Treatment of Prison Inmates

[Gravekeeper]

That's semantics.

The point is, she was denying them what they wanted. What they wanted was of no cost to her, so she could have just let them be without foul. Seems to me that there was no other reason to change the channel other than out of spite.

That. Thank you.

the original post stated she cared that it was something other than basketball. That it had been nothing but basketball for a while and she wanted to watch something else.

That was her prerogative as being the controller of the TV.

But whether or not she had the right or prerogative to change the channel is honestly irrelevant to the issue. The issue is how shes using her authority. Yes, she has the authority, but she used it in a manner that was callous and unprofessional then enjoyed the resulting anger and frustration she caused.

Again, who hasn't been in a similar kind of situation? One where you have someone asking you to do something for them that you're not inclined to do for whatever reason but they just keep asking? You could leave the conversation, but in this case, you can't. So you could get mad at the repeat questions, or you could get amused. Even if it's petty to be so.

Pettiness and professionalism do not mix. Its one or the other. If she was there in a personal capacity this could be justified. But in a professional capacity in a position of authority, it rubs me the wrong way.

With my job I've been in that situation countless times. I'm not allowed to just decide I'm going to be a dick because I was asked the same question more than once. I would get written up for being unprofessional. -.-

[Greenday]

I don't see why everyone's making such a big deal over such a "petty" thing.

They wanted to watch something.

She wanted to watch anything but that something.

Guard trumps. End of. Life goes on.

Because this was the prisoners's TV time. Not prisoner guards' TV time. She didn't even say she wanted to watch something else. She just said she didn't feel like watching basketball because that's all they want to watch. The whole thing comes off as a power trip to screw with the prisoners which in the end, does the whole opposite of what prison is supposed to be about: rehabilitation.

[s_stabeler]

Except prisoners TV time is not "you can watch whatever you want to watch"- it is "you can watch whatever the guard decides you can watch"- to give a comparison, it is like watching TV at a bar- it's ultimately up to the bartender. You can ask that the channel be changed, but can't insist. Kara did nothing to deserve being called unprofessional. Should prisoners be able to decide the channel? I don't know- it occurs to me that it's asking for trouble if people disagree on what channel they want to watch.

as for it being a power trip- um, how do you get she was trying to screw with the prisoners? she was enforcing prison policy- that the guard decides what TV channel is on.

[Greenday]

Except prisoners TV time is not "you can watch whatever you want to watch"- it is "you can watch whatever the guard decides you can watch"- to give a comparison, it is like watching TV at a bar- it's ultimately up to the bartender. You can ask that the channel be changed, but can't insist. Kara did nothing to deserve being called unprofessional. Should prisoners be able to decide the channel? I don't know- it occurs to me that it's asking for trouble if people disagree on what channel they want to watch.

as for it being a power trip- um, how do you get she was trying to screw with the prisoners? she was enforcing prison policy- that the guard decides what TV channel is on.

It seems pretty clear that the prisoners unanimously wanted the basketball game on. And yes, they should be able to determine what they want to watch for that short period of time they get some small enjoyment in life.

Well, I got the part about her screwing with the prisoners by her own admission in her OP.

And please don't compare it to a bar. Very different settings. If a ton of people go to a bar and want to watch a basketball game, but the bartender decides he's sick of customers watching basketball so he puts on CSPAN, that bar stands to lose a ton of money.

[Andara Bledin]

as for it being a power trip- um, how do you get she was trying to screw with the prisoners? she was enforcing prison policy- that the guard decides what TV channel is on.

And this is where the whole thing about following the letter of the rules at the expense of the spirit comes in. It's been addressed already.

[Ginger Tea]

Again on the bar analogy, even if the barman did hate the game being on, I as a bar patron would expect the barman's attention to be on the bar not the TV, just as I would expect a greater percentage of attention to be on the prison viewers than the item being viewed even if it was the bestest ever MLP with dr whoves.

Some of it came across as "I don't want to watch it" and from my extremely limited and hopefully not expanded knowledge of prison, I would feel safer if a screw was not looking at the TV.

some may have a snooker or pool table, reaction times are worth shit if you are too busy seeing if someone scores in any sport.

[Peppergirl]

Sorry, but I cant wrap my head around the bar/prison TV analogy. It's apples and oranges.

[CaptainJaneway]

The prisoners have it way too good these days. Now if this was the good old days they would all be on a chain gang breaking rocks. If things were still like that do you think there would be a lot more inmates or would they be trying to stay out of jail?

The problem with prison is that it gets treated like a country club. You get three squares a day, a shower and rec time. In some prisons the inmates have their own TV's in their cells.

Lets not forget the commissary that if they have money they can buy all the food they want.

Prison is suppose to be a punishment not a reward. If you do the crime then you do the time.

Watch the show Hard Time look at how they operate in these prisons. There is couple other prison shows but I do not remember the names or channels.

As a prison guard you have to be careful because if you appear too soft or easygoing they will take advantage an play mental games with you especially if you are a female officer.

By Kara not giving them the option to watch basketball because they asked asserts her authority. If she had done what they asked that would make it appear that she may be a pushover.

My thing is if you give them an inch they will take a mile.

[Andara Bledin]

The prisoners have it way too good these days. Now if this was the good old days they would all be on a chain gang breaking rocks.

Is there nothing that makes you wonder why those are the old days and not the current days?

Appeal to tradition is not a useful debate tactic.

