Serving Nine to Five: Correctional Officersí Diary
Prison Diaries
Produced by: Joe Richman All Things Considered (NPR)
1/9/2001


NOAH ADAMS, HOST: There is a clichÈ among correctional officers, that theyíre serving time just like the inmates--only they do it in 8-hour shifts. Today, several of the officers tell their stories.

[Car security system beeps. Hear keys jangling, turning lock, slams car door

SGT. CAMEL: This is it.

[Hear footsteps on gravel]

SGT. CAMEL: You look at it every morning when you turn up that driveway there. I look at it every morning. And you know what it looks good to me.

[Hear security system beep and door slam]

[Hear people talking and slamming doors. Fade down.]

SGT. CAMEL: This is Sergeant Furman Camel. I been with the system 27 years. 27 long hard years.

[Door slamming and keys jingling. Fade down.]

SGT. CAMEL: I came here when it was just a big olí pasture out here. I came up here and looked at and I seen it when they started dragging the dirt. I seen ëem when they started putting these walls together. I seem 'em when they started laying all these bricks on the inside. So I pretty much seen this prison put together. And then I work in it.

[Hear keys jingling]

[People moving around room]

OFFICER 1: Okay, letís get started folks. Good afternoon.
OFFICERS: (ALL) Good afternoon sir.
OFFICER 1: Mr. Fields
OFFICER FIELDS: Here sir.
OFFICER 1: C3 control, C and D. Mr. Austin?
OFFICER AUSTIN: Yes sir.
OFFICER 1: Central control. Miss Townes?
OFFICER TOWNES: Yes sir.
OFFICER 1: C2A. Mr. Graham?
OFFICER GRAHAM: Here sir.
OFFICER 1: Perimeter Patrol

[Roll call continues, fades down under]

SGT. CAMEL: You see I wear this uniform with pride. Every day that I come in here, Iím creased down. My shoes are shined, and I smell good. The uniform is ninety percent of the job. Ninety percent of the respect that youíre going to get from your clientele. How can you tell an inmate to brush his teeth and to keep his hygiene up when yours ainít. So thatís ninety percent of the job, looking the part.

[Roll call fades up]

OFFICER 1: Everybody understand their assignment?
OFFICERS (ALL): Yes sir.
SUPERVISOR: Take your posts.

[People talking, moving around]

SGT. CAMEL: This is Sergeant Furman Camel, and I got other duties so Iím signing off at this time.

[tape clicks off]

[Door slams, echoes]

OFFICER 1: Letís go gentlemen, sit up. Count time. Face the shower. Letís go.

[Officer calling for count time continues, fades down]

SGT. COVINGTON: Um my name is Alisa Covington, Iím a correctional sergeant here at Polk.

OFFICER 1: Count time. Top tier everybody ready?

[People moving around. Fades down.]

SGT. COVINGTON: Most of the time when you say prison guard, people think about the old chain gang guard who stands on the side of the road with tobacco hanging out of his mouth with a shotgun over his shoulder, and heís you know standing there guarding guys with balls and chains and stripes on, and theyíre busting rocks or picking up trash on the side of the road. Wrong. We are a correctional institution.

[Hear walkie talkie noise, door slam. Hear people moving around, talking]

OFFICER 1: Back that line up. Go on the yard. Go on the yard.

[Hear more walkie-talkie noise, people moving, talking. Fades down under]

OFFICER KENNEDY: Most of the inmates call me Stone Cold, Goldberg, or Robocop. Iím Officer Kennedy; Iím a custody officer. At Polk Youth Institution.

[Footsteps on gravel]

[OFFICER 1: Hey why yíall on that fence over there. Go back this way.]

[Footsteps on gravel continue. Hear inmates playing basketball.]

KENNEDY: Got a shuffleboard court over there that we never use. I donít know why they put it here. But theyíve got horseshoes, theyíve got a full set of weights one full basketball court. [lights cigarette] And theyíve also got a volleyball net up.

[BASKETBALL PLAYER: Címon baby, run, baby run.]

OFFICER KENNEDY: This is almost like a Ramada Inn or Stradford Suites or something like that. As far as prisons go.

[OFFICER 1: Hey yo! Move on the yard. Move away from this area on the yard!]

[Walkie-talkie noise]

OFFICER 1: (yells) 10-minute break is over.
OFFICER KENNEDY: What do you say? Another day in paradise, huh? [laughs]

[Walkie-talkie noise. Basketball game fades.]

OFFICER 1: Go ahead and lock the gate.

