Especially as a trainee. Just as with inmates, you have to learn and get to know your fellow staff and Officers. You don't know how that particular staff or Officer sees you. You may be a worthless body filling a position because you froze up when a fight broke out right in front of you 4 weeks prior (which happens). Now because of that in his eyes you shouldn't be there anymore and he may give you purposely deceptive information so that you screw up just bad enough that you get walked out (Fired). Off-putting yes, but it ABSOLUTELY happens. And when your shift Lt. and Capt. (Shift Commander) come down and question you over that screw up, the reply, "Well that's what Officer Peabody told me to do." is not acceptable. They're gonna pull out policy/post orders and say, it says right here in black and white. It's your responsibility to know read, know, and be familiar with this.
Don't act like you've been doin the job for 30 years when your only 25 years old. Spend the 1st 5 years keeping your mouth closed and only ask questions when you really don't know what to do.
@@TierTalk I work in Ad Seg so its doubly true there. They will come up with the most off the wall shit imaginable to write grievances or OPIs for not getting their way.
Thanks for this! Just got a conditional offer as a CO, need to pass the REACT test, a physical test, and my background check. Super excited to get started, and your channel helped!
I like to try to build a rapport with the inmates and treat them as human beings. At the same time not let them pull me from my prescribed role. But you have to be careful. It can be a very slippery slope
Always appreciate going back to the basics of corrections. Everyone needs a refresher. And I love the “answering a question with a question” tactic and controlling the conversation
As a new C.O. I really want to like your videos, but they are extremely difficult get through. They are way too long, with almost zero cuts and angled too low so we spend the majority of the time looking up your nose. You have such good info, passion and experience to offer, it would be great if you would work on presentation and delivery. Put the camera at eye level, edit in a cut if you start to ramble (should be a cut about every 15 to 25 seconds of talking) and maybe throw in some pics or video clips while your talking to help break up the visual monotony. I'm seriously not talking shit, your content is inspiring. Thank you for all you do for us brotha!
When this becomes my full time gig..which will be soon. I will focus all my energy towards that. I do agree I can do more. But it’s time consuming. And I still have my real job and family to spend time with. Lol
Worst mistake: AIR TIME Don’t ever let someone stay out that’s not suppose to be out. If a fight happens and you can’t explain why the person was out, that’s a nasty write-up. If they refuse to lockup, lock the rest of the tier up and call for backup. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground.
Good Advice. Sent this to a lot of my partners, Academy Sergeants, Upper Management that forgot what it's like. This isn't only for rookies. This is great advice for the Staff that got complacent too. Stay Safe
Don't fuck anyone off, but don't ever do any inmate any favors either. Be consistent, be respectful but don't be friendly there is a difference. They will respect you alot more for just being consistent
If you're resistant and a know it all to a senior officer as a trainee, I don't give a dang darn diddly, turn in your resignation. if you are that way even in the slightest and your not past 85-90% complete with your prescribed trainee period... you won't make it. Word spreads faster than the shockwave did in the Beirut explosion. I had one rookie do it to me. I explained to him a not to do a specific procedure, to instead do it this way because the shift commander had put out a memorandum specifically step by step how he wanted said task completed. It was 100% changed from how we had done it for years, since prior to my time. The rookie says to me, "I don't care what you say, you're wrong, I'll do it my way because that's how I have always done it."[he had 4 months in {in front of about 35 inmates, of which the majority were "block leaders" within the inmate block hierarchy}]. Just so happened he was running my housing unit pod that I was the regular on for nearly 2 years and was one of 4 CO's that could effectively run that unit due to the rapport I had built. 12 minutes after I walked off the pod it was an absolute Free for All. Inmates doing literally whatever the hell they wanted to, every cell door was open. It was so bad that our CCTV officer in main control brought it to the Shift Commanders Attention. He came down walked on the pod I was running asked me WTF was going on, on the other pod. I told him the truth. They pulled a CO outta the Yard crew relieved me to go over relieve that rookie and regain control of the pod. As I gave my shift report to my relief the Alternate Shift Commander our Security Captain as well as and a Security Lt. came on the block. When I relieved that kid the 4 Commissioned Officers stepped to him. "Officer 'Farva' at this time we are placing you on administrative unpaid leave effective immediately pending an investigation into acts of insubordination as well as your failure to fulfill your first standing duty, To maintain Care Custody and Control of the inmates. As a trainee we will offer you the opportunity at this time to resign on your own recognizance to avoid the the investigation entirely and any potential punitive actions that may result from it. Be mindful if you do not take this opportunity to resign now and your employment is terminated as a result of the findings of the investigation you will never again be eligible to be employed by the state, and that is what is going to happen. I looked over my shoulder and straight up told him, just quit, it's not for you. *note this one the final straw scenario with him* He agreed to resign and he was escorted to his vehicle by the Com. Officers then escorted from the property by the Sec. Lt. and the OSP Officer in the Perimeter vehicle. Keep in mind at nearly half way through his trainee year he still was unable to recite the 7 justifications for basic use of force. let alone deadly force. You are required to have them memorized before returning to your facility from the Academy, so you know your "Rules of Engagement" prior to working stand alone duty shifts.
Great video. One thing I would add is that while they watch us, we should be studying them. Who do they talk to, where do they move in the dorm. The more you know the better you are prepared to handle potential situations. Prevention is also a possibility when you notice what people are doing in your dorm.
You need to be build yourself up. Ain’t no red line gonna stop someone from inflicting severe damage. Lift heavy eat well. Also, you don’t have to tell the truth in terms of where you live, what your favorite sports team is. That’s outside the scope of work
Never trust an outgoing officer for the count! Do your count for yourself and never let the outgoing officer(s) leave until you have the correct number!
