The NBC documentary was definitely an eye opener for me on how women’s prisons are run and what they are like. I personally have never been to a prison, however I have family members who have worked as correctional officers in men’s prisons and I have heard stories, but I never knew anything about women’s prisons. This made this documentary very interesting, because it is like a little community. The women are all very emotional and needy, which allows them to cling to each other and form tight bonds with other inmates. I was shocked to find that many of the women are pregnant in the NBC documentary and I found it interesting to know that they receive prenatal care as well and their children are delivered in outside hospitals. Also, I found it very interesting that women were allowed to work in different trades and I feel that this is a very good thing because it helps women get experience in a trade that will aid them when they are released from prison. This would allow them to have a different set of skills than they previously had, which would help keep them from returning to prison. However, I was shocked at the flexibility of the prisons for women. They allow them to use dangerous tools such as sheers or objects to make teeth and they also allow them to have make-up and other toiletries that to some would be considered luxury items. Also, the guards seemed very friendly within this prison with the inmates and there was like a teacher-student type of bonds or similarly a motherly bond between the inmates and the guards. A main difference that I found within the movie that the text did not mention was the precautions that male officers had to take while working within a female institution. For example, I was not aware that when escorting a woman to a different location, a male officer had to be accompanied by a female officer. Also, when entering a dormitory building, the male officer had to announce that they were entering into the building.
Both the text by Britton and the documentary explain that dangers can arise when relationships are built with inmates. They explain that forming a bond with the inmates can help the situation, however when those lines are crossed there can be serious consequences. In Britton’s study, the officers have mentioned that women inmates are needy and their emotions are unpredictable which can lead to dangerous consequences. The women play mind games, which could jeopardize the safety of the other inmates, of the guards and also the jobs of the guards.
Within the two documentaries and the text by Britton, there are several assumptions and perceptions of inmates. Many officers assume that all inmates are violent and will treat them in that manner. Generally, the officers will develop one of two preconceptions. The inmates made a mistake but they are still human, or the inmates are too privileged. Many officers can view privileged inmates as a good thing, because when they act up, there is more to take away from them as a punishment. However, many officers that took place in this study explained that they believed that the inmates were completely responsible for their actions. The officers also commented on the fact that women inmates treat male correctional officers different than female correctional officers.
The minority correctional officers explained how they have certain issues while working in prisons. Some minority officers expressed the difficulty of sharing a bond on color and ethnicity with the inmates because minorities make up a large number in the prison population. Some of the officers also expressed a feeling of double consciousness. They express this by the social construct of how inmates are to be treated is similar to racism, so the minority officers feel that they can relate to the treatment that is being inflicted on the inmates. Also, minority officers generally find it more difficult to express humanistic attitudes towards inmates such as objectifying them or to infantilize them, than their white counterparts. The study by Britton also explains that many correctional officers take on the role of being either a motherly figure or a fatherly figure to the inmates instead of objectifying them. It is important to note that even though the inmates are viewed as humans who have made a mistake, it is important for the officers to remember they are not equal.
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