[Hear keys locking gate]

OFFICER BASKERVILLE: This is Officer Taz Baskerville. When I first went into the prison I couldnít believe it. I guess it was a shock. You know because even though you read about these things and you see it and you know that this exists, until you actually there, and you look up for three stories and just turn around and all that you see are young black faces, you know. You realize that this is where the fathers are and the sons are and the brothers are, you know? There are all your young men. In prison.

[Hear very loud bus motor]

[Walkie-talkie noise]

OFFICER 1: Transportation to EIS. Be advised that we have an Eastern area bus with 33 inmates.
SGT. CAMEL: Okay bring them on inside. This is Sergeant Camel again. We are right now in the receiving area.

[Motor noise fades]

SGT. CAMEL: (Yells) All you guys should be lining up just like I call your name. Robert Manning. Joseph Harris.

[Sgt. Camelís roll call continues, fades down.]

SGT. CAMEL: No inmate comes in unless they come through receiving. This is the starting point. Iím going to be the first face they see when they come, and the last one they see when they leave.

[Roll call fades up]

SGT CAMEL: Whatís your name?

INMATE: (mumbles)
SGT CAMEL: I canít hear you.
INMATE: Damien Stewart.
SGT. CAMEL: How old are you?
INMATE: 21.
SGT. CAMEL: Have you heard about this place before you come here?
INMATE: Yeah.
SGT. CAMEL: What?
INMATE: Yes sir.
SGT. CAMEL: Whatís funny?
INMATE: Nothing
SGT. CAMEL: Huh?
INMATE: Nothing.
SGT. CAMEL: Am I laughing?
INMATE: Nah.
SGT. CAMEL: This ainít no joke. This is the real deal. And youíre gonna do what we tell you to do and we donít want to see that smile on your face. If you donít know that son, get in line.
OFFICER 1: 3 right behind each other, right behind each other.

[Hear Officer calling out orders, inmates moving along. Fades down.]

SGT. CAMEL: Lot of time Iím just the meanest person in the world. But my objective is to help him. When he comes off that bus, he got a different attitude. You know he used to doing what he want to do when he want to do it how he want to do it. Here itís yes sir and no sir, yes maíam and no maíam. I believe thatís the first part of rehabilitation. Then you start from there.

[CO moving inmates fades up.]

OFFICER 2: All the way over to the wall.
SGT. CAMEL: When you come out here thereís going to be a man standing out here to search you. We donít need no talking, you need to listen at this man.

OFFICER 1: Let me tell you something gentlemen.

[OFFICER 2: sit down]

OFFICER 1: If youíre afraid, which some of you are going to be, itís prison life, it ainít no joke. So if youíre afraid gentlemen you need to get some manhood cause by tonight some of you guys are gonna get tried. The best way to do your time is to mind your own business. Any questions gentlemen. [No sir.] Thank you.

SGT. CAMEL: This prison. Lot of times people donít realize it, it takes a toll on staff as well. Being confined for eight hours. But you know itís a job. And this is what Iíve done for the last 27 years. It ainít like it was when I started. The salary wasnít bad, started out at something like 700 something dollars a month, $9000 a year. Now the salary for people starting in this job is $20,000 a year. Now they got all kinds of classes that they teach officers, and they got some of them in the class right down here now. And I can look across the class and I can point out the ones that ainít going to make it. I seen some fixing to walk out and I stop them, tell them no man, itís gonna be all right.

[Hear music on the TV]

TV ANNOUNCER: From the Federal Bureau of Prisons Training Academy in Glencove, GA, this is "Integrity In the Workplace."

[ TV music ends]

TV HOST: Each state has its own specific phraseology when defining the amount of forceÖ

[TV HOST fades down]

OFFICER TOWNES: Um this is Officer Townes, reporting from Polk Youth Institution.

[TV HOST: An officer may use a reasonable amount of force necessary.]

[TV is turned off]

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR: All right this is the pepper spray that you all have earned. How many more do we need? Just 2 more?

[CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR continues talking, fades down]

OFFICER TOWNES: Iím 23 and Iíve been an officer here for the last nine months. [Hear handcuffs clicking, walkie talkie noise] Before I came here I was doing management. I managed Hardeeís, I managed Burger King. Itís a change.

INSTRUCTOR: Now, this is your mace. Okay, you got the trigger guard which is right here. Okay?

[Flicks the trigger guard with his fingernail]

INSTRUCTOR: Face him with the nozzle, spread your legs apart, all right.
OFFICER TOWNES: This is my OC pepper spray. Itís designed to spray the inmate directly in the eyes. This is our form of defense. We get sprayed with it when we first come in here because we have to know how it feels.

