Tier Talk

Power of Obligation by Anthony Gangi

There are no favors to be granted by an inmate to correctional staff. Favors are considered to be a key tactic used by the inmate population to foster obligation. Obligation is defined as an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment. This definition listed above is the main reason why correctional staff is not in the business of giving and receiving favors. There is no time in our career in which we, as correctional staff, should feel that we are morally or legally bound to actions dictated by the inmate population that lies outside our prescribed roles. Feelings of obligation can lead to favors committed by staff that can jeopardize the safety and integrity of the agency in which we are employed. Obligation to an inmate can blind correctional staff and limit their ability to see the potential threat that a returned favor can produce. If an inmate comes to your area and volunteers to help you, you need to ask yourself, “why?” What is this inmate expecting in return? If the word favor has been employed, you need to make that inmate aware that we, as correctional staff, are not in the business of giving or receiving favors. If the inmate is given an order to do something, then it becomes the inmate’s responsibility to do it to the best of their means. There will be no sidebar in which the inmate tells staff, “I only go the extra mile for you and if there is anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ASK”. First off, we, as correctional staff, do not ask. Asking implies that the inmate has a choice to either say “yes” or “no” to your REQUEST. If that is the case, saying “yes” by the inmate can be interpreted as a favor being granted. Correctional staff must be made aware that you are to give your order in a professional manner in which respect is given, but there is no option within your order for a response that lies outside the affirmative. If correctional staff gives an order disguised as a request (“can you….”/”if you don’t mind…..”), then you are giving the inmate the opportunity to change your order into a favor being granted. By this standard, the inmate will be given the chance to employ a sense of obligation that can be used as a way to garner favors for susceptible staff members. In closing, we are all aware of giving orders in a professional manner. Having said that, these are orders and should never be disguised as a request. Request, in essence, may make the inmate think they have a choice and, if that is the case, your granted request by the inmate population will be seen as a favor that may lead correctional staff into feelings of obligation.

For over twelve years, Anthony Gangi has worked in the correctional setting dealing with both male and female offenders. He served on the custody level and has moved through the ranks from line officer to supervisor. With a background in Psychology, he has become a leading expert in inmate manipulation and, during his time as an instructor, he has had the chance to meet, on a national level, other professionals in his field.

His personal views and experiences behind the wall have awakened him with a powerful voice. He believes that those in corrections have been quiet long enough and it’s time to be heard. His personality will immediately grab hold of you and his passion, that serves him well as a law enforcement professional, continues to grow.

Anthony Gangi is a writer for NJ Blue Now. NJ Blue Now is a publication strictly for law enforcement personnel. He has written articles that relate to corrections and their need to be seen as equals within the law enforcement community. Please visit www.njbluenow.com for his published articles.

Anthony Gangi is also the host of a radio show called “Tier Talk,” which can be heard every Saturday night at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.  “Tier Talk” is a radio program that looks at corrections from a international level. Topics vary in relationship to all aspects of the correctional realm (training, privitization, leadership, equality with other law enforcement agencies, gender related issues, PREA, county vs. state vs. federal, etc). The show features guest who represent corrections, in multiple facets, and  highlights an active dialogue which can is highly informative, as well as entertaining.

“This is the only show on the air for corrections, by corrections.”

You can follow us on TuneIn Radio (ddv is the station), or you can visit us on the web at www.tiertalkddv.com, where you can listen live or click in and listen to past shows.

You can contact Anthony Gangi directly at Ag@njbluenow.com

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SITUATIONAL FACTORS by Anthony Gangi

When classes are taught in regards to the power of manipulation, the educators provide a learning experience that centers on dispositional factors that lead to target selection by the inmate population. Studies in social psychology have proven that we judge the failure of others in a manner that exploits character flaws and one’s personal failure is judge in a manner that involves the study of the situation. Situations are very powerful and have a tremendous influence on our actions.

Inmates are masters at understanding their environment and exploiting the situational factors that can be used as an aid in their manipulative tactics. For this article, I am focusing on the “us vs. them” tactic. This is a key tactic that must be understood in order to gain the knowledge needed in understanding how an inmate can take advantage of a situation in which a staff member’s vulnerability was created in a manner that lies outside their disposition.

There was a proposed situation that was brought up in our discussion board (Systems Information Analysis) on Linkedin in which a supervisor reprimands their subordinate in a manner that lies in view of the inmate population. The supervisor then leaves the unit and the staff member is left feeling demeaned and inferior. Through the supervisor’s actions, a situation has been created and can easily be exploited by the inmate population. A situation that will build from the inmate’s ability to become immediately empathetic, partnered with the staff member’s need to save face. The staff member has become vulnerable. This vulnerability stems from a created situation by the supervisor in which the inmate is now able to exploit.

