Should you write up an inmate for every possible infraction? Anthony Gangi, Host of Tier Talk, discusses charging inmate for breaking the rules. Listen in as he discusses what to do as a rookie officer and what to do a senior officer.
I learned this the hard way, came in soft and they ran with it. I gave a lot of passes on things and it came back to bite me. I gave an inch and they took a mile. I’m still learning to pick my battles but I’ve started writing tickets now and it’s keeping them honest. Convicts are always either hustilin or snitchin
Tier Talk Correctionsone RU-vid Channel I’ve only been a CO for about 4 months now but I’m still learning what kind of CO I wanna be. I just know that when I only give warnings and empty threats of writing tickets it only encouraged them to walk all over me more. I’m still respectful to them but I think they mistook my kindness for weakness. I’m still trying to prefect that balance between to laid back and too up tight.
When i reviewed that video you did on the Chicago incident/response unit, I pointed out that the place was a mess. Now maybe the garbage was scattered as a result of the fighting, but it was a mess none the less. That would be intolerable. And needed immediate addressing, but not writing up. As you said, handle it internally, at a low level. As it was, i over looked the fact that there was clothing and towels draped over some of the second level railings. 100% policing of the streets doesn't work on the streets, why would it work behind bars? The nice thing is, when you do see a minor infraction, it gives you the opportunity to engage in and access the individual. Get a feel for their mindset. Like when a cop pulls over a motorist for a broken taillight. The cop doesn't have to write up the person for the taillight, but at least the officer had time and reason to interact with the individual. And that is a valuable tool. So, if an inmate doesn't have their jumpsuit fully buttoned, you have a reason to spend a minute talking to them. The value of being able to talk to the inmate outweighs the value of writing them up. After all, writing them up could involve a disciplinary hearing, and you wouldn't want an officer being tied up with that 8-12 times a week. Another thing is it helps to determine which are the problem inmates and which ones tow the line. Which ones you can walk by and which ones you need to stand next to and sniff out real good(scrutinize). So, in the end, consider rules to be a tool or An asset. Money is a tool or an asset. The question is, are you going to spend it as soon as you get it, or are you going to save it up? Spend it wisely, use it wisely. Save it for a rainy day. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control
This is awesome. Great advice. I love how you bring about the importance of communication over the immediate discipline. Excellent post. Thank you for this.
Thumbs up! I found your videos very useful and educational and i'm taking them as an advise! Next month, my correctional academy starts and i'm so excited to join this new family. Greetings from california! New subscriber by the way.
No, you should not. Having done this for 14 years, I've never found the need to write inmates up for EVERYTHING. If that was the case, I think most of us nationwide (if not worldwide) would be writing things up non-stop. Plus, when it is a lesser infraction, at certain times, you can actually use it as a learning experience (that does not always work, of course). As is the classic saying, though: if you DO write someone up for everything, do it EVERY SINGLE TIME for your entire career. I don't agree with that, but you better do it constantly to them all equally.
“Should a C.O. write up an inmate for every infraction?” Not if you want ink in your pen at the end of your shift. But as I say, everyone C.O.s their own way. Just be you.
I always overlook small stuff and counsel, i find them knowing you know the small infractions and letting them know and then using your discretion seems to make you looks more laid back and approachable and they will feel more comfortable in your presence, trading canteen and gambling are two of the most violated infractions i catch on a day to day but do not enforce, but they know i will enforce rules when they take away my discretion or assault, prea and escape are more serious, i use to catch the work release guys smoking all the time and i would encourage them to do better and they never let me catch them smoking again usually unless they were hazing the new guy which was fun lol
This is great advice, I have an interview this week for my local county jail. I'm 22 and have experience in security but this will be my first law enforcement position. Hopefully I land the job and get my career rolling in the right direction!
Tier Talk interview went great! You should have seen the sheriff's face when she asked how do I think corrections controls the inmates. You taught me it's because of the needs and wants, take away the wants and must provide the needs. She was mind blown haha. I think I killed the interview!
Go hard anywhere you are new, say NO FIRST and only change for a good reason. There is something to be said for the setting, its custody level. If these are Max custody inmates never back off without drastic results. Encourage drastic results at all times but make accountability ironclad. In most places run a tracking book...you own log, wrote ups you did or whoever else is there on shift in the unit. This way each time YOU refresh your mind and act with prudence. In a minimum situation you'd talk to each inmate, and at a given point acknowledge they risk their hard-earned position of privilege.
