NCJ Number
58180
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SENIOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON IN WALPOLE, MASS., IS DESCRIBED IN THIS ILLUSTRATED ARTICLE.
Abstract
PHILLIP CARVALHO, SENIOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, IS THE SUBJECT OF AN ARTICLE FOCUSING ON ONE WORKING DAY IN HIS LIFE AS A PRISON GUARD IN THE MOST RESTRICTED AND CONFINED CELLBLOCK IN THE WALPOLE PRISON. ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE PROTOTYPE OF THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL OFFICER HE IS TYPICAL OF MANY--34 YEARS OF AGE, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, A FEW JOBS IN INDUSTRY BEFORE HE MOVED INTO THE 'STEADY WORK' OFFERED BY THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM, MARRIED. HIS PLACE OF WORK IS TEN BLOCK--AN ISOLATED STEEL-BARRED ISLAND OF 60 CELLS. BECAUSE IT CONFINES OR SEGREATES THOSE WHO HAVE ASSAULTED GUARDS AND IT ALSO CONSTITUTES THE LOWEST RUNG OF SUPERVISORY ASSIGNMENTS. CARVALHO'S 7 A.M. TO 3 P.M. SHIFT CONSISTS OF ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE AND INMATES' REQUEST AND COMPLAINTS, DISTRIBUTION FOUR TIMES A DAY A MEDICATION (SEDATIVES, TRANQUILIZERS, SLEEPING PILLS) TO EASE PRISONER TENSION, SERVING FOOD, ESCORTING VISITORS, AND RECEIVING APPOINTMENT REQUESTS FROM SOCIAL WORKERS, LAWYERS, AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL. THE WORK SETTING IS A SMALL, CRAMPED ROOM WHOSE CLUTTER AND CONGESTION ILLUSTRATES THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE GUARDED. THE ARTICLE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF CARVALHO'S DAY IN PRISON. (MJW)