The Adrenaline Factor

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By Gary F. Cornelius, First Lt. (Retired)

Published: 11/02/2009

Anyone who works in a correctional facility knows how dangerous the job is. Besides the stresses of the job, such as long hours, shift work, etc. correctional officers know that they can be assaulted, spit upon, and have things thrown at them, including feces and urine at any time. They know that they are dealing with offenders who do not want to be there, will show bravado and act tough towards people of authority. Most offenders have never followed society’s rules and when faced with structure, rules and regimentation, they will resist.

Those of us who have put on the uniform and agreed to protect the public by keeping offenders safely confined encounter situations with them that, putting it mildly, “get our dander up”. An inmate resists obeying an order, a drunken inmate takes a swing at the booking officer, or two inmates who are fighting refuse orders by correctional officers to break it up and go to their cells. We are human-and we can get mad.

I had a thought. Adrenaline-the hormone in our body that gives us extra energy to handle stressful situations-is pumped into our bodies thousands of times in a corrections career. Then I thought-what happens when the adrenaline is not controlled? What happens when we do not step back and take a breath?

I searched “Inmates Beaten” on the Internet just to see what news articles were out there. I have chosen three incidents to talk about. They were all reported in the news in the last few months. All incidents are undergoing internal investigations and criminal court proceedings. What I would like the readers and trainers to think about are the allegations and if true and what they show-adrenaline that is out of control.

In August 2009, an inmate in a Florida state prison threw feces at a correctional officer. The inmate was taken from his cell and according to the report filed by the Florida Corrections Secretary, was “assaulted numerous times by staff members.” The incident was not reported for almost 48 hours; the inmate did not receive medical attention for his injuries, described by the Secretary as “serious and reprehensible” for almost a day and a half. The beating was reported by correctional staff members to their supervisors. Seven correctional officers were placed on paid leave and four prison nurses were fired; investigations are pending by the Florida Department t of Law Enforcement and the FBI.
In July of 2009, the news media in Pittsburgh reported that an inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison was allegedly choked, punched and kicked by correctional officers in June for talking back to an officer. The incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s office. Four correctional officers were fired.
In May of 2009, the Associated Press ran a story reporting that an inmate at the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Maryland was beaten four times in 24 hours in March of 2008. The beatings left the inmate “unrecognizable”. The inmate may have been a part of a gang of inmates that assaulted correctional officers while exiting the dining hall. Inmates accused of assaulting the officers were transferred to another facility and reportedly were beaten in retaliation. Twenty five correctional officers were fired in connection with the beatings at the two facilities; three were later reinstated.

Now we know what comes after allegations of brutality-lawsuits accusing officers of violating civil rights of inmates, criminal charges, disciplinary actions including dismissal. We also know that some-not all- inmates are less than truthful and will allege that they have been mistreated by correctional officers. They will try to “push the buttons” of officers in an effort to make the officers “screw up” and mistreat them. This can result in officers being disciplined or being fired, and the inmates can sue.

But-if the above allegations are true and correctional officers engaged in their own brand of punishment, then the adrenaline factor took over. Adrenaline must be controlled and good judgment must prevail.

Sure- there are times when we can get angry and upset at inmates, especially if we are exercising force on them in order to defend ourselves, defend another inmate, defend a staff member, protect institution property and to prevent a crime or escape. A good rule is what we learned in training: only use the force necessary to overcome the resistance and gain compliance and control of the situation.

If allegations such as the incidents described in this column are true-then these officers and the staff who assisted them ignored common sense, took matters into their own hands and let the adrenaline take over. They forgot that their jobs were not to inflict cruel and unusual punishment, but to maintain security and control using the common sense and legal methods that they were trained in. They also forgot the lessons taught to them from good trainers and veteran staff that have had good careers, both who are a credit to their respective agencies.

To be objective, there are uses of force situations where force has to be used and there is ample justification for it. Inmates may resist and may be injured. The officer may be right, and hopefully the agency and courts will see it that way. If the officers are found to be not guilty of misconduct and are exonerated, they should be reinstated and the accusing inmates punished if applicable per statute and procedures. But ask yourselves-are there officers that you have encountered who are brutal and are out of control? Not an easy question, is it?

