I just started working at a local jail just over a month ago.  This jail that I work at houses local, state, and federal inmates.....my issue is that I do not feel that I "fit in" with the other jailers.  With what I have learned in class (I am still in college), I am an "idealist and service style" person and try to see the good in people and believe that all people are innocent until proven guilty, and the others I work with are "enforcers and watchman style" people who have little tolerance and take matters into their own hands, and don't seem to see the good in poeple.  With all that has happened for the past month I have come up with a few reasons (listed below)  to feel that I do not "fit in" and they (my co-workers) have voiced their opinions to me about how I handle several times.....



1. I perfer to use the terms "out of the book" and treat the inmates with respect - as we are advised to.  By doing this I refer to the inmates

    by their first name instead of their last name... I feel that the inmates are people and should be treated as such.

2. I do not like to use the term "inmate" - I use the term "resident" and refer to the "jailers" as "staff;" while calling the "jail" a "facility" - the 

    people I work with feels that this takes something away from them and gives the inmates/residents too much respect

3. I was informed that I work too hard and make the other staff "look bad" since they have been their in terms of years compared to my 

    month and they have not gone out of their way to help me learn beyond the basics and I have had to essentially teach myself.

4. I prefer to avoid violence and use it as a last resort.  I have talked to the inmates/residents several times in the month I have worked at

    the jail/facility in order to avoid violence and de-escalate the situation - while the people I work with seem to enjoy physical altercations 

    with the inmates/residents

 

With starting any new job I was nervous, and I still am nervous.  I am trying by best at work, but with jsut facing criticism its depressing and frustrating.  I cant talk to my fiance or family in law enforcement because they don't seem to understand.  I need some advice from other people about how I should handle my situation without losing the passion that I have recently gained. Thank you.

Aaaaand the OP disappears into the land of Anonymous.  Hopefully s/he learns and grows to enjoy the profession.

Sorry to see the OP go anonymous, i think he was getting good advice.  On the off chance that he is still looking here, you will find that most of your "residents' will maintain they are either innocent or misunderstood, when to get there they had to either be found or pled guilty to some serious crime.  i believe that they will try and take advantage of your nature to try and manipulate you, your 'residents' have nothing better to do all day long than try and manipulate the "staff".

How much dope have you brought in to those good hearted residents?

11-23-10, 2031hrs, EST

Locked, hit & run OP.

Retleo (Moderator #8)