Correctional Officer Reputation

Words: 865
Pages: 4

This specific group has this reputation because of the mistakes other correctional officers have made. The actions that other correctional officers have done in the past causes the whole group to be viewed in a negative manner. In the article, “The Public Image of Corrections”, by Sgt. Chris Pearson, asserts “Although it is only a minority of correctional employees who engage in destructive behavior at any given time, all employees are tarred with the same brush.” This supports the claim that if past officers have made the wrong decisions while in the department then all other officers are seen as being that way as well. So just because one officer does wrong then all the others working in that particular department also pay the price and also receive the negative reputation. The information that the media puts out also plays a major role in the negative reputation …show more content…
The misconception is that all corrections officers are the same because of the false truths given to them due to the stereotypes obtained because of the public. In a personal interview with a current correctional officer, Nestor Iribe, stated “As correctional officers we don’t get the amount of respect we should and have a negative image because of the mistakes other officers have made. Others don’t understand what we have to deal with everyday we go to work. They choose to just see us as bad guys because of what the media puts out.” With this it is clear that correctional officers are portrayed to be bad guys because of what officers have done and what the media states about them. During the interview Iribe also explained that an average work day feels like it passes by at the speed of light. In the article, “ ‘Orange’ uncorked: How did we become the bad guys?”, by Harriet Fox claims “ Corrections officers on a daily basis put their lives at risk, deal with