If you are looking to read stories by inmates about their experiences in the U.S. prison system, you can find some on the featured writers page of Adopt An Inmate. I recently attended a talk on the abuses of solitary confinement at the Unitarian Church in Newburyport. Participants were invited to sign up for the pen pal program. While enjoying learning about each of my two pen pals reading their personal stories, I'm also disillusioned by the reality of the never ending stream of drugs on the inside, and then there's the violence. View a Frontline special on solitary confinement in Maine prison which is horrifying yet sheds light on reform efforts.
And in Massachusetts, be sure to read Advocates Push for Limits on Massachusetts Use of Solitary Confinement or
Prisoners Legal Services and contact your representative in support of these measures.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Friday, November 18, 2011
Week 8: Graduation
I'd like to interject a promotion for my book, Letters From Apizaco, a memoir of my experience as an exchange student in Mexico as told through letters home and journal entries in 1976.
- Graduation was scheduled for the last night from 6-8PM. I wasn't expecting the crowds of inmates to be lined up clapping for us and all the K-9 units standing by at attention as we paraded down a hall with gowns or jumpsuits on, but I thought there might be a little more happening besides the distribution of certificates and having to fill out an evaluation form only to be sent on our way fifteen minutes later. And I was so looking forward to a piece of cake and coffee(or donuts?) I was also looking forward to a chance to get to talk to the other participants. I figure that this was the first time through for everyone involved in the planning process of this first ever Citizens Academy. Instead of asking everyone to show up for an eighth session, maybe they could distribute the certificates at the end of the seventh. All in all, they did a fantastic job presenting the program. It was above and beyond my expectations.
- Graduation was scheduled for the last night from 6-8PM. I wasn't expecting the crowds of inmates to be lined up clapping for us and all the K-9 units standing by at attention as we paraded down a hall with gowns or jumpsuits on, but I thought there might be a little more happening besides the distribution of certificates and having to fill out an evaluation form only to be sent on our way fifteen minutes later. And I was so looking forward to a piece of cake and coffee(or donuts?) I was also looking forward to a chance to get to talk to the other participants. I figure that this was the first time through for everyone involved in the planning process of this first ever Citizens Academy. Instead of asking everyone to show up for an eighth session, maybe they could distribute the certificates at the end of the seventh. All in all, they did a fantastic job presenting the program. It was above and beyond my expectations.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Week Seven: Recruitment and Training of Staff
- On Thursday, November 10, I had an impromptu encounter with a few inmates from “The Farm” as the Lawrence facility is known. I had taken my nephews for an outing at Moseley Woods and noticed a vehicle from the sheriff’s department in the parking lot. About three men were raking pine needles in the playground. I remembered that the Moseley Commission has had prisoners work there every year to clean up after the park closes for the winter. My nephews were quite fascinated watching the three of them riding around on the trailer pulled by a small tractor. I didn’t tell them they were prisoners since they are at the age where they say anything to anyone, often times very inappropriate comments such as “are you a farty man?” which one of the park rangers at Parker River Wildlife Refuge was asked on last week’s outing. Who knows what would come out of their mouth. At the Citizens Academy, they told us during the lecture on community service that anyone with a history of sexual assaults or violence is never allowed to participate. Nevertheless, we kept our distance. I didn’t want to end up in some nasty hostage situation. (too much tv) Only one of the three seemed friendly enough to make eye contact and joke with me about the kids wanting to go on a hay ride. They were being watched closely by someone in the parking lot as well as someone in another van by the driveway entrance. One of them was probably Joseph Furnari, superintendent of the Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center and most likely the brother of Tony Furnari, the director of public services in Newburyport.
- Jason Ebacher, Asst. Supt. of Training and Staff Development and Asst. Supt. Arsenault led the Week Seven session. Asst. Supt. Arsenault gave us the lowdown on the screening process for applicants to the Correctional Academy. In the current candidate pool, they had started with 200 applicants that met the basic education requirements, but only about 160 showed up for the physical fitness test. Despite knowing the fitness requirements beforehand, several more were weeded out since they could not pass the test. There is a written exam, a background investigation, an interview process before a board of staff and finally a psychological written exam to see if the candidates have the right profile to meet the job requirements. Those that make the grade in every testing area then must have a medical exam and a drug test to be eligible for Basic Training. Even with a passing score at each level, there is no guarantee of admission to the program because a limited number can be accepted, something like twenty (not sure on that) If thirty pass, those with the highest ranking are the ones accepted.
- The starting base salary for a Correctional Officer is $43,202 but with performance, education and physical fitness incentives, a clothing allowance and a shift differential they can make closer to 50,000. Sheriff Cousins instituted the hierarchy used in the police departments so that officers could advance on the career ladder. The performance incentive is based on the number of sick days used. There is a $250 bonus if less than five sick days are used. Absenteeism has always been a huge problem in many of the schools I’ve worked. With a slightly sweeter pot than $250, I bet it would be an effective incentive. When I worked in Lawrence Public Schools, once you accumulated 200 days (given 15 per year), you could buy back up to seven days each year if you were only out sick once, less if out more than once. I don’t imagine there are substitutes for the Correctional officers so that must be an additional strain on the budget to pay overtime to other officers in order to cover the shifts.
- Assistant Superintendent Arsenault had a slide show for us with multiple pictures from within the jail, things she was surprised we had not seen on our tour such as the visiting area(no-contact visits), the inside of the barber shop, the cafeteria, views of the interior of a typical cell including the stainless steel toilet/sink combo. She offered interesting information we had not heard while going through the slides; the inmates are issued two sheets, two uniforms and one wool blanket in the winter. The cell is carefully constructed with nothing one can hang himself on. The tables are bolted down. They are allowed one hour of recreation per day but each day that time slot varies. When groups of inmates go to the gym, all the pins on the nautilus equipment are counted before they return to their block. There are no free weights. Only prisoners in good standing are allowed to eat in the cafeteria. Many eat right in the cell block and are given only fifteen minutes to do so. Their eating utensil is a plastic spork, the clever spoon fork combination I personally have many years of experience using as a public school employee. They do not get even get a plastic knife.
