What happened to the DOC?

I was reading some interesting posts on Facebook the other day and realized that something had changed since my retirement and active duty. I was suddenly aware of stranger than fact things happening since the late 90’s and early millennium era. The DOC has changed and many old timers and veterans found themselves on the other end of the line they were towing but not making any progress in the tasks.

It seemed that those on the other end of the line were quitters and not very motivated to make this tow the rope analogy work like it was designed to work; teamwork and unity and balanced in the middle. It also seemed like one group was working against the other for no logical reason except selfishness and personal objectives rather than being mission oriented and focused on the job.  

While one group worked diligently the other group joked about the way work needed to be done. Disregarding the threats and volatile potential behind these razor wired fences they ignored the up close and personal threats that existed leaving others vulnerable to attacks and other hazards or risks. No wonder there has been an increase in the manifestation of the paranoia of the reality of working there.

In return for this complacency the DOC has installed mass surveillance to counter personal attitudes of not doing the job right. They have chosen to scan and read Facebook entries by employees to seek out those that are disgruntled and revealing their culture without asking permission or facts. Sadly, many have decided to ignore the rule on cell phones and other electronic video games and bring them in for entertainment and distractions while being on the job.

My personal attitude doesn’t matter or apply. I don’t work there any longer but to those that work there today it must be a disrespectful feeling to be ignored like that when those very same eyes that are watching television or playing a game should be on the officer making the rounds inside the housing units or recreation yard. They should be embarrassed for doing something like this and neglect taking care of their own.

Inmates watch officers constantly. They know their habits better than the officers themselves and prey on their gaming time. They know they will be searched sloppily and ignored most of the time so officers can get back into the game or show and leave them alone without vigilance. The inmates know how to keep it chilled and favor officers keeping to themselves rather than walking or roving amongst them. The good officers are embarrassed and rather than making this public they keep it to themselves. Fearing reprisals and discipline for speaking against the grain, they chose silence and muted their voices so they can do their own time and go home.

One has to ask this question. “Is this what the future holds for correctional officers?” is this the new standard to go by and allow prison management to fail because of inattentive behaviors while on duty and developing a culture of apathy of your surroundings while delving into your own selfish abyss leaving others that do work with a conscience alone and unattended without vigilance? I fear I might be right that this is truly the way it is headed unless we change and turn around the way we manage attitudes and behaviors that shy away from work and self-responsibilities to do the job right.