working in a maximum-security prison

[debtheaven]

It was an offer I could, and did, refuse LOL.

I am a journalist who has reincarnated into an ESL teacher. As of last week I am short on hours so I have been applying to a bunch of jobs, mainly on the UE site. I know I should have been more proactive but it was Christmas, my young adult kids were home and I left it. The French UE job site is very active because companies who recruit via UE get a boatload of tax breaks.

Anyway, I answered two ads from the same place. One ad was for four hours of ESL teaching over two days, 30 min away, twice a week. The other was for six hours of teaching on one day, about 45 min away.

So I got called today for an interview, for either one or the other (both are on the same day, can't do both). Find out the first one (2X2) is teaching English in an maximum-security prison. I said, I'm guessing they're not there for tax evasion. She laughed and said, no, if they are there for decades, it's not for tax evasion. But in the four years we've offered classes there, we've never had a problem.

She asked, do you have a problem with that? I said, well honestly, I'm a bit surprised. She said, I was too at first. I guess you don't want to work there. I said I'm not refusing to work there, but given my schedule, frankly I would much prefer the one-day block of six hours. She said given your long commute, that makes perfect sense.

So I have an interview for the six-hour job in a week, she apologized profusely for not being able to give me one sooner. She made it sound like they just need to verify that I don't have two heads, talked at great length about how the former teacher would fill me in, etc, ie made it sound like I was a "shoe-in" but at this point I know that means absolutely nothing. I really do hope I get that other job though.

So, have any of you ever worked in a prison? I have to admit, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

[Lindz85]

So you will be teaching english to a bunch of convicts? Are you going to have security guards surrounding you?? That sounds pretty scary...

[rileyoday]

it will be safe.they rarely have staff injured. they would not have you in if it was not safe. last thing they need is a problem. do it.
good experience.

[debtheaven]

No, I did NOT accept an interview for THAT job, I accepted an interview for the OTHER job. It sounded pretty scary to me too!

But I was curious if anybody here has any experience in that environment.

[debtheaven]

Riley I am in no way ready to accept that job now.

Plus what I said is true, I'd much rather drive 45 min twice a week (ONE round trip) to teach SIX hours than drive 30 min each way four times a week (TWO round trips) to teach FOUR hours.

Happily this is a milieu I know NOTHING about. But, it certainly made me curious.

[Frugal Nurse]

I have been talked to about going to work for the federal prison here as a nurse. The benefits and pay are good. But honestly, I"m a 26 y/o girl who is 5"1 on a good day, I would be in major trouble if an inmate tried to harm me. We have a contract with the federal prisons at the hospital where I work so we get a lot of inmates and most are very respectful, but there are some that make me very glad there are 2-3 guards in the room with me at all times! Maybe if I were a bigger person, or a man, I would be less intimidated...

[Deleted]

OMG... i have so been waiting for an opening to use this, can't believe it came up...

I have a friend (little slip of a thing) works in a prison library, not max security, runs a book club... well liked by the inmates... so the other day she says "I love hummus"... and one of the inmates said, "That's your boyfriends' name?"...

She does wear a panic belt... if it doesn't remain vertical, it triggers an alarm...

[debtheaven]

FrugalNurse thank you for your post! That is exactly the sort of thing I am worried about (I'm 5'2" LOL).

What worries me even more is that they would all know my name, they would all have my email addy (I know I can get a fake addy but come on, they'd know my name.) All it would take is one wingnut to decide he might have a vendetta against my family because he got an answer wrong one day. If they are getting this training (hospitality industry), it's because they are on their way OUT of prison after having served their sentence (or part of it, that's another issue).

Again, I am no longer applying for this job, but I'm really curious for feedback about those who work in that environment.

[Deleted]

It can be a good job. I can put you into contact with the person i know who works the prison library, if you are realy interested.

[debtheaven]

Oped too funny! My close friend / former colleague who retired a few years before I left has three kids. One is very educated and bright but he never quite "launched". He too ran a prison library in a high-security prison! He would get hired, fired, rehired depending on budgets. Not sure just where he is now.

His mom and I team-teach a night class so I just gave her the rundown on tonight's class, and mentioned that I had just refused an interview for this job, might her son be interested?

[debtheaven]

Oped many thanks but I am definitely not ready for that. I also think it's funny on some level that this is WIR and however one feels about working in a prison, financially, the other job is definitely a much better deal.

But who knows what next year might bring.

But I'm really not sure I could ever deal with murderers, or rapists, or child abusers. I'm glad they have people that can, but I don't think I'm one of them.

[blackcard]

Ok I am 5'2" also. No way I would even think about it. Just me though.