In order to understand manipulation and how it presents itself, either covert or overt, an individual must understand the power of the situation. For the staff member, in the above mentioned scenario, their situation has changed and is now being controlled by emotion. As for the inmates, the situation presented to them now shows a staff member who thoughts lie outside of logic and, instead, stem from emotional blindness. The staff member may feel the natural reaction to redeem themselves by venting to the empathetic ear displayed by the “overly concerned” inmate. At this point, the inmate’s advice may be centered in a way to employ the tactic mentioned above, “us vs. them”. In order to move forward with this tactic the inmate will expose many techniques that highlight concern, friendliness, and similarity. These techniques are used to disguise the inmate’s true intention. The true intention, mentioned above, is centered on changing the staff member’s perception of the aforementioned inmate. Eventually, the change in perception creates a different situation for the staff member. This staff member may no longer see an inmate as an inmate. The empathetic ear displayed by the inmate has led this staff member to believe that the inmate understands their situation and, therefore, is now being led down a manipulative path that was created by the supervisor’s unprofessionalism an aided by the inmate population. The staff member’s need to feel competent lies on their need to justify their situation. Having demeaned the staff member in view of the inmate population, the supervisor has created a situation in which this above mentioned staff member may feel the need to redeem themselves. This redemption may come in the hands of an empathetic ear provided by the “overly concerned” inmate.
In some cases, manipulation can arise through situations that we, as staff members, produce. We need to be logical and prepare ourselves for the consequences, both good and bad, that follow our actions. We need to be objective in our line our work and not be blinded by subjective emotion. Inmates are masters at exploiting chance opportunities and will easily maneuver into position when the opportunity or situation arises. As mentioned above, the “us vs. them” technique is easily employed when a situation arises in which most of the hard work is already done. Staff that has been belittled in public view now becomes an open door to that above mentioned tactic. Overall, we must know that an inmate can take their time and choose who they believe will be the perfect target for manipulation, or we can save them the work by creating a situation in which the target is provided.

For over twelve years, Anthony Gangi has worked in the correctional setting dealing with both male and female offenders. He served on the custody level and has moved through the ranks from line officer to supervisor. With a background in Psychology, he has become a leading expert in inmate manipulation and, during his time as an instructor, he has had the chance to meet, on a national level, other professionals in his field.

His personal views and experiences behind the wall have awakened him with a powerful voice. He believes that those in corrections have been quiet long enough and it’s time to be heard. His personality will immediately grab hold of you and his passion, that serves him well as a law enforcement professional, continues to grow.

Anthony Gangi is a writer for NJ Blue Now. NJ Blue Now is a publication strictly for law enforcement personnel. He has written articles that relate to corrections and their need to be seen as equals within the law enforcement community. Please visit www.njbluenow.com for his published articles.

Anthony Gangi is also the host of a radio show called “Tier Talk,” which can be heard every Saturday night at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.  “Tier Talk” is a radio program that looks at corrections from a international level. Topics vary in relationship to all aspects of the correctional realm (training, privitization, leadership, equality with other law enforcement agencies, gender related issues, PREA, county vs. state vs. federal, etc). The show features guest who represent corrections, in multiple facets, and  highlights an active dialogue which can is highly informative, as well as entertaining.

“This is the only show on the air for corrections, by corrections.”

You can follow us on TuneIn Radio (ddv is the station), or you can visit us on the web at www.tiertalkddv.com, where you can listen live or click in and listen to past shows.