- When Jason asked us to go around the room and introduce ourselves, he asked what we had enjoyed the most so far in the academy. Several participants mentioned that they enjoyed the actual interaction with the inmates. While he spoke, I couldn’t help but think how familiar he looked somehow. I was wondering if he was one of the correctional officers that substituted at Triton Middle School several years ago. I don’t know whose brainstorm that was to join forces, but none of them lasted long. Dealing with 7th and 8th graders without the restrictions of a maximum security facility is a whole new challenge. I’ll never forget one of the guy’s comments to me after a particularly rough class, “This is ridiculous!” If I see him at the graduation they are having for us, I will have to ask him if he was one of the substitutes. Jason showed us an interesting video he made of typical procedures within the Middleton House of Correction and answered many of our questions.
- There was much to see in both the video and slide show that perhaps could be considered to be part of the tour in the next citizens’ academy that is offered. The tour could even be spread out into a couple of sessions. As interesting as everything was to hear about and learn, a picture tells a thousand words. Seeing things yourself is even better! I am so impressed with the effort every single presenter put into their talks and demonstrations and I hope that they will continue to offer this to the outside. The academy helped to clear up many misunderstandings we all have on prisons and allowed us to have the unique opportunity for some “hands on” experience with some of the situations encountered in the law enforcement circle.
- Next week is graduation. I have no idea what that entails. I hope we aren’t asked to put on uniforms and tossed onto a block for a game of Hearts! It certainly would be interesting however to stand around and eavesdrop on conversations. But I’ll take a piece of cake and coffee with my diploma! I am looking forward to my next visit to a prison which will be the Salem Jail. My husband is taking me for my birthday since the food now has improved dramatically! http://www.greatescaperest.com/#!
- Jason Ebacher, Asst. Supt. of Training and Staff Development and Asst. Supt. Arsenault led the Week Seven session. Asst. Supt. Arsenault gave us the lowdown on the screening process for applicants to the Correctional Academy. In the current candidate pool, they had started with 200 applicants that met the basic education requirements, but only about 160 showed up for the physical fitness test. Despite knowing the fitness requirements beforehand, several more were weeded out since they could not pass the test. There is a written exam, a background investigation, an interview process before a board of staff and finally a psychological written exam to see if the candidates have the right profile to meet the job requirements. Those that make the grade in every testing area then must have a medical exam and a drug test to be eligible for Basic Training. Even with a passing score at each level, there is no guarantee of admission to the program because a limited number can be accepted, something like twenty (not sure on that) If thirty pass, those with the highest ranking are the ones accepted.
- The starting base salary for a Correctional Officer is $43,202 but with performance, education and physical fitness incentives, a clothing allowance and a shift differential they can make closer to 50,000. Sheriff Cousins instituted the hierarchy used in the police departments so that officers could advance on the career ladder. The performance incentive is based on the number of sick days used. There is a $250 bonus if less than five sick days are used. Absenteeism has always been a huge problem in many of the schools I’ve worked. With a slightly sweeter pot than $250, I bet it would be an effective incentive. When I worked in Lawrence Public Schools, once you accumulated 200 days (given 15 per year), you could buy back up to seven days each year if you were only out sick once, less if out more than once. I don’t imagine there are substitutes for the Correctional officers so that must be an additional strain on the budget to pay overtime to other officers in order to cover the shifts.
- Assistant Superintendent Arsenault had a slide show for us with multiple pictures from within the jail, things she was surprised we had not seen on our tour such as the visiting area(no-contact visits), the inside of the barber shop, the cafeteria, views of the interior of a typical cell including the stainless steel toilet/sink combo. She offered interesting information we had not heard while going through the slides; the inmates are issued two sheets, two uniforms and one wool blanket in the winter. The cell is carefully constructed with nothing one can hang himself on. The tables are bolted down. They are allowed one hour of recreation per day but each day that time slot varies. When groups of inmates go to the gym, all the pins on the nautilus equipment are counted before they return to their block. There are no free weights. Only prisoners in good standing are allowed to eat in the cafeteria. Many eat right in the cell block and are given only fifteen minutes to do so. Their eating utensil is a plastic spork, the clever spoon fork combination I personally have many years of experience using as a public school employee. They do not get even get a plastic knife.
- When Jason asked us to go around the room and introduce ourselves, he asked what we had enjoyed the most so far in the academy. Several participants mentioned that they enjoyed the actual interaction with the inmates. While he spoke, I couldn’t help but think how familiar he looked somehow. I was wondering if he was one of the correctional officers that substituted at Triton Middle School several years ago. I don’t know whose brainstorm that was to join forces, but none of them lasted long. Dealing with 7th and 8th graders without the restrictions of a maximum security facility is a whole new challenge. I’ll never forget one of the guy’s comments to me after a particularly rough class, “This is ridiculous!” If I see him at the graduation they are having for us, I will have to ask him if he was one of the substitutes. Jason showed us an interesting video he made of typical procedures within the Middleton House of Correction and answered many of our questions.
- There was much to see in both the video and slide show that perhaps could be considered to be part of the tour in the next citizens’ academy that is offered. The tour could even be spread out into a couple of sessions. As interesting as everything was to hear about and learn, a picture tells a thousand words. Seeing things yourself is even better! I am so impressed with the effort every single presenter put into their talks and demonstrations and I hope that they will continue to offer this to the outside. The academy helped to clear up many misunderstandings we all have on prisons and allowed us to have the unique opportunity for some “hands on” experience with some of the situations encountered in the law enforcement circle.
