Blog 16

As a child I can remember wanting to be many things when I grew up. There was the Doctor somewhat because of the size of income a doctor made on the game life. There as a nurse because that would be following in the footsteps of my mother. I also wanted to be a teacher, a vet and at one point I just wanted to be a Mom and have ten kids. (Yes that’s right TEN kids)
“A 1967 survey found that only 1 percent of youth mentioned “prison guard” as their preferred occupation. While few adolescents imagine themselves in this occupation, it is an even rarer choice for girls than boys” (pg. 79)
Britton discusses how difficult working conditions and the ignominy that come with doing society’s “dirty work” added to the unattractiveness of prison jobs. Times have changed which has brought about significant changes in prison employment. The working conditions have changed over the years in the prisons with climate control being added along with video monitoring of inmates which adds to the safety of the workers. These changes have not taken place in all prison as some are still barely tolerable during the summer months and heated to a minimum during the winter months and they rely on razor ribbon wire as their back up means of security. Though the job of prison guard may not be ideal it does bring in a paycheck and comes with some reassurance of job security with the populations of prisons growing, along with the benefits that come with government employment.
Stereo types abound about how one comes to be a correctional officer. In a study that included both men and women few indicated that they were in the occupation in which they had always aspired, and most reported that they “drifted” into the work. (pg. 80) Due to the low wages that accompany the job of prison guard we see a great turn over in workers. In the 1990’s we saw a economical growth which sent many white males leaving their low paying prison jobs and seeking high paid employment elsewhere. This is turned left many job positions opened which we saw being filled my African-American’s, Hispanics and Women. In the study women stated that often they simply drifted into these jobs. Men also drifted into these jobs but coming from different working backgrounds than the women, who often brought with them nothing but clerical skills.