You can contact Anthony Gangi directly at Ag@njbluenow.com

Anthony Gangi Uncategorized

Sympathy vs. Empathy by Anthony Gangi
Recent discussions have taken place on multiple forums in regards to empathy making individuals vulnerable. Empathy is defined as the ability to share and understand the feelings of others. By this definition, being empathetic is considered objective because a true understanding of the feelings of others cannot be blinded by emotion. In the correctional setting, staff may confuse empathy with sympathy. Sympathy is defined as a mutual affinity towards another and, by definition, sympathy can lead to pity. By this standard, sympathy can be seen as more subjective and, therefore, may lead an individual down a path where they become emotionally blinded.
Being empathetic is by no means exposing vulnerability. On the contrary, empathy can be a powerful tool. It relates us to the situation, or individual, in an objective manner that helps aid in the choices that we make. You are able to relate to the experience at hand in a way that promotes understanding, but not pity. In essence, I understand how it is to be in your shoes and, therefore, there is no need for me to wear them. Inmates will do what they can to promote a relationship that centers on a proposed similarity between them and staff that creates a mutual affinity (sympathy). This tactic used by inmates is meant to blind us from seeing them as an inmate. This tactic exploits a chance by the inmate to remove the title of inmate and connect on a level that relates to the shared experience that they are trying to create with staff (father/son/etc). At this level, personal information that has been gathered by the inmate furthers their chances of success in regards to building a rapport that lies outside of the staff member’s defined boundaries. The staff member, relating to the inmate’s story, which has been manufactured and centered around their personal life of the staff member, may begin to feel the emotional tug that will eventually form sympathy. In essence, sympathy is built on the shared experience that has been manufactured in an attempt to emotionally blind the staff member. In this case, sympathy has been built through the personal experience of the staff member and now the inmate will exploit their connection to the staff by pushing forward their proposed shared experience that highlights a fictional bond.
The situation now becomes dangerous for the staff member because the title of inmate, as viewed by the staff member, has been removed and in its place becomes the connection needed for the inmate to move forward with their plan. At this point, the inmate has taken the staff member’s story, their personal life, and built a scenario that persuades the staff member to stand outside their uniform and see the inmate in a manner that connects him or her to themselves on a personal level. The staff member may find themselves feeling sorry for the inmate because the false bond that has been built is created by using the vulnerability of the staff member. In essence, the staff member cannot help but see themselves in the inmate because the story the inmate has created is based on the life of the staff member. The staff member has now become blinded by emotion and may feel the need to help this inmate rise above their dilemma.
As for empathy, empathy is an understanding of the situation at hand, but remaining objective. Even if the inmate tries to use obtained personal information about staff, the staff member may be able to relate to the story, but it will not, in any manner, have an effect on how the staff member does their job. Empathy, in other words, provides staff with the ability to see how it is to be in the inmate’s shoes without having to walk in them. By this standard, the staff member will not be blinded by the emotions that come with sharing a troubled journey. The staff member is able to separate their problems from their profession and, therefore, they have a sense of control that will not blind them emotionally to the inmate.
In some cases, arguments will pursue in regards to empathy and sympathy making staff vulnerable. From my perspective I have to seriously disagree. Sympathy is subjective. In our profession, sympathy can relate to the inability to separate yourself emotionally from the problems of another. Sympathy brings pity and blinds you from seeing the situation in a truly objective manner. Empathy, in essence, is objective. Empathy is the understanding of situation in a manner that is not blinded by emotion. Empathy helps us see how it is to walk in someone else’s shoes without the need to wear them. It creates the boundary that is needed to understand the situation, but still remain separate from it. In my eyes, empathy builds understanding in a manner that helps us adapt. Empathy is not, nor ever will be, an emotional connection forcing us blindly to the choices we will later regret. Empathy is a tool that builds rapports and maintains the level of professionalism needed to work in an environment in which new situations arise and our safety depends on how we react.

For over twelve years, Anthony Gangi has worked in the correctional setting dealing with both male and female offenders. He served on the custody level and has moved through the ranks from line officer to supervisor. With a background in Psychology, he has become a leading expert in inmate manipulation and, during his time as an instructor, he has had the chance to meet, on a national level, other professionals in his field.

His personal views and experiences behind the wall have awakened him with a powerful voice. He believes that those in corrections have been quiet long enough and it’s time to be heard. His personality will immediately grab hold of you and his passion, that serves him well as a law enforcement professional, continues to grow.

Anthony Gangi is a writer for NJ Blue Now. NJ Blue Now is a publication strictly for law enforcement personnel. He has written articles that relate to corrections and their need to be seen as equals within the law enforcement community. Please visit www.njbluenow.com for his published articles.

Anthony Gangi is also the host of a radio show called “Tier Talk,” which can be heard every Saturday night at 6pm Eastern Standard Time.  “Tier Talk” is a radio program that looks at corrections from a international level. Topics vary in relationship to all aspects of the correctional realm (training, privitization, leadership, equality with other law enforcement agencies, gender related issues, PREA, county vs. state vs. federal, etc). The show features guest who represent corrections, in multiple facets, and  highlights an active dialogue which can is highly informative, as well as entertaining.

“This is the only show on the air for corrections, by corrections.”

You can follow us on TuneIn Radio (ddv is the station), or you can visit us on the web at www.tiertalkddv.com, where you can listen live or click in and listen to past shows.

You can contact Anthony Gangi directly at Ag@njbluenow.com

Anthony Gangi Uncategorized