- Next week is graduation. I have no idea what that entails. I hope we aren’t asked to put on uniforms and tossed onto a block for a game of Hearts! It certainly would be interesting however to stand around and eavesdrop on conversations. But I’ll take a piece of cake and coffee with my diploma! I am looking forward to my next visit to a prison which will be the Salem Jail. My husband is taking me for my birthday since the food now has improved dramatically! http://www.greatescaperest.com/#!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Week Six: Internal Security and Transportation of Inmates
- We had three guest speakers at this evening’s presentation; Lt. Mansur, Capt. French and Sheriff Cousins who brought his young son. The sheriff spoke briefly but it was a good opportunity for everyone in the course to put the name with his face finally. I have known the sheriff since he was probably about his son’s age. His family was friends with one of my best friends from Triton. I also remember he snowplowed my driveway about twenty years ago when he must have been a state rep, doing some odd jobs. Mr. Flemming tried to be a wise guy and put me on the spot to see if I had any questions for the sheriff since I was writing a blog. I was pleasantly surprised someone had actually bothered to read it, even though an article in the Daily News about the Citizens Academy this week posted a link to it. Most people suffer from information overload. I suppose if I was writing something juicy about any shenanigans going on behind the scenes at the jail, I’d have a readership, but I can look at the stats on the blog website and see that it’s a good thing I don’t have to rely on writing to put food on my table. Even if the entire county were reading the blog each week, I wouldn’t be making a red cent.
- As far as juicy shenanigans behind the scenes, I know nothing. But what I do wonder about is how the whole elected official thing comes into play as far as being accepted by the rest of the staff. Also, how different is the sheriff’s role in 2011 versus the role of his early predecessors who actually lived on the premises. He has no background in law enforcement, but as he explained, the best correctional officers do not necessarily make for good administrators. His position seems to be one more of leadership and oversight of the entire correctional system in the county. There hasn’t been a lot of competition for the job certainly. From the looks of the letter that the last person to run against Sheriff Cousins submitted to the newspapers to campaign for the sheriff's positon, one could question if he even had a High School diploma. The sheriff said he starts each day at 7AM visiting Middleton and then makes the rounds to the other facilities. He is on the road quite often and usually puts in long days.
- Lt. Mansur teaches the use of force in the correctional academy. Force is defined by any tool or weapon needed to control a suspect when communication is ineffective. Within the jail, only handcuffs are used to control inmates. The correctional officers never ever carry a weapon, not even pepper spray to prevent the likelihood that an inmate remove it from them and use it against them or other inmates. He discussed many of the de-escalation techniques to use when talking to agitated inmates such as lowering your voice and remaining calm and trying to change the subject hoping to get them to forget what they were angry about in the first place. When inmates begin converging into groups, physical proximity is important; moving towards the groups and standing between them. Prison riots are sparked not planned. The name of the game is to get any uncooperative inmate out of the unit as soon as possible. Every correctional officer carries a life-line at all times, a radio attached to the uniform near the collarbone for the quickest and easiest access.
- Capt. French oversees anything related to transportation of the 1300 inmates and staff of 500, which includes having a plan for evacuation should a disaster occur such as a fire, an earthquake, an explosion nearby, anything that would compromise the safety of everyone. He manages 26 officers in the transportation department, sees to the transportation of one hundred inmates each day to and from court and the maintenance of the sheriff department’s vehicles. They are progressing towards using video conferencing to save wear and tear of vehicles, fuel, etc. I find it amazing that we are still so far behind with the level of technology in the correctional facilities. It may be a matter of the law catching up with the times? I think that there may be an existing law stating that the defendant be present physically in court before a judge? I know that in Maryland last year, they were hoping to trim costs for their transportation budget by installing a teleconferencing system however. They were even going to use if for doctors’ visits. One of the biggest killers of correctional officers is by their own handguns removed from them in the hospital according to Capt. French. Saving money would clearly not be the only benefit from teleconferencing whenever possible.
- After tonight’s presentation, we were all escorted out to the parking lot where they had parked a variety of the department’s vehicles for us to check out, including the newest and largest paddy wagon. I could have used that on a couple of field trips during my career! It was impressive to see the number of compartments within even of the smallest of the vans, the sole purpose being to segregate according to each inmate’s classification. One of the vans looked like a horse trailer but inside there were benches on either side, separated by a wall. Nobody gets a window seat in that thing. Some of us climbed on board three or four different styles and then we all got in the new one. The compartments within were more like cages.
- Both Capt. French and Lt. Mansur were interesting speakers and clearly very enthusiastic and proud of their work. They both put a lot of time and energy into their presentations. I cannot say I have enjoyed one session more than another during the citizens' academy and I’m looking forward to next week’s talk on the recruitment and training of correctional officers.
- As far as juicy shenanigans behind the scenes, I know nothing. But what I do wonder about is how the whole elected official thing comes into play as far as being accepted by the rest of the staff. Also, how different is the sheriff’s role in 2011 versus the role of his early predecessors who actually lived on the premises. He has no background in law enforcement, but as he explained, the best correctional officers do not necessarily make for good administrators. His position seems to be one more of leadership and oversight of the entire correctional system in the county. There hasn’t been a lot of competition for the job certainly. From the looks of the letter that the last person to run against Sheriff Cousins submitted to the newspapers to campaign for the sheriff's positon, one could question if he even had a High School diploma. The sheriff said he starts each day at 7AM visiting Middleton and then makes the rounds to the other facilities. He is on the road quite often and usually puts in long days.
