Behind bars: morality of prison guards and prison systems in America

Prisons are complex systems that often contain volatile environments and require specialized supervision. The individuals responsible for managing these facilities play a crucial role in maintaining order and safety in our society. However, the lack of quality job training fuels yet another distressing, formidable beast hiding behind bars.

Many prison systems in the United States have struggled to provide sufficient and proper training for correctional officers. Shane Bauer (Bauer), an undercover journalist who worked as a prison guard at the Winn Correctional Center, claimed that he was subject to training sessions that lasted less than four weeks. According to a survey conducted at Germantown Academy (GA), every subject believed that prison guards should be trained for at least a year. “I think more sensitivity training is very important and needs to be implemented over a long time,” said Jake Spain ‘23. “Longer training would allow the guards to act according to the needs of everyone and maintain order in a peaceful way.”

While becoming accustomed to the prison system, Bauer wasn’t provided sensitivity training nor educated on healthcare; he was taught something much more disturbing. “We want [prisoners], for a lack of a better term, to feel like a herd of cattle,” said Warden Parker, an assistant at the Winn Correctional Facility (Bauer 142). “We’re just moving them from point A to point B, letting them graze in the dining hall and then go back to the barn” (142). Learning to treat human beings like utter farm animals is a dividing construct that seems to keep recurring throughout history. 

Although slavery was officially “abolished” in the United States with the passage of the 13th Amendment, that same Amendment enabled it to continue with one disturbing clause: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist” (“Thirteenth”). As a result of its exception, African Americans continued to be disproportionately targeted by law enforcement and unjustly treated in the criminal justice system, many of whom were formerly members of the military.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, black people are 7.5 times more likely than whites to be wrongfully convicted of murder, and about 80% are more likely to be innocent (“Report”). Further studies have confirmed that African Americans are more likely to be convicted and sentenced to longer prison terms than whites for the same crimes. The racist, for-profit motive of slavery clearly transitioned into that of the criminal justice system. Although I agree that correctional officers are trained in the basics of prison protocol, I still maintain that many private prison systems insufficiently train their guards to save money, and thereby, feed the historically racist beast that is the prison industrial complex. “It’s mind-boggling,” said Mallika Batra ‘24. “To think that prison systems govern for money is pretty sad.”

Although CCA adamantly denies these inherent realities, such long-standing issues ultimately create the undeniably corrupt culture of American prisons. “CCA will report $1.8 billion in revenue, making more than $221 million in net income—more than $3,300 for each prisoner,” said Bauer (39). 

The inability to professionally address these serious matters results in a breakdown of communication, conflict resolution, and the overall cultural competency of correctional officers. Since the focus of prison wards is profiting from the prison industrial complex, guards are left unprepared, untrained, and ill-equipped.

As a result, the prisoners themselves are the most heavily and unjustly impacted. An investigation conducted by the Department of Justice found that incarcerated individuals in Alabama frequently experienced physical and psychological abuse, neglect, and humiliation at the hands of prison guards; the investigation evaluated 13 prisons in the state and found that excessive use of force, including the use of batons, chemicals, and physical abuse, was present in 12 of them (“Solitary”).

A lack of poor training not only contributes to beatings but also to a lack of medical services. Mr. Robert Scott, a prisoner suffering from an infection, was denied medical service nine times because his prison operated “on a skeleton crew for profitable gain,” according to the CCA (Bauer 49). After briefly “evaluating” him, a prison guard claimed that nothing was wrong with Mr. Scott (49).

After a few weeks, his fingertips and toes turned black and dripped with pus, until one day, he collapsed; an altercation finally sent him to the local hospital where his agony was terminated after multiple limbs were amputated (50). I concede to the fact that prison guards need not learn to perform medical operations themselves, but they should be trained well enough to recognize and act on serious medical conditions. 

One potential solution to improve training is to simply raise awareness for the case. Increasing awareness could lead to greater funding for intensive healthcare training along with necessary materials, resources, and mentorships. Increasing salary, benefits, and qualifications would also incentivize more professionals to enter the career path ensuring adequate staffing with less attrition.

In 2019, Grammy-nominated, recording artist, and presently criminal justice advocate, Robert “Meek Mill” Williams, has brought much-needed attention to the ongoing problems regarding the prison system. As a native of Philadelphia, Meek has used his superstar status to generate awareness about the problems within the prisons. Both Meek and world-wide known rapper Jay-Z aligned to form a group called “REFORM,” which focuses on the unjust parole system and has the potential to uncover the deficits inside and outside the system including the relevant inadequacies of guard training (“John”).

Incorporating more scenario-based training and round table discussions is yet another solution to addressing real-life situations as guards encounter them on the job. Learning mechanisms to handle high-stress positions can also be useful in practicing skills and techniques in a controlled setting. With a spotlight surrounding the often-obscure reality of our prison system, there is hope for prison reform but not without a fight.

“Along with prison reform, you could have a reporting system for prisoners,” said Josh Freeman ‘23. “That way prisoners can be a part of the reform process.” Building off of reporting systems, I think that developing strict rules that apply to all prison systems could provide structure. More governmental involvement and supervision could enforce these morally just prison standards, and if such standards were not met, easily accessible reporting systems should be available.

Although there are a variety of methods that could contribute to prison reform, I believe that improving prison guard training and providing them with an increased salary, along with a support system, is crucial for the safety and well-being of both prison staff and inmates. By investing in more thorough, consistent, and well-aligned training programs, states and facilities can help ensure that all guards have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage correctional facilities. This will not only improve the working conditions for guards but also create a safer and more secure environment for inmates. Providing guards with proper training is the first step towards an expression of human dignity, which is a necessity for everyone.

Works Cited