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American Prisoners Writing Archives - Datra C. Johnson Vol. 5 – Prison Guards Being a prison guard is one of the most easiest jobs to have in the world. (In America at least). Had I not been heavily influenced growing up by gangsters, killers, and dope dealers maybe I would’ve had the opportunity to be a prison guard, Yeah Right. It is a very easy job though, and with the unbalanced justice system it’s plenty of job security reasons. Hopefully this will change. The job is very simple, you enter into prison complex and monitor a bunch of adults. What makes the job simple really determines on the character of the human being that is the prison guard. There a about roughly five types of guards to touch the basis of a character of a prison guard. The laid back guard The change up guard The clown guard The police guard The by the book guard. The above guard types usually depend on the morals, that create the character of the person. This determines what type of guard you will have within each individual. Via, how they were raised, and what they have been through in life. Laid back guard This is every inmates favorite type of guard to have working the shift. Because he is working with the sole purpose of getting his hours and going home. He doesn’t have much interest in investigating what the population is doing, or filling out paperwork for incidents and etc. ... neither does he care about whats in a prisoners cell. Every prisoner knows that when the laid back guard is working anything goes without consequences unless this particular guard is placed in a situation where he has to do something. Out of respect for these type of guards and understanding the blessing it is for the inmate to have them working the prison, inmates try their best to prevent the, laid back guard, from being placed in a situation to where he will lose his job. Disrespect and to much pressure (Disrespect from inmates and too much pressure from the guards co-workers) will turn a laid back guard bad, in several different ways. The laid back guard is the reason why I said that being a prison guard is the easiest job in America. Cause if you’re laid back your life isnt in danger, and you dont have to worry about nothing but collecting a check. And the jealousy of co-workers seeing how easy you make the job. (smile). Change up guard To me this is the worst guard to have. One day he wants to be the laid back guard, the next day he is the police guard, or etc. ....... The change up guard is the equivalent to a emotional woman. Depending on how he feels that day usually produces how he is going to act. However to the prisoner the signs are recognizable. Especially when he walks in and you have a brief conversation with him. Immediately, seasoned convicts can tell how to handle him on that day. Unfortunately for those inmates that arent so bright this particular guard is like a snake. It will allow you to perform certain acts in its presence then one day it strikes out and inflicts harm on you. And you never understand why at the moment, but what you gain is knowledge about dealing with the "change up guard" who is the replica of a snake. The clown guard The title of this guard is pretty much self explanatory. The "clown" guard, all he wants to do his entire shift is play. Depending on the guards character determine how he plays, (the degree and levels) but he is always full of jokes, no matter what happens. For the most part his goal is to bring happiness in a place where happiness really doesn’t dwell. Unfortunately you can never underestimate the clown guard, because he is similar to a chameleon, he may be a polite guard, laid back, or by the book, but his clown activity puts up a smoke screen that can make it hard to decipher what he will and wont do to those inmates that arent aware of the clown guard. Police guard He sweats every little thing, even if it goes against policy. His actions are pointless at times so it seems to the inmate, but he gets a satisfaction out of making inmates suffer. He even has some favorite picks of inmates who he goes out of his way to pick at. Clearly he takes his job overboard. And there are several reasons why the police guard may act the way he does. And the problem lies within his spirit, only way to know why he acts the way he does is to know the police guard personally. His actions puts his life in jeopardy every day he works. The laid back guard, hates working with the police guard, because the police guard makes the laid back guards job harder than it has to be. Truthfully mostly every guard who isn’t a police guard hates working with this guard. The police guards higher ranking officials stand behind the police guard action, "sometimes," but they hate dealing with his actions because he makes their job hard and overwhelming. You will find that the police guard is the one who always ends up getting hurt by a inmate because of his wrong doings. In fact its inevitable, that one day the guard who polices and nit-picks will feel the wrath of a inmate who is fed up with life’s actions. Sometimes they make it out with minor injury, and sometimes major, still the not so fortunate do not make it out at all. The police guard is lost so much in his own psychological prison he doesn’t see the madness he brings upon himself and his co-workers, and if he sees the madness, he is just filled with Evil. Until one day he is truly chastised for his actions, by a inmate or higher officials. All guards job is to police sure enough, but when you ask a inmate about a guard and they say he’s/she’s a police. Typically means they are not doing what they do cause its their job. But they are just out to get inmates. By the book guard This type of guard can be confused with the police guard. But there is a big difference which I'm first going to elaborate on. By the book guard does correct any error that he sees in a inmate, unfortunately. But he also corrects errors in his co-workers and other people in the facility. Cause he operates completely off the sole of the policy he was taught to follow. He will perform every action when it is supposed to be done and he will do his job thoroughly and properly. So if you stay in compliance with policy, you never have to worry about him being a problem. Unlike the police guard who is out to get you, the by the book guard is just strictly the watchman to make sure the prison is ran by policy. From food service, to medical, laundry to commissary, even recreational activities. He provides balance and opportunity to the prisoners. And believe it or not he has respect amongst the inmates who see the balance he creates. Never confuse him for the Police Guard, even though he has his share in policing. The police guard never has any positive motives behind his actions. The by the book guard does. All and all, never forget the true fact that a guard is a guard. And about ninety percent of them will always choose their job over an inmate if it comes down to it. This is something I frequently remind associates in here that get too comfortable in a relationship with guards, no matter the degree or level that that relationship may be. Another important point to be made is just like people throughout the world you can never put anything past any guard! They can always have reasons to do unordinary things. Any characterized guard can be willing to smuggle any type of contraband into a prison there is no particular one. Just as any guard can be willing to perform acts that do not follow their job description or are cruel and/or unusual. (You never know what a person is going through.) This is why I didn’t accuse any of the specific guard characters of ones who break certain rules and regulations, cause any one of them can and trust and believe a lot of them do and they will. Thats if they can get away with it and/or you let them. Inmates can play very dangerous games. But sad to say the guards, all the way up in rank, to the Warden, can play very dangerous games as well. The hope is that you are in a prison that is ran by good administration. For without good administration, the prison society is pure chaos. - Datra C. Johnson - 2-24-19