Learn the rules! They know them better than you do. Read the rule book the inmates are given, then use that against them. For example, TDC policy says "contraband is anything altered from its original form." So contraband can be a homemade clothes line to an open coke. The coke is now open, altering it from its original form. The rules are usually written like this to allow COs to manage the population. That doesnt mean write it all up. It means use your rule book to manage. Write when needed. Make your point. Manage. Run your pod. I had a set crew of COs that I liked working for me. They knew what to do in order to keep the peace. They felt like they failed if I had to come fix a pod for them. I rarely ever did. I very rarely got minor case unless the pod started acting up, then everything was punished. I also taught them how to compile multipule minor cases to bump it up to a major case. The system can work for the CO, if taught correctly. Great channel!
I write what needs to be written. when they toe the line I shrug. when they cross I write. mutual respect. mutual cooperation. no co can do it without give n take.
I understand what you are saying. But they keep twisting my channel into some perspective that is far from what my channel is about. People need to watch more than one video. I am very fair and do what is asked of me. Plus, the comments from their subscribers are extremely abusive. It is not in any effort to form a middle ground. My stand will always be...I will not let people bastardize the profession. We may have some bad apples, but we are not defined by that minority. Most art professional and go above and beyond to get the job done. I do appreciate the thought though. Either way, there is something big coming our way...and that will open up doors for many to speak their concerns (both sides). They should watch more of my videos. They will see videos that promote balance and order. Respect going both ways.
Each C/O should keep a pocket notebook. Put the I/M's name in your notebook to record warnings. I/M's don't even want their name in pocket notebooks. Also, each area of the facility needs to have a warning notebook. You can see if other officers gave the same I/M a warning previously for the infraction that you caught him/her for. Plus, the warning notebook is evidence to the disciplinary board that (s)he has been warned before; you just need to photo copy the page showing the I/M's warning, and staple it to your report. Definitely use a pocket notebook as a tool, even if it is just for warnings.
You have to be firm but fair. Its like this you have to be one way all the time. Inmates will not like this but they will respect it. Consistency is the key. And Document everything you do in your movement log
As of 2017, @ the Joe F Gurney they cannot write enough cases. If a co wrote 10 cases in one night its not enough. On top of layins,endless mail, rec, watercoolers, managing ssi's, channel checks, a co manages 216 inmates for 12hr shifts. My point is its not worth it for the pay.
Correctional Officer any serious infraction can not be overlooked. I am talking more about in house management. Tobacco is contraband and therefore could be considered a serious infraction. There is going to have to be a judgement based on what the potential outcome could be (serious or superficial).
I say no some times if you tell the inmate you seen what they did don’t bark at them but let them see you are watching them it also lets the hearing officer or rib will see when this officer gives a ticket it’s a good one then they will slam them with the max just use your best judgement! Take care and keep your back to the wall!!!
Guards that write lots of tickets get treated like shit by inmates non stop and piss and shit thrown on them, trust me been there done that and I'll do it again if a guard wants to write tickets for petty shit .
I was told to not say I don’t know because you don’t want them to file a grievance and it somewhat lazy for lack of a better one for a classification officer do you think?
I was actually thinking that I would handle it the same way but so that I could build a good repor with the inmates. So they see I'm willing to give them a break but next time it's on them if I have to write them up.
Tier Talk Yeah, I just gotta use the security job as practice for telling people they can't be doing stuff that they're not supposed to be doing. That's what it comes down to.
No but it's very important to remind inmates u can and will!! That a fuck load of writing!!! Hearing officer gonna hate u!! Haha!! You have to set the tone be firm and consistent always!! Js 17 years/ central main 1 to 6!! 89 10 4!! Haha
Do you believe that convicts should be punished while incarcerated and do you think any of them can change and should we keep all of them on gps post detention
If rookies write up every time so should every CO. Consistency is important in the corrections field. This is coming from a family member of an inmate.
Thank you for the input. I see your perspective, but I do have do humbly disagree. The rookies have not gained any experience therefore their discretion is limited. And to be on the safe side...we tell them to write it up. Precaution. Those would experience Have developed discretion are able to kind a better maneuver what they can work with and what needs to go to a higher level.
Answer is no inmates should not EVER get written up, it's bad enough on them to be locked up in the first place, dont need a guard that's having a bad day make someone's life even harder because he or she is having a bad day or feels someone needs ticket because they brought a milk back from chow or had extra sheets.