[lordlundar]

Prison needs to be about rehabilitation. Help these people realize that it's possible to live a life without crime. And part of that is treating them with some respect. Treat them like trash and that's all they'll ever be.

Right here is where the problem with your perception lies. Yes, prison is about rehabilitation, and part of it is realizing that when you screw up you face repercussions for it. In this case it is the loss of freedoms, authority, and respect in society. Those need to be earned back and part of this means you don't get your way all the time.

All Kara did was remind them that no, just because they are physically adults does not mean they get to act like a 5 year old when they don't get their way.

As for that last part, you're gonna have to show where she undeservedly treated them like trash. All I was seeing them acting like preschoolers and being treated as such.

[Kheldarson]

Pettiness and professionalism do not mix. Its one or the other. If she was there in a personal capacity this could be justified. But in a professional capacity in a position of authority, it rubs me the wrong way.

With my job I've been in that situation countless times. I'm not allowed to just decide I'm going to be a dick because I was asked the same question more than once. I would get written up for being unprofessional. -.-

I never said be a dick; I said get petty amusement. Petty amusement is generally that internal smile you get as you're maintaining that no and just thinking "How many times do I get to tell you no before it sinks in?" I've had it with students before, asking to do something rather stupid with a project but "want permission" to do it. You just say no as you go on your business. And no. And no. And then you start finding new ways to say no.

I'm still professional; I'm just getting a small amusement over a ridiculous problem that's frustrating the other.

[D_Yeti_Esquire]

As a prison guard you have to be careful because if you appear too soft or easygoing they will take advantage an play mental games with you especially if you are a female officer.

By Kara not giving them the option to watch basketball because they asked asserts her authority. If she had done what they asked that would make it appear that she may be a pushover.

My thing is if you give them an inch they will take a mile.

So essentially, don't give in ever? Hey, if they want to work it that way because it makes their life easier to never analyze any decision OK, but there will always be reformers trying to deal with that. A lot of bad thing happens when you give people that kind of carte blanche. We haven't had a good prison riot in a while, so maybe it works.

A few things don't add up on reread:

Point 1: The inmates were mad because they couldn't watch their bet. - So they don't know how to read a box score? Every dude can read a box score. And if you know who's betting, deal with it. If you don't and you're just making assumptions it's specious logic and it shouldn't be you reason for not watching something since those bets will be settled regardless.

Point 2: Timing - There were 82 regular season games before this. If no one pitched a fit for those, why exactly would the Conference Finals or the NBA Finals be a great time? I can't really pretend anyone, even if they don't enjoy sports, does not understand that cutting off access during the playoffs comes across as a big deal. I don't watch the Super Bowl. Guess what I expect to be on if I'm somewhere during the Super Bowl?

Point 3: This is about asserting authority - So what is the message you're actually sending? We will do things to make your day worse when we have no other reason than we enjoy your annoyance? There's a world of difference between "sticks to their guns" and "sticks to their guns while being arbitrary and capricious."

[Greenday]

Right here is where the problem with your perception lies. Yes, prison is about rehabilitation, and part of it is realizing that when you screw up you face repercussions for it. In this case it is the loss of freedoms, authority, and respect in society. Those need to be earned back and part of this means you don't get your way all the time.

All Kara did was remind them that no, just because they are physically adults does not mean they get to act like a 5 year old when they don't get their way.

As for that last part, you're gonna have to show where she undeservedly treated them like trash. All I was seeing them acting like preschoolers and being treated as such.

Oh, so asking to put the basketball ball game is acting like a pre-schooler? The nerve! How dare they!? And to ask for an explanation when denied? The horror! Then to top it all off, one of them decided to vent his frustration by complaining to his friend and not getting physical over it? This was clearly the height of immaturity!

/super extreme sarcasm

[Gravekeeper]

The prisoners have it way too good these days. Now if this was the good old days they would all be on a chain gang breaking rocks. If things were still like that do you think there would be a lot more inmates or would they be trying to stay out of jail?

The problem with prison is that it gets treated like a country club. You get three squares a day, a shower and rec time. In some prisons the inmates have their own TV's in their cells.

Um, what? The US prison system fucking sucks. The highest incarceration rates in the entire world, some of the longest sentences in the world and for profit private companies involved. Overcrowding and under staffing is common. Limiting access to health care is also common ( Cuts into the profit ). STDs are rampant and you have about a 1 in 5 chance of being raped ( by another prisoner OR prison staff ). Higher risk of that if you're an immigrant or minority of course.

Nevermind the human rights violations and violations of the Eight Amendment. Oh, and the system literally just losing prisoners sometimes and forgetting they're in solitary.

Also, the chain gang was used as recently as 1995 in the US. Until lawsuits and 8th amendment violations shut it down again. They still use it in Arizona though of course. Because Arizona's penal system is a fucking Hell hole.

[Ladeeda]

I will agree, the REASONS people get arrested need adjustment, and the sentencing protocols need to be standardized [prison for pot, come on?].

But as has been mentioned, there are opportunities for inmates to get jobs within the prison, educate themselves, etc, IF they sign up for them. Whining about a silly TV program and acting as though it was chopping off their legs or something is just overreaction.

Yes, they are being punished. Yes, it sucks. Punishments usually do. Yes, pot users and petty theft should not be held to the same punishments as murderers and rapists and other violent crimes.

That doesn't mean a guard choosing to put on not-sports is some horrific power play that will lead to riots and anti-sociable former inmates.

Call it a symptom of a greater problem, but this specific situation is such small fries, it's amazing what tantrums YOU ALL are throwing over it.