- Lt. Mansur teaches the use of force in the correctional academy. Force is defined by any tool or weapon needed to control a suspect when communication is ineffective. Within the jail, only handcuffs are used to control inmates. The correctional officers never ever carry a weapon, not even pepper spray to prevent the likelihood that an inmate remove it from them and use it against them or other inmates. He discussed many of the de-escalation techniques to use when talking to agitated inmates such as lowering your voice and remaining calm and trying to change the subject hoping to get them to forget what they were angry about in the first place. When inmates begin converging into groups, physical proximity is important; moving towards the groups and standing between them. Prison riots are sparked not planned. The name of the game is to get any uncooperative inmate out of the unit as soon as possible. Every correctional officer carries a life-line at all times, a radio attached to the uniform near the collarbone for the quickest and easiest access.
- Capt. French oversees anything related to transportation of the 1300 inmates and staff of 500, which includes having a plan for evacuation should a disaster occur such as a fire, an earthquake, an explosion nearby, anything that would compromise the safety of everyone. He manages 26 officers in the transportation department, sees to the transportation of one hundred inmates each day to and from court and the maintenance of the sheriff department’s vehicles. They are progressing towards using video conferencing to save wear and tear of vehicles, fuel, etc. I find it amazing that we are still so far behind with the level of technology in the correctional facilities. It may be a matter of the law catching up with the times? I think that there may be an existing law stating that the defendant be present physically in court before a judge? I know that in Maryland last year, they were hoping to trim costs for their transportation budget by installing a teleconferencing system however. They were even going to use if for doctors’ visits. One of the biggest killers of correctional officers is by their own handguns removed from them in the hospital according to Capt. French. Saving money would clearly not be the only benefit from teleconferencing whenever possible.
- After tonight’s presentation, we were all escorted out to the parking lot where they had parked a variety of the department’s vehicles for us to check out, including the newest and largest paddy wagon. I could have used that on a couple of field trips during my career! It was impressive to see the number of compartments within even of the smallest of the vans, the sole purpose being to segregate according to each inmate’s classification. One of the vans looked like a horse trailer but inside there were benches on either side, separated by a wall. Nobody gets a window seat in that thing. Some of us climbed on board three or four different styles and then we all got in the new one. The compartments within were more like cages.
- Both Capt. French and Lt. Mansur were interesting speakers and clearly very enthusiastic and proud of their work. They both put a lot of time and energy into their presentations. I cannot say I have enjoyed one session more than another during the citizens' academy and I’m looking forward to next week’s talk on the recruitment and training of correctional officers.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Week Five: K-9 Demonstration
- Session Five started out with a little excitement as the Sheriff’s Department had to send out a few correctional officers and K-9 units to the Ferncroft. Apparently Scott Brown was planning to speak and they were expecting about four busloads of protesters. There was nothing in the local paper but I did find an article online in the Salem News. According to the article about 40 teachers, firefighters and unemployed folks showed up and held a peaceful demonstration. http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1415460777/Brown-defends-vote-on-jobs-bill
Also, I sat next to one of the participants in the program that looked very familiar. Sure enough, he was one of my former students, a seventh grader at Triton Middle School only five or six years ago! He had recognized me as well but couldn't place me. I think he was nervous I was going to make him speak in Spanish and made sure he told me he didn't keep up with the language.
- This evening’s presentation by Lt. Cody provided us with an overview of the training involved for both the handling correctional officer and the dog, the use of the K-9 units throughout Essex County and demonstrations of a drug search, an object search and the “bite and hold.” Another officer, Jorge and his dog assisted with the demonstrations.
- Lt. Cody made it clear to us that he is not a dog trainer but a handler. Much of the training occurs in a separate setting where the dogs are purchased. The price of each dog depends on the amount of training it has had. Lt. Cody’s nearly fully trained dog cost $5200. After the dog is purchased, it is sent to live with the officer at his home. No officer can participate in the program unless he/she owns his own home.
- After two weeks, allowing time for the essential bond between partners to occur, training for both officer and dog begin at the Police Dog Academy. Unlike the negative approach with frequent corrections used thirteen years ago, this training is based on constant positive reinforcement. Even officers with the deepest voices must learn to praise their dogs in a high pitched tone. Jorge said that was particularly difficult for him. Not only is it hard to get used to but there’s a bit of an embarrassment factor as well.
- The dogs are usually between nine months and fourteen months of age, the ideal training time, when they start the police academy. The dogs are carefully screened out prior to training. Any dog that shows fear easily or reacts to gunshots is not eligible. The first phase of the program is obedience training. The dogs learn to be focused 100% on their handler. Phase two is Tracking. The dog’s favorite toy becomes the most essential tool for learning how to track and continues to be an integral part of the equipment throughout the dog’s service in law enforcement. Whether the dog is searching for a person, drugs, an object belonging to a criminal it is doing so in order to get a chance to play with its toy. The training involves learning to associate various scents with this reward. As soon as the dog hits on a sent, the toy, usually tucked into some part of the officer’s uniform, comes out suddenly. Lt. Cody’s dog’s favorite toy is a large Kong. They did a remarkable demonstration together in the training room where Jorge had hidden a package of marijuana in a metal box and the dog searched the room methodically until he started scratching frantically on the box at which point Lt. Cody tossed him the Kong toy and praised him with the highest pitched voice he could squeak out.
- Although these dogs are not house pets, they do live with their human partner and family. They are working dogs. When they are not working, they are housed in crates within the home. All vet bills and food are paid for by the department. They are treated and cared for at a veterinary office in Georgetown. A six year commitment to the K-9 program is required. If the dog dies before then, a new dog is issued and the process starts all over again.
