NOVELS CAN BE BASED ON THE IRONIES OF LABELS, IDEAS & PHRASES

[Glenna Fairbanks]

This writer has often wondered at the irony of the conflict inherent in certain pat phrases we become accustomed to over time. Phrases like "Law and Order", "Peace Officers/Keeping the Peace and Law Enforcement", "Corrections and Rehabilitation" just for a few. Think about it.

The LAW is constant changing. ORDER is rather static. Maintaining Law and Order is not always compatible. It is somewhat like the age-old story of "the haves and the have-nots". Those who "have" will certainly want their version of order preserved. Those who considered themselves dis-enfranchised will be more inclined to want their version of order changed. The process of maintaining or changing is through both the evolution of the law and whatever other factors will generate more (goods, money, power, etc.) to the "have-nots", which by its very nature means less will be in the hands of the "haves." Sometimes that change is achieved peacefully through negotiation and compromise. Other times it is through rebellion and revolution. Somewhere, in the midst of that change (by whichever means) is that group of people charged with enforcing the law (and which law is often the question), - maintaining order (and whose order is the often question), - keeping the peace (among all of the people or only some is also the question) without any consideration as to where they, as individuals, stand on the issue(s). And what if they, as individuals, feel conflict with their assigned duty?

As to the phrase "Corrections and Rehabilitation" - now there is an interesting idea. I did not say reality because there is little rehabilitation in the idea of corrections. As expensive as "corrections" is ($40,000+/annually per inmate in many state institutions), rehabilitation in the short-term is more. Inmates who would be eligible for rehabilitation programs are usually working in the institution, thereby reducing the cost of running the institution. If these same inmates were in rehab programs, that work might well have to be done by paid labor. On the other hand, rehabilitation is less expensive in the long-term because these individuals stand a better chance of not re-offending, of not coming back to prison.

Unfortunately, rehabilitation is not considered punishment in the minds of most voters. So while the title and label and department names may include the idea of changing behavior through rehabilitation, budgets are not paid with ideas. They are paid with voters' tax dollars. And political campaigns are often waged on Law and Order promises. From such irony are interesting (and sometimes great) novels written.

[Glenna Fairbanks]

Until you have been right in the middle of an inmate uprising (there's another "R" word but wardens really don't like it) and have watched C.O.s vastly outnumbered take back a prison, deal with the wounded (inmates and staff alike), and physically felt the tensions from different warring inmate factions, you haven't really "worked" in a prison. Try being inside the electrified fence when something's about to go down. And watch the C.O.'s stand their ground with nothing but their batons and OC spray (because the only guns are up in the tower). Personally, Dan, I think you may have had a bad experience - and, true, not everyone is cut out for the work - but there are some really good people in that profession. I worked with several.

[Glenna Fairbanks]

Dan, I too worked in Corrections - for 15 years in both peace officer and administrative capacities. Worked in a maximum-security prison (4,200 male inmates) for four years before becoming a Parole Agent supervising both inmates and parolees. I agree there are inmates who should be sent to rehabiliation program facilities instead of prison. They are usually the easiest ones to send to prison - make for great D.A. conviction stats (I am being sarcastic here). And there are some inmates who, with the right programs in prison, i.e. obtaining a GED and some marketable skills for employment (if this country ever gets back to the stage where people can make a liveable wage without high education qualifications). And there are those who will never change whether they be predator sex offenders, or gang bangers, or sociopaths.

On the other hand, I do not agree with your assessment of Correctional Officers (not guards, please). I worked with some great men and women who faced danger, assault and straight out insane inmates (who should be back in the mental hospitals that Ronald Regan and ACLU closed down years ago). There were a few bad apples, true. Name me one profession that doesn't have them? And the exec at ENRON and Adelphia )and now HP) get paid a lot more money and don't face the potential death Correctional Officers do most days.