[kgb18]

debtheaven, I actually just went back to journalism. I just couldn't hack doing PR. I'm now a cops and courts reporter, so I pretty much only see the criminals at their court appearances, or I see the aftermath of their crimes if I have to go out to a crime scene. I did get some crazy jail mail from an inmate today. That's been the closet I've come to contact with an inmate.

However, my now ex-SIL was a guard in a high security men's prison. She was a tiny girl. She had very few problems, and I think she could hold her own pretty well. But I don't blame you for not wanting that job.

[debtheaven]

KGB Congratulations!!! That's great news on the J job!

[sheilaincali]

My uncle worked in a maximum security prison starting at age 20. He retired fully when he was 50 (rule of 80 I think). Any way- he was the head of the carpentry department and had a lot of inmates work on his crew. He liked the job but was very paranoid while he was there. He allowed no questions of a personal nature. Lied and said he was single if asked. My aunt never once visited him at work- even in the non-prisoner areas.
He felt like he was living two lives and although he is enjoying his second career after retiring he wouldn't go back and do it all again.

[LilBall]

I work in a maximum security prison every day. I'm 5'2" and weighed 95 pounds when I started. I have never once been scared or felt threatened by the inmates, they can sense it very easily. As long as you remain respectful, they will too.

[Deleted]

I led a training program for inmates at a medium security prison as part of my old job. I needed to play the head game with myself that everyone I encountered was incarcerated for drug dealing or possession or some such thing.

Everyone I worked with directly was nice and respectful and generally a pleasure to work with. The tough part was the long walk across the prison yard to the building where our training was. It was harder to pretend that everyone was a drug dealer.

And the food. I'm not sure why we agreed to eat our lunch in the cafeteria once, but that is a mistake I will not make again.

[blackcard]

Lilball are you in a female one? or male? We are about the same size, and I would be terrified! I would not even want my DH 6'2"' 220pds of all muscle to work in one. I would fear for his safety all of the time.

[cathysmom]

When I was a kid my Mom taught Algebra for one semester at a maximum security prison. She was always escorted by a guard in the prison.
She said that it was a lot like teaching high school, in a way. The guys who are taking classes in prison are there because they want to learn, so they are usually some of the better inmates. She never had a problem, but she never taught there again (a big relief to the family!)

[gawgagranny]

My DH ran a law library in a men's medium/maximum security state prison for about 6 months (temporary position)--he actually enjoyed it and said he felt totally safe. The inmates would behave because if they didn't they would lose their priviledges. DH now works in a facility for the criminally insane, but he says he feels safe there too for the same reason--the residents know that causing problems for him would mean more restrictions on how they get to spend their free time.

[zibazinski]

Geez, I never gave it a thought and had the job been located in an area where I wanted to live as opposed to where I grew up, I'd have stayed teaching there. Like I said, it was creepier getting TO class than teaching the actual class.

[zibazinski]

My HS BFF became a guard there and she was only a few inches/pounds more than me. A gun is a great equalizer, I suppose.

[Deleted]

Funny thing... my friend who works the prison library comments how the library is like 80% Law books, and 20% Danielle Steele... lol... an over exaggeration, but one of the reasons she started book club was to broaden their horizons...

[Firebird]

Jan 19, 2011 20:00:01 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

I have been talked to about going to work for the federal prison here as a nurse. The benefits and pay are good. But honestly, I"m a 26 y/o girl who is 5"1 on a good day, I would be in major trouble if an inmate tried to harm me. ... Maybe if I were a bigger person, or a man, I would be less intimidated...

School is a privilege in prison and it is reserved for the best-behaved prisoners. You start screwing around or acting erratic, you're out-- no questions asked.

If you're working as a guard in a maximum security men's prison, yes, that can be extremely dangerous. Particularly if you're the wrong ethnicity. Teacher, not so much. Inmates who have earned that status typically do not want to jeopardize it by causing trouble.

[zibazinski]

For real, no one ever said or did anything that was out of line and I never once feared for my safety. It was creepy getting INTO prison but once I was there, I just did my job.

[debtheaven]

Update

First of all, thank you all for your responses. I appreciate them, this is a milieu I know very little about and it's been very interesting to read the responses.

This said, I had always said that I did not want that job, I posted because I was just curious. That organization (the French Adult Ed / Continuing Ed body) was simultaneously advertising for two teaching jobs, one in a prison, and one in a company.

Yesterday I interviewed for, and was offered, the company job. A younger colleague from my business school job WAS interested in the prison job, so I asked about it at the end of my interview, and learnt that it had already been filled.

The co job is a better fit for me, for several reasons. One, it's in a co and not a prison (no right or wrong there, it's just my preference), and two, it's six hours of teaching on one day (ie one long commute) rather than four hours of teaching spread over