Personally for me, if I'm there to work I'm there to work, I'm not there to be friends with my fellow workers or anybody else who is around, in this case specifically I'm especially not going to be buddy buddy with inmates, but I'm also not going to be all buddy buddy with fellow coworkers while on the job, if we meet in public I'll definitely me more friendly 100% I'm also a firm believer of respect is earned not given, and there is a basic level of respect that you give everyone which is kindness. Though it doesn't matter what job you have or how many tours you have done, be a jackass to me for no reason and all my respect is lost faster than it takes for Thanos to snap his fingers. Anybody else must earn my respect just like how I must earn theirs.
At 25:32 Don't do what a veteran officer does. Associate with the phrase "Do as I say, Not as I do." That particular turn of phrase has a negative undertone to it in most cases. However in this context it more accurately means "Do it how I tell you to do it, not how I do it." For example, you watch a veteran officer with decently accrued time as the regular officer on a particular unit, as the 107 of 135 inmates from his pod return from the chow hall. He gets out from behind his desk and as he is walking his pod herding inmates into back into their cells and securing his unit, and he firmly orders in a loud tone a group of loitering inmates, "Quit dickin' off and get the %$&* in your cells". They respond by listening to his order. Then you as a rookie walk back onto your pod and do it exactly how he did it, and raise your voice and order 6 inmates loitering about "Quit dickin around and get the %$&* in your cells". You're probably staring down the barrel of a 1 to 2 minute ass whoopin' before responding officers get there. A vet knows his inmates. He has rapport built with them, he knows who needs the expletive sentence enhancers to get the point to sink in and who doesn't as well as who he can and can't get away with talking to in that manner.
This job sucks ass. But I Agree with this. If its during a security check or formal count you don't do chats. Officer awareness is important. Left my radio out once at the podium (broken clip) got my ass chewed by tower. A rule on every COs rules is follow officers orders
Speaking to the "Believing your supervisors have your back. It is very off-putting alarming and very concerning that this issue is becoming increasingly frequent nearly to the point of being commonplace.
Luckily we have a Pretty good SGT training us and let’s us know how serious this job is. I’m thankful that I’m able to listen and take everything we learn seriously. I just hope this job is for me because I’d like to make it my career
I dare say resist the desire to befriend others within the job. You may be associates and cordial, grab food together, but friendship opens personal doors some, if not most, are not worthy to traverse through. I’d keep friends with a civilian, and maybe a retired officer. But that’s a big maybe.
I am currently in the hiring process and only waiting on my background check which is no big deal. Thank you for these great videos to help me know what questions to ask.
I am honored that you took the time to watch. Good luck. You got this. Don’t forget to get my latest book …how to succeed in corrections. It will help you. www.blue360media.com/how-to-succeed-in-corrections-lessons-learned-while-working-in-a-prison.html
I missed the live! Hopefully I catch the next. Also don't do your security checks the same. Do the top tier twice and then bottom tier once; or diagonally. They should never be able to predict how and how often you do your checks.
So wait you mean I am not supposed to find and shiv the biggest baddest guy in the yard....Son of a bitch! I have been doing it wrong this entire time...
I’m not a co, but I’m considering the path. I heard you say something a few times and it has me curious, why would you take your radio or personal items off your person in the first place??
Sometimes people do it to be comfortable. Like when they sit down. Also, some may not have the proper radio holder so they put their radio in their pocket.
To touch on the "Codes" (know your codes). I agree wholeheartedly with that, nevertheless, If your facility is Federally compliant with the NIMS and ICS regulations, there are no codes, plain English only. If there are codes and they are SOP in your facility, then your facility is non-compliant with the Federal NIMS and ICS regulations, which automatically disqualifies your facility from alot of Federal aid and funding. If your Facility is part of a network of Facilities Governed under a single department, and enough of your Facilities are not NIMS and ICS compliant, it will drop the compliance percentage for the department as a whole below the mandated minimum percentage for compliance, which again will result in a decrease in the amount of Federal aid and funding your department as a whole is entitled too.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I watch your videos and take the information you share to heart and use it to make myself a better officer (I have been in for almost 1 year). I do have a question/comment/suggestion. Could you do a video on what experienced officers should not do to us rookies? For example: screaming at a rookie through the speaker system in front of inmates. Doing this undermines how the inmates see us and makes it harder for us to be taken seriously. If a video on this has already been done can you please link it so I can find it. Thank you for your time and for all that you do.
I work as a correctional officer in Massachusetts and we have a job pick just curious if any other state does the same thing. You pick your post and days off obviously based off seniority.
I think it sounds like it could be nice. Where I am we get assigned based upon facility need. Interestingly this means more strict officers tend to get assigned to red idle units.
That will make for a great topic. Let me talk to Russ. I do have a lot of videos on being a supervisor where we do touch on this topic and provide advice. But we never did anything specific to this topic.
I find myself doing a lot of the things discussed in the Tier Talk videos and as an officer, they have been a confidence booster, thanks. Now that I'm a sergeant, just looking for the same thing. Again, thanks and keep up the great work.
I like this video I use a lot of what you talk about to help train the rookies in my facility. much love stay safe you guys from the Oklahoma department of corrections Sgt. Perry
When I was counting, and an inmate attempted to engaged in any verbal interaction other than an un-reciprocated salutation I would stop, and in a loud clear and enunciated fashion I would say Are you having a medical emergency? which they always said no to because they weren't. I would then tell them, good then, stop speaking, back away from your door, and stop interfering with my count. and immediately continue with my count. There were a handful that pushed the issue. However that didn't last long, they all learned when those that did lost their phone and block-out (in pod recreation time) privileges for 14 days.
There was one that got so pissed off over being block sanctioned that he appealed them to the hearing examiner (HEX). HEX gave him 60 days Disciplinary Custody in the RHU with no option for half time.