- When the dog begins to fail as a result of age, usually between 8 and 12 years, they are retired and allowed to live out their lives as a house pet. If the officer and his family would prefer not to keep the dog, it must be euthanized. None of these dogs can ever be transferred over to another party. Lt. Cody’s dog would be retiring in the spring. There is a plaque near the training room that honors all the dogs that have worked for the correctional officers in the Sheriff’s Department.
- Since many police departments do not have canine units, the sheriff’s departments’ units are frequently deployed. Three K-9 units are sent out for a missing child. Lawrence with its fiscal problems, not only understaffed but with the higher crime rate has become a huge problem on weekend nights after the clubs get out. They now have K-9 units posted regularly on Broadway and Essex Streets. There is nothing better for crowd control than one of these dogs. In large brawls, they sometimes use the German muzzle, a leather muzzle with a lead piece in the snout. The dog will run and give a good whack with his muzzle to subdue various individuals. But usually, the fear of being bitten by a dog is enough to disperse a very large group. They never attack as they are trained to charge an individual upon command, then bite and hold. They learn to only bite the upper arm or leg. The claws are never trimmed so certainly the bite and hold technique is not a pleasant experience for any suspect.
- Lt. Cody displayed the bullet proof vest used for the dogs that protects all their vital organs, a much more expensive vest than the human equivalent. After an outdoors demonstration of the bite and hold technique, we were shown the interior of the K-9 police cruiser. All the different equipment for the many different situations hangs from a bar attached to the inside hood of the trunk. The back seat of the cruiser is in itself one large crate. There is no upholstery for the dog to destroy since they often get jazzed up for their work. A door to the backseat slides open between the driver seat and the passenger seat where the dog waits for a command to come out if needed. The dog can be left in the car in the heat with AC on. Each cruiser has an emergency backup system should the AC fail.
- It was interesting to note that all the dogs ever used in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department have always been males and continue to be for no other reason but tradition. Male dogs are not necessarily more aggressive than females; it has just always been an accepted practice to purchase male dogs. Other sheriff departments in Massachusetts do use females as well.
- Lt. Cody frequently presents his K-9 talk and demonstrations to school and civic groups. He is always available for questions and conversations about his service in the K-9 department of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. He is an enthusiastic and energetic presenter and would be a highlight to have at any animal related fundraiser or other event. As a dog owner, I especially enjoyed this presentation. Having a deeper voice than most females I know, I decided to experiment with the high pitched praise on a friend’s puppy I have been taking care of. It works! Maybe I will try to figure out which is her favorite toy and see if I can train her to help me find my car keys or the TV remote……hmmm…
- Next week, we will learn about transportation of inmates and defensive tactics.
-
Also, I sat next to one of the participants in the program that looked very familiar. Sure enough, he was one of my former students, a seventh grader at Triton Middle School only five or six years ago! He had recognized me as well but couldn't place me. I think he was nervous I was going to make him speak in Spanish and made sure he told me he didn't keep up with the language.
- This evening’s presentation by Lt. Cody provided us with an overview of the training involved for both the handling correctional officer and the dog, the use of the K-9 units throughout Essex County and demonstrations of a drug search, an object search and the “bite and hold.” Another officer, Jorge and his dog assisted with the demonstrations.
- Lt. Cody made it clear to us that he is not a dog trainer but a handler. Much of the training occurs in a separate setting where the dogs are purchased. The price of each dog depends on the amount of training it has had. Lt. Cody’s nearly fully trained dog cost $5200. After the dog is purchased, it is sent to live with the officer at his home. No officer can participate in the program unless he/she owns his own home.
- After two weeks, allowing time for the essential bond between partners to occur, training for both officer and dog begin at the Police Dog Academy. Unlike the negative approach with frequent corrections used thirteen years ago, this training is based on constant positive reinforcement. Even officers with the deepest voices must learn to praise their dogs in a high pitched tone. Jorge said that was particularly difficult for him. Not only is it hard to get used to but there’s a bit of an embarrassment factor as well.
- The dogs are usually between nine months and fourteen months of age, the ideal training time, when they start the police academy. The dogs are carefully screened out prior to training. Any dog that shows fear easily or reacts to gunshots is not eligible. The first phase of the program is obedience training. The dogs learn to be focused 100% on their handler. Phase two is Tracking. The dog’s favorite toy becomes the most essential tool for learning how to track and continues to be an integral part of the equipment throughout the dog’s service in law enforcement. Whether the dog is searching for a person, drugs, an object belonging to a criminal it is doing so in order to get a chance to play with its toy. The training involves learning to associate various scents with this reward. As soon as the dog hits on a sent, the toy, usually tucked into some part of the officer’s uniform, comes out suddenly. Lt. Cody’s dog’s favorite toy is a large Kong. They did a remarkable demonstration together in the training room where Jorge had hidden a package of marijuana in a metal box and the dog searched the room methodically until he started scratching frantically on the box at which point Lt. Cody tossed him the Kong toy and praised him with the highest pitched voice he could squeak out.
- Although these dogs are not house pets, they do live with their human partner and family. They are working dogs. When they are not working, they are housed in crates within the home. All vet bills and food are paid for by the department. They are treated and cared for at a veterinary office in Georgetown. A six year commitment to the K-9 program is required. If the dog dies before then, a new dog is issued and the process starts all over again.
- When the dog begins to fail as a result of age, usually between 8 and 12 years, they are retired and allowed to live out their lives as a house pet. If the officer and his family would prefer not to keep the dog, it must be euthanized. None of these dogs can ever be transferred over to another party. Lt. Cody’s dog would be retiring in the spring. There is a plaque near the training room that honors all the dogs that have worked for the correctional officers in the Sheriff’s Department.
