to keep them there! Communication between Administration and officers have got to be opened again. They are ALL there for one reason....to maintain security for the public. I say this because I'm affected by it, as every family member as well. The days of "keeping it at the office" are over. It's brought home with them. Being able to kick your shoes off after a hard day and relax with your family is rare. It's more like waiting to see how they're feeling when they walk in the door before you know if it's okay to approach them. You try to comfort them. You tell them "things will get better" or "the day is over, forget about it". They don't want to talk about it and "You just don't understand" is their response.
Year after year the cost of living goes up. I'm talking about the basics: food, shelter, clothing. You'd like to give your children much more than you had, but it's difficult when the paychecks don't increase NEARLY as much as inflation. Your children don't understand when you try to explain why Mom or Dad doesn't make as much as "Johnny's" parents (who DON'T work for the state and receives raises on a normal basis), and can't get them the neat new toys that come out like he does. We are also dealing with the higher cost of health insurance. We pray, even more, that our children stay healthy. We shouldn't have to worry if they will get the best medical treatment, should we not have our not higher co-pays.
Shouldn't every Correctional Officer expect the best protection from their union they pay dues to? Of course the expectations are for them to be there, to support them, and to make sure any process of any kind is followed through correctly and legally. This is especially true when the union is made up of fellow officers, the exact officers who deal with the same stress and frustrations. When the trust is broken, when they no longer follow the rules they created, it creates a snowball affect. The mistrust starts, the feeling of "what's the use?". It's bad enough having problems with Administration, but to have it with the people who you consider "family". And once again, it's brought home.......and I live it, the whole family lives it.
The men and women who choose (and yes, they chose this PROFESSION) should be looked upon with great admiration and courage. The deserve much better, much more than they are getting now. It's a thankless job, one that doesn't have people pounding on the door to get in. We need to give them the respect they so richly deserve.
Everyday I carry this hidden fear with me. Will my husband come home safely today? Will he be fortunate to work with someone he feels safe with to "cover his back"? Will he be able to pass his experience onto the new officers, and have them learn from it, before they are intimidated by individuals who do not have contact with inmates on a regular basis? And finally, will he want to go to work in the morning or just say "I QUIT!". His job affects me more than you'll ever know. For you see...............I also live the life of a Correctional Officer.



We invite more letters like this from any family member of a correctional officer. Your opinions matter too.

Back to home page