[Hear pepper spray cap popping off]

[Hear running water]

OFFICER TOWNES: (yells) whoo!
INSTRUCTOR: Donít worry about your eyes, get your breathing.
OFFICER TOWNES: Oh shit itís burning. I got to...
INSTRUCTOR: Get your breathing.
OFFICER TOWNES: whoo! whoo! whoo!
INSTRUCTOR: Okay now, pry your eyes apart. Weíll start with just one eye. Open it up with your finger, okay?

[Pepper Spray class fades down]

OFFICER TOWNES: This is a job like any other. You come here, they teach you what you supposed to know. And I donít understand why people stress so bad when they work here because if you do what youíre taught to do, then you wonít have any problem, itís just like working in the factory. I clock in, I work my 8.25 and you go home.

INSTRUCTOR: First off I would just like to uh congratulate you all for completing the OC pepper spray portion of the training. If you stay with the department as a career choice, which I hope you doÖ

[INSTRUCTORíS voice fades down and out.]

[door slams and echoes]

OFFICER 1: Hey, step back in your pod. Go back to your pod. Go back in your pod and have a seat. Step inside. How you feel about me kick you in that little greasy forehead of yours?

[Hear inmates talking]

OFFICER TOWNES: (breathing heavily)This is officer Towns. Iíve had a fight in my pod. Um, it was a code yellow. For some reason my pepper spray would not spray, when I ordered the inmates to break. So I had two inmates that grabbed the inmates to keep the inmates from assaulting me. And I had never had it happen to me before. My life could have been saved today by an inmate.

[Inmates voices fade down and out]

SGT. CAMEL: This is a dangerous job. These guys here, theyíre professionals. Inmates are professionals. So you canít never let your guard down. The first day heíll get a cigarette from you. Or heíll give you a cigarette. Heís reeling you in. Thatís what the new employees donít understand, isnít it? People nowadays they just donít understand that. "Oh heís so nice." That guy will grin in your face today and stab you tomorrow.

OFFICER BASKERVILLE: A lot of people have that mentality. Itís us against them. I remember the first day when they told me "Donít let a inmate get within three feet of you." You know at no time should he be in your face within three feet of you. Iím sitting there, how am I going to inspire trust in a guy when heís coming to me with a problem and Iím saying, whoa! Stay back, three feet. But if you're a human being, and this is your job, and you and you got a kid there with tears streaming down his face, because he got he just needs to talk to somebody, he needs to vent this outówhether itís con, or whether itís game or whateverówhat do you do? Do you just turn your back and you walk away?

OFFICER HESTER: Letís go, itís lockdown.

[Walkie-talkie noise,footsteps in hallway]

OFFICER HESTER: Iím officer, correctional officer Larry Hester. We getting ready to do a cell search. Inmates can be searched anywhere at any time.

[Officers searching cell]

OFFICER HESTER: Officer Manning is looking inside a toothbrush holder, checking out the toilet paper. Normally inmates like to hide razor blades, sometimes money, and stuff between the toilet paper and the cardboard holder that itís wrapped around.
OFFICER HESTER: Whereíd you get this from?
INMATE: mumbles
OFFICER HESTER: What she has found is the outer wrapping that comes off the toilet paper. A lot of times inmate use this paper to roll up either cigarettes or marijuana to smoke, so we going to take this from him. Nothing else major has been found, so this concludes the search of inmate Derek Triceís cell. Heís looking pretty good.

[Hear cell door close]

OFFICER KENNEDY: Nowadays, I actually feel like the inmates get away with murder in here. The way they cuss us out, and they way they look at female officers, they call it gunning them down. They masturbate right in the windows at the female officers, they donít care whoís around. This this this this is crazy. I mean, it makes you feel like, why should I even bother? As long as you come in, all of our staff leaves at the end of our shift, nobodyís gone to the hospital, no inmates have killed each other, weíve had a hell of a good day.

[Hear door slam, walkie talkie noise. Fades down.]

SGT. COVINGTON: This is Correctional Sergeant Alisa Covington again. One day at the prison, I got a call um to come down to receiving. When I got down there I saw an inmate sitting in the chair. Uh, once the door closed and he heard the door close, he looked up and when I looked into his face it was my son. It is just a devastating thing to see your child locked up and in shackles and handcuffs and you know, here I was, for sixteen years, telling other peopleís children where they went wrong and what they should do to straighten their lives out and then I look around and you know hereís one of my own walking through the door.