- Since many police departments do not have canine units, the sheriff’s departments’ units are frequently deployed. Three K-9 units are sent out for a missing child. Lawrence with its fiscal problems, not only understaffed but with the higher crime rate has become a huge problem on weekend nights after the clubs get out. They now have K-9 units posted regularly on Broadway and Essex Streets. There is nothing better for crowd control than one of these dogs. In large brawls, they sometimes use the German muzzle, a leather muzzle with a lead piece in the snout. The dog will run and give a good whack with his muzzle to subdue various individuals. But usually, the fear of being bitten by a dog is enough to disperse a very large group. They never attack as they are trained to charge an individual upon command, then bite and hold. They learn to only bite the upper arm or leg. The claws are never trimmed so certainly the bite and hold technique is not a pleasant experience for any suspect.
- Lt. Cody displayed the bullet proof vest used for the dogs that protects all their vital organs, a much more expensive vest than the human equivalent. After an outdoors demonstration of the bite and hold technique, we were shown the interior of the K-9 police cruiser. All the different equipment for the many different situations hangs from a bar attached to the inside hood of the trunk. The back seat of the cruiser is in itself one large crate. There is no upholstery for the dog to destroy since they often get jazzed up for their work. A door to the backseat slides open between the driver seat and the passenger seat where the dog waits for a command to come out if needed. The dog can be left in the car in the heat with AC on. Each cruiser has an emergency backup system should the AC fail.
- It was interesting to note that all the dogs ever used in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department have always been males and continue to be for no other reason but tradition. Male dogs are not necessarily more aggressive than females; it has just always been an accepted practice to purchase male dogs. Other sheriff departments in Massachusetts do use females as well.
- Lt. Cody frequently presents his K-9 talk and demonstrations to school and civic groups. He is always available for questions and conversations about his service in the K-9 department of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. He is an enthusiastic and energetic presenter and would be a highlight to have at any animal related fundraiser or other event. As a dog owner, I especially enjoyed this presentation. Having a deeper voice than most females I know, I decided to experiment with the high pitched praise on a friend’s puppy I have been taking care of. It works! Maybe I will try to figure out which is her favorite toy and see if I can train her to help me find my car keys or the TV remote……hmmm…
- Next week, we will learn about transportation of inmates and defensive tactics.
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
Week Four: Community Services
- Assistant Deputy Superintendent Pratt entertained us this session with an overview of the community services provide by the Sheriff’s Department. The Citizens’ Academy is the newest initiative of Sheriff Cousins to reach out to the community and share whatever information they are able to with the public. They work closely with other departments in the county. Since most towns can’t afford to maintain their own K9 units, for example, they frequently deploy theirs to the towns and cities as needed. Each week, they provide the Department of Immigration with a list of undocumented inmates.
- The Sheriff’s Department is also linked with Elder Services and the District Attorney’s office to provide outreach to the seniors. They have coordinated a program in each community called Triad. Participating seniors are given a round yellow sticker for their rear windshield if they own a vehicle to inform responders in the event of an accident that the victim’s medical and emergency information is locate within the glove compartment. The correctional officers also run a series of talks on topics such as understanding teen grandchildren and avoiding contractor scams.
- The pride and joy of the department appeared to be their involvement with Special Olympics. An uncle of participants in the Olympics when he joined the department, Pratt was pleasantly surprised to discover this. He soon became a regular participant in the multitude of related activities. They organize a convoy of police cruisers from all over Massachusetts to arrive at the start of the Olympics. To raise funds, they have a canoe race each year, a road race and a night in area restaurants where you can tip the cop while they assist the waiters and waitresses, all their tips going to the organization.
This session ended fairly early. Unfortunately, I didn't have my car there since my husband and dropped me off nor did I bother to bring my cell phone since they want you to keep them turned off inside. I had about forty five minutes to sit in the waiting room where the visitors wait to get in to see their incarcerated family and friends. The majority of the visitors were Latinos, primarily women and children. Most of them were speaking in Spanish. I enjoy sitting and listening, not letting on that I understand what they are saying. There is a television set up in there and about fifty chairs. A very friendly correctional officer stands guard by the metal detector at the entrance and converses with people, answers questions as needed. I felt as if I was waiting for a train in a station, it was quite comfortable and not the least bit intimidating. At one point, one of the officers came in and called almost everyone in the room by name and they were escorted through the administration building into the prison. About five or six people remained in the lobby with me until my ride finally came.
- Next week, assuming the weather is better, we will meet some of the department’s police dogs and learn more about how the K9 services are used.
- The Sheriff’s Department is also linked with Elder Services and the District Attorney’s office to provide outreach to the seniors. They have coordinated a program in each community called Triad. Participating seniors are given a round yellow sticker for their rear windshield if they own a vehicle to inform responders in the event of an accident that the victim’s medical and emergency information is locate within the glove compartment. The correctional officers also run a series of talks on topics such as understanding teen grandchildren and avoiding contractor scams.
- The pride and joy of the department appeared to be their involvement with Special Olympics. An uncle of participants in the Olympics when he joined the department, Pratt was pleasantly surprised to discover this. He soon became a regular participant in the multitude of related activities. They organize a convoy of police cruisers from all over Massachusetts to arrive at the start of the Olympics. To raise funds, they have a canoe race each year, a road race and a night in area restaurants where you can tip the cop while they assist the waiters and waitresses, all their tips going to the organization.
