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Prose of a Con

Poetry and Prose by Russell Wardlow

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Everyday C.O.

September 7, 2020 by Russell Wardlow Leave a Comment

C.O.’s are average any day people. When handling prisoners, I would think there should a deep screening and training process, maybe even a cultural education and implicit bias testing, since there will be many different people from different walks of life.

Objectivity and professionalism shouldn’t be an understatement in prison. Human error and prejudices can’t be overcome without proper education, identifying, and training, especially if their job is to make criminals better people and the community more safe. They have a duty to not allow their personal issues to derail the rehabilitation of an inmate. You wouldn’t hire a McDonalds cook as a chef at a 5 star restaurant. At schools, all employees are there for child’s betterment and protection. So in a prison, it should be the same.

C.O.’s have a responsibility to aid inmates in healthy relationships with authority figures

But it’s a contentious relationship. There’s still a disconnect and distrust because of the oppressive power dynamic C.O’s are charged with: safety and security of facility. Some have different ideas, tactics and beliefs on how to carry that out and once they experience power, it has a way of swaying a person’s resolve or intentions, working their own unchecked agendas biases and personal problems. Their reason for employment should be centered on making a difference not just on being employed, because the interaction and relationship with the occupants of their employment is vital to both society and the inmates.

But their reasons for employment don’t always have good intentions. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. All teachers can’t be professors. All porn stars can’t be models…or vice versa. All employees can’t be C.E.O’s. All cooks can’t be chefs. All drivers can’t be chauffeurs. All politicians can’t be president.

And just anybody shouldn’t be able to be a correctional officer. But yaw already knew that. Rehabilitation is misleading. You need professionals for that, not high school diplomas.

Filed Under: Inside, Trauma

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Prose of a Con

Prose of a Con is a collection of Russell Wardlow’s prose and poetry written entirely behind bars. Through writings on family, spirituality, freedom, love, justice, redemption, and vulnerability, Russell seeks to show the humanity and hope of individuals like himself who are incarcerated.

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