What can we do?

If you clearly observe a staff member using too much physical force, tell your supervisor. You may hesitate, thinking of the “Brotherhood of the Badge”, but true brother officers watch out for each other. If they are exercising their own brand of brutal justice, they are only thinking of themselves. Also-remember that you may be assigned to work a shift with that person and what happens during that shift may result in you being present at an excessive situation. You may think that you would rather be somewhere else. The inmate victim and witnesses may name names, yours included. Even though that you are innocent, you may regret not telling the supervisor sooner as to what behavior the rogue officer was really engaging in.
Stress management and intervention through counseling may serve to head off future negative behavior. Anger management may be an issue that needs addressed. The rogue officer may need counseling. Has any colleagues or supervisors talked to him? Is the officer encountering a lot of stress at home or on the job?
Enforce discipline by good supervision. If officers are too brutal, they should be called into the supervisors’ offices and talked to. It does not matter if the officer is a “friend”. Too much is at stake. The supervisor should start documentation to be used in fitness reports, job evaluations and disciplinary actions. Supervisors should investigate thoroughly all incidents of usage of force and all allegations by inmates that officers have gone too far. If it is discovered that the inmate is lying, that inmate can be disciplined per the institutional code or criminal code-such as filing a false police report.
Be observant for “officer humor”: In one prison system, several correctional officers were fired for forcing inmates to clean toilets with their tongues.
Be observant for officers acting as high moral authority: In August 2009, a deputy sheriff was arrested, charged with criminal misconduct while on duty. Entering an inmate’s cell, she was charged with hitting him in the head with her portable radio because he “disrespected her”. Internal Affairs arrested her and she has been suspended without pay pending court proceedings. She also is accused of using the identity of another jail officer in falsifying jail records to show that the inmate fell. The arresting officer’s report described the inmate’s injuries as “permanent scarring and disfigurement.”

Oh yes-I did not mention the media. It’s great to watch the news over your morning coffee and see some reporter filing a report in front of your institution. And remember-many media reporters talk to inmates and their families first. That really makes your agency look professional. Here is the last observation-what would your agency look like if the inmate victim ended up in a wheelchair or in a cemetery?

Watch out for The Adrenaline Factor. Get it under control. If not, the consequences are too grave-for all of us.

References:

Bousquet, Steve. (2009, August 22). 7 Prison Guards, 4 nurses under fire after inmate beaten. The Miami Herald. Retrieved from: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/v-printstory/1197358.html (Accessed September 3, 2009)

County DA Investigates While Board Ousts 3 Sergeants, 1 Officer. 2009, July 6). The PittsburghChannel.com. Retrieved from: http://www.the pittsburghchannel.com/print/19966213/detail.html (Accessed September 3, 2009)

Inmate beaten 4 times in 1 day in 2008 incident. (2009. May 25). The Washington Times. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/25/inmate-beaten-4-times-in -1-day-in-20... (Accessed September 3, 2009)

Smiley, David. (2009, August 7). Broward Sheriff’s Office says deputy beat prisoner. The Miami Herald. Retrieved from: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/v-print/story/1175218.html (Accessed September 3, 2009)

Word, Ron. (2009, August 21). Officials: Officers Suspended for alleged beating. The Miami Herald. Retrieved from: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/v-print/story/1196515.html

About the author: Lt. Gary F. Cornelius retired in 2005 from the Fairfax County (VA) Office of the Sheriff, after serving over 27 years in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. His career included assignments in confinement, work release, programs and classification.

He is an adjunct faculty member of the Administration of Justice Department at George Mason University, where he has taught four corrections courses. He also teaches corrections in service sessions in Virginia, and has performed training and consulting for the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association, and the National Institute of Justice. He has authored eight books in corrections. His most recent books are The American Jail: Cornerstone of Modern Corrections, 2007, from Pearson [see IACTP Buyer’s Guide] and The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation Second Edition 2009, both available from the American Correctional Association. In 2008 he co founded ETC, LLC: Education and Training in Corrections with Timothy P. Manley, MSW, LCSW. Gary can be reached at 571-233-0912 or at adjinstructor@aol.com. Other articles by Gary F. Cornelius:

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