This session ended fairly early. Unfortunately, I didn't have my car there since my husband and dropped me off nor did I bother to bring my cell phone since they want you to keep them turned off inside. I had about forty five minutes to sit in the waiting room where the visitors wait to get in to see their incarcerated family and friends. The majority of the visitors were Latinos, primarily women and children. Most of them were speaking in Spanish. I enjoy sitting and listening, not letting on that I understand what they are saying. There is a television set up in there and about fifty chairs. A very friendly correctional officer stands guard by the metal detector at the entrance and converses with people, answers questions as needed. I felt as if I was waiting for a train in a station, it was quite comfortable and not the least bit intimidating. At one point, one of the officers came in and called almost everyone in the room by name and they were escorted through the administration building into the prison. About five or six people remained in the lobby with me until my ride finally came.
- Next week, assuming the weather is better, we will meet some of the department’s police dogs and learn more about how the K9 services are used.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Week 3: Classification and Rehabilitation
FROM THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN: Middleton House of Correction
Citizens Academy
Week 3: Classification and Rehabilitation
- Attendance at the Citizens Academy continues to drop, down to fifteen tonight. More of us are starting to ask questions at least so the group is getting slightly livelier. Sheriff Cousins has not made an appearance yet, although he was scheduled to welcome us at the first session. I had an impromptu conversation with him at a fundraiser for one of the Newburyport City Councilors earlier in the week. I introduced myself and told him that I’d been participating in the Citizens Academy at the prison. He told me that he hoped to make an appearance there soon and that he was glad that the program is being offered since most people do not know what he does. After three sessions, I still have no idea what he does, but it has been extremely informative learning about what the rest of the employees do within the correctional system. Sheriff Cousins did say that his goal is to reduce recidivism. How that is done was the subject of tonight’s session.
- Captain Kevin French, in charge of transportation and employed at Middleton since its inception spoke to us about the classification of inmates once they are arrested. The purpose of classification is to determine the needs and requirements of each prisoner and to assign housing units and programs accordingly, given the existing resources. It is stated in the Classification System Goals and Objectives 942.06 that “it is to enhance the potential for the inmates’ reintegration to a successful, law abiding and community life.”
- According to Captain French, a prison sentence is a time in the lives of inmates that they will remember because their minds will be clear of substance abuse. The vast majority of the prisoners have drug and alcohol addictions. In his opinion, alcohol abuse has been the most damaging, drugs second. An individual on their OUI with no criminal record is unlikely to do time. He would get out on personal recognizance and spend from five to seven thousand on a court-ordered recovery program. Other individuals without a history of violence or not in need of a rehabilitation program may serve their time in a minimum security unit at the farm in Lawrence, women at the Women in Transition facility in Salisbury. Sex offenders never qualify for the farm and juveniles are transported to other facilities.
Following Captain French’s presentation, Gale Brunault, the program director of Alternative to Violence Prevention gave a talk on the various rehabilitation programs offered. Prior to working with the correctional facility, Gail worked for fifteen years at eh Women’s Crisis Center in Newburyport. The rehabilitative programs are far more effective today since they are evidence-based. We would be meeting three inmates that have been participants in three different programs later in the evening.
The most popular program is the Treatment and Recovery for Addictions in Correction program (TRAC) where the basic philosophy is to establish a positive, caring community environment where the men can focus on recovery and behavioral change. Most inmates have never experienced a sense of community, the feeling it is to walk down a street and know people to talk to. The program lasts four to six months and 80 participants are all housed together for the duration. They learn to identify with each other in a supportive, shared therapeutic setting.
- A second program, Alternative to Violence is thirty five hour cognitive behavioral approach where the participants learn to take responsibility for their own behavior. They learn how their behavior cycles, if not corrected, will continue to result in negative consequences such as going to jail, losing a job and destroying relationships with family members and friends.
- The treatment of inmates with HIV offers educational counseling and medical care management. About 45 offenders each week participate in Adult Basic Education or GED classes. Life skills and other vocational trainings are also an integral part of Middleton’s correctional services. All of the same programming opportunities are available to female offenders at the WIT facility in Salisbury.
= Finally, Captain French and Gail Brunault escorted our group from the training room of the administrative building into the prison where three inmates were allowed time out of their blocks to share their rehabilitation experience with us. All three had achieved a level of leadership within their programs and valued the opportunity to share with the outside what the program had done for them after years of repeat visits to Middleton. All three were in their 30’s and shared a similar history of drug and alcohol abuse. One individual wore a dark brown jumpsuit. Having been a member of a white supremacist gang he was housed on a separate block where those inmates were not allowed any contact with rival gangs. He spoke of the family tragedies he’s endured including the death of his father by suicide off the Salem/Beverly Bridge. Playing hearts with the other inmates was preferable to striving for reintegration with the outside world. Having become a dad recently, the GED program was successful in motivating him to pursue his studies and finally shoot for his release date in several months, with more tools in his pocket to worth with. Another who classified his charge as “criminal thinking” referring to the constant temptation he was faced with the easy money to be made in drug trafficking and the difficulty there is to resist that. The youngest of twelve, a father of five, he felt he had made great strides towards breaking the cycle of his behavior. The third man had been getting high since he was a young child. He described his sentence as the only time in his life he’s had some mental clarity. He had become a mentor for new prisoners in the TRAC program and could not say enough about it. I was not able to take notes since we were not allowed to take anything with us out of the training room. Captain French showed us a collection of weapons fashioned by common household items. The prisoners are exceedingly creative with objects they manage to get a hold of. Weapons have been made out of torn off wall paper. Bars have been cut with dental floss.
- While we listened to the inmates tell their stories, correctional officers stood guard in the room with us. At one point one left the room and was replaced with another and I noticed two of the inmates whispering to each other. I wondered what they were discussing. I am sure there is a quite a culture of relationships with different Correctional Officers, each one having a reputation as either good or bad, not much different than students discussing their teachers in a middle school. Even though the men were in their thirties, I couldn’t help but think they were trapped in the middle school stage of development. Gail even referred to one of them as a good kid and I didn’t notice any obvious discomfort on his part. It would certainly be interesting to be a fly on a wall and listen to some of their conversations. I’m sure their family members and regular visitors get quite an earful about the goings from the inside. These carefully orchestrated encounters are the closest I’m ever going to get there, at least I hope!
