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I saw a Facebook post the other day from the Missouri Patriot Guard and the VFW who were honoring a local veteran with a motorcycle ” drive-by” to celebrate the milestone of him turning 100 years old on September 9 of this year.  

Robert “Bob” Burks, served in the US Navy during World War II from 1942 – 1945.  He was in college at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and enlisted for service shortly thereafter. He served as a Pharmacist Mate in the Pacific Theater and was interestingly “loaned” to the United States Marine Corps on the island of Samoa to function as a medic helping treat soldiers involved in the brutal campaign to recover the South Pacific islands taken by the Japanese early in the war. Bob was able to return 25 years ago to be reunited with the people of Samoa and be honored accordingly. 

You know, I love our veterans and it was great to read Bob‘s story about his heroic service in the Pacific.  As I continued to read, at the bottom of the post, almost as an afterthought was written: “After his military service, his work included 31 years as a guard at the Federal Medical Facility in Springfield.”  I myself worked at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO for 14 years.  Thirty-one years as a guard at USMCFP Springfield is an absolutely amazing feat all by itself.  

I reached out to the organizers to make contact with Mr. Burks and I am extremely happy to tell you that in today’s episode, we are going to talk with Mr. Burks and hear about his amazing life and his time as a prison officer.

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One in five Americans works nontraditional hours, including the many staff working the off shifts in our prisons.  Someone has to be there.  Although many say they enjoy these off-shifts, it affects them.  It affects their families.  It affects their mental and physical health. 

I have worked in Corrections for more than 28 years.  Twenty-two of those years included shift work.  One of the things I found the most challenging over the years is working midnight shifts.  I am okay with evening shift (although my it kills your family time), but midnight shifts kicked my ass.

Making Night Shift Work: A Practical Guide for the Night Worker

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In this episode, I am going to cover what I believe are the basics of working in Restrictive Housing.  Restrictive Housing is the newest catchphrase that refers to “lock-down.”  Some places call it Segregation, the Hole, or the SHU (Special Housing Unit).  Whatever it is called where you work, it is the lock-down housing unit for those inmates who either refuse to follow the rules of the open yard or those inmates who have “checked in” from fear or the debts they have accumulated.  Many of these basics are also relevant to mental health and high-security units.

So what does it take to work Segregation?

Leave a comment on Facebook and let us know what you think are the basics of working Seg.

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Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell

Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful as a Correctional or Detention Officer by Michael Cantrell

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The last few months have changed the way all of us see the world around us.  The COVID-19 Pandemic, the quarantine, the masks, the death of George Floyd, the anti-police backlash that followed, the riots, the looting, it’s a lot of stress on everyone.  So, this episode I want to talk about this unprecedented level of toxic stress we are all living in.  How we can be resilient and take care of each other as we make it through these challenges.

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In this episode, I am going to answer several of the questions this podcast has generated since it started.  In just less than 3 months, this podcast has grown to over 1300 downloads, and hundreds of Facebook likes.  But, it has also generated a lot of questions such as:

• What made you want to start a podcast about prison?  
• What positive things did you do outside of prison to stay healthy?
• Are you going to have a show dedicated to the women who work in Corrections?
• Are you going to interview inmates on this show? 

People are curious about where this is podcast headed and why I started it, so let's see if I can find an answer for some of theses inquiring minds.

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In this episode, I have invited Dr. Jaclyn Brandhorst as a guest.  She has been researching stress, employee assistance programs, and PTSD in a correctional setting.  She has been impacted herself by correctional stress because she grew up with it.  I know, because she is my daughter.

After you listen to this episode, if you would like to contact Jaclyn, share your stories and help Jaclyn with her research, feel free to reach out to [email protected]

The Person You Mean to Be:  How Good People Fight Bias - Dolly Chugh

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In this episode, I want to talk to the rookies and the soon-to-be rookies out there.  You applied for the job, you’ve been through the academy, and now you are working in a housing unit as a Correctional Officer.  You look around and see a lot of other officers who seem comfortable in what they do, but how do you become a good Correctional Officer?  Start by being a good rookie.  I’m going to share what I feel are the four golden rules that will take you from being a rookie to being a solid correctional officer.

Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career! by Michael Cantrell

Keys to Your New Career: Information and Guidance to Get Hired and Be Successful as a Correctional or Detention Officer by Michael Cantrell

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In this episode, I want to talk about a taboo subject in Corrections.  Something that happens to everyone who works in Corrections in one form or another, yet it is rarely admitted or discussed openly.   Manipulation.  

Staff manipulation comes in two forms, one is when inmates “get over” on the rules.  The other is when a staff member is corrupted by inmates to do the unthinkable.

In this podcast we talk about why inmates manipulate us, how they manipulate us and how to stop them

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One of the things I have learned working in prison is just how much leadership matters.  Whether it is the way you lead your team, your housing unit or just an inmate work detail.  Leadership matters.  What I was thinking about this week is how we as leaders handle our mistakes. 

This is the first of many episodes where I will focus on Correctional Leadership.

Calvin and Hobbes (Volume 1)

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This episode I sit down and talk with a very special person who knows a lot about living with a Correctional Officer and the stress they bring home. My wife of more than 28 years, Kathryn.  Kathryn and I will talk about how corrections changed our social life, our children's life and our marriage.

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Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!