[Hear door slam.]

OFFICER: (yells) Hey fellahs. In your rooms.

[Inmates yelling.]

[Several doors slam and echo.]

OFFICER FIELDS: This place changes people. It will change you. Youíll go from a warm caring sensitive person to a person who can be harder. Inmate cuts himself up so heís bleeding all over, so you look at him like, "All right. Iím going to get the mop bucket." It doesnít even faze you anymore. And itís happened so gradually that you didnít see it coming.

SGT. COVINGTON: I notice when I go into a restaurant, if I canít have a table where my back is to the wall, Iím very uncomfortable. When I go to the movies, I want to sit over in the corner where I feel some sense of security that I can watch the people around me. Being in this job over the years, it gives you a certain paranoia.

OFFICER FIELDS: I got off work last night, and I came home tucked my kids in, spent some time with my wife, and sheís starting to get more of an understanding of my job. Because a lot of women canít understand the moods you come in when you come home, where you donít want to touch them, you just want to sit there for a while and kind of unwind and relax.

OFFICER BASKERVILLE: I often say that people that work in prison you have to be a special type of person. Not necessarily good, just special. Because you can come in, your supervisor gonna take your days off, gonna tell you that you ainít gonna get no raises, the inmates gonna threaten your life, he gonna threaten to rape your wife when he get out, cut your children'sí throat and all that stuff, and youíll come home that night, take a bath, iron your uniform, shine your shoes, come back tomorrow. And I think my time for that has come and gone. My last day will be Friday the 30th. So Iíve only got 4 working days left. Maybe some of these guys Iíll see out here in the world somewhere. Once they get out. Then Iíll find out whether it meant anything or not.

[Doors opening, closing. Keys jingling]

SGT. CAMEL: Címon son. [Into walkie-talkie] Sgt. Camel to EIS, we got one inmate being released. [To inmate] Stay close to me, I donít want anybody to shoot you.

[Doors closing, keys jingling]

SGT. CAMEL: All releases we have people to pull down on this end of the gate and weíll walk em out through those gates. [Into walkie-talkie] Sgt. Camel to EIS, weíve got one 1072 being released to his mother. Open the outer gate.

[Hear walkie-talkie noise, gate opening.]

[Doors opening and closing. Fades down.]

SGT. CAMEL: [To inmate] Your mama tickled to death.
INMATE: tickled to death.
SGT. CAMEL: I know she is.
INMATE: Iím tickled to see her.
SGT. CAMEL: You know it ainít nothing but living hell in here. Am I right?
INMATE: Thatís right.
SGT. CAMEL: And what I want to do is make sure I donít see you no more. [To walkie-talkie] Hold the door for one minute, EIS.
INMATE: Thank you
SGT. CAMEL: All right.

[Hear keys jingling]

SGT. CAMEL: Rain man! Wilson! [Yeah?] Letís go. [All right.]
SGT. CAMEL: Well weíre heading out now. This is the end of my tour. For today. Itís time to go home.

[Hear door slam, officers talking, keys jingling]

SGT. CAMEL: You been in here all day, been incarcerated all day now, time to go on the other side of the fence. Breathe some fresh air.

[Hear officers laughing, talking. Door slams.]

SGT. 1: Iíll see you sometime Monday.
SGT. CAMEL: All right Sarge. Ahh. That's one of my protÈgÈs. You want to know the truth? I feel good, about my life. I feel good about what I have accomplished. I feel good.

[officers laughing, car doors slam]

OFFICER 1: Ya'll did a fine job tonight. Nobody got hurt, everybodyís going home safe.
OFFICER 2: Amen.
OFFICER 1: Yíall be careful going home
SGT. CAMEL: And Iíll see yíall Monday.

[SGT. CAMEL starts his car.]

[RADIO ANNOUNCER: AM 1490, we are the triangles Christian and Family music station. Fades down.]

SGT. CAMEL: Itís 45 minutes to an hour to drive home. When I take the uniform off I donít drink alcohol but will stop to get me a cold drink, a pack of Nabs. Sometimes itís a scenic route, I just ride down, itís a lot of water, and I just, sometimes I just stop along the side of the road, people be fishing, or riding their boats, or water-skiing. I just sit there and watch them. Then I go home.

[SGT. CAMEL re-starts his car]

SGT. CAMEL: This is uh Sgt. Furman Camel, so uh Iím signing off at this time. Iíve enjoyed it. [Music: "A Bright Side" by Joe Ligon - f ades up, down, and out.]



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