Next week, we will be entertained by the canine units.
Citizens Academy
Week 3: Classification and Rehabilitation
- Attendance at the Citizens Academy continues to drop, down to fifteen tonight. More of us are starting to ask questions at least so the group is getting slightly livelier. Sheriff Cousins has not made an appearance yet, although he was scheduled to welcome us at the first session. I had an impromptu conversation with him at a fundraiser for one of the Newburyport City Councilors earlier in the week. I introduced myself and told him that I’d been participating in the Citizens Academy at the prison. He told me that he hoped to make an appearance there soon and that he was glad that the program is being offered since most people do not know what he does. After three sessions, I still have no idea what he does, but it has been extremely informative learning about what the rest of the employees do within the correctional system. Sheriff Cousins did say that his goal is to reduce recidivism. How that is done was the subject of tonight’s session.
- Captain Kevin French, in charge of transportation and employed at Middleton since its inception spoke to us about the classification of inmates once they are arrested. The purpose of classification is to determine the needs and requirements of each prisoner and to assign housing units and programs accordingly, given the existing resources. It is stated in the Classification System Goals and Objectives 942.06 that “it is to enhance the potential for the inmates’ reintegration to a successful, law abiding and community life.”
- According to Captain French, a prison sentence is a time in the lives of inmates that they will remember because their minds will be clear of substance abuse. The vast majority of the prisoners have drug and alcohol addictions. In his opinion, alcohol abuse has been the most damaging, drugs second. An individual on their OUI with no criminal record is unlikely to do time. He would get out on personal recognizance and spend from five to seven thousand on a court-ordered recovery program. Other individuals without a history of violence or not in need of a rehabilitation program may serve their time in a minimum security unit at the farm in Lawrence, women at the Women in Transition facility in Salisbury. Sex offenders never qualify for the farm and juveniles are transported to other facilities.
Following Captain French’s presentation, Gale Brunault, the program director of Alternative to Violence Prevention gave a talk on the various rehabilitation programs offered. Prior to working with the correctional facility, Gail worked for fifteen years at eh Women’s Crisis Center in Newburyport. The rehabilitative programs are far more effective today since they are evidence-based. We would be meeting three inmates that have been participants in three different programs later in the evening.
The most popular program is the Treatment and Recovery for Addictions in Correction program (TRAC) where the basic philosophy is to establish a positive, caring community environment where the men can focus on recovery and behavioral change. Most inmates have never experienced a sense of community, the feeling it is to walk down a street and know people to talk to. The program lasts four to six months and 80 participants are all housed together for the duration. They learn to identify with each other in a supportive, shared therapeutic setting.
- A second program, Alternative to Violence is thirty five hour cognitive behavioral approach where the participants learn to take responsibility for their own behavior. They learn how their behavior cycles, if not corrected, will continue to result in negative consequences such as going to jail, losing a job and destroying relationships with family members and friends.
- The treatment of inmates with HIV offers educational counseling and medical care management. About 45 offenders each week participate in Adult Basic Education or GED classes. Life skills and other vocational trainings are also an integral part of Middleton’s correctional services. All of the same programming opportunities are available to female offenders at the WIT facility in Salisbury.
= Finally, Captain French and Gail Brunault escorted our group from the training room of the administrative building into the prison where three inmates were allowed time out of their blocks to share their rehabilitation experience with us. All three had achieved a level of leadership within their programs and valued the opportunity to share with the outside what the program had done for them after years of repeat visits to Middleton. All three were in their 30’s and shared a similar history of drug and alcohol abuse. One individual wore a dark brown jumpsuit. Having been a member of a white supremacist gang he was housed on a separate block where those inmates were not allowed any contact with rival gangs. He spoke of the family tragedies he’s endured including the death of his father by suicide off the Salem/Beverly Bridge. Playing hearts with the other inmates was preferable to striving for reintegration with the outside world. Having become a dad recently, the GED program was successful in motivating him to pursue his studies and finally shoot for his release date in several months, with more tools in his pocket to worth with. Another who classified his charge as “criminal thinking” referring to the constant temptation he was faced with the easy money to be made in drug trafficking and the difficulty there is to resist that. The youngest of twelve, a father of five, he felt he had made great strides towards breaking the cycle of his behavior. The third man had been getting high since he was a young child. He described his sentence as the only time in his life he’s had some mental clarity. He had become a mentor for new prisoners in the TRAC program and could not say enough about it. I was not able to take notes since we were not allowed to take anything with us out of the training room. Captain French showed us a collection of weapons fashioned by common household items. The prisoners are exceedingly creative with objects they manage to get a hold of. Weapons have been made out of torn off wall paper. Bars have been cut with dental floss.
- While we listened to the inmates tell their stories, correctional officers stood guard in the room with us. At one point one left the room and was replaced with another and I noticed two of the inmates whispering to each other. I wondered what they were discussing. I am sure there is a quite a culture of relationships with different Correctional Officers, each one having a reputation as either good or bad, not much different than students discussing their teachers in a middle school. Even though the men were in their thirties, I couldn’t help but think they were trapped in the middle school stage of development. Gail even referred to one of them as a good kid and I didn’t notice any obvious discomfort on his part. It would certainly be interesting to be a fly on a wall and listen to some of their conversations. I’m sure their family members and regular visitors get quite an earful about the goings from the inside. These carefully orchestrated encounters are the closest I’m ever going to get there, at least I hope!
Next week, we will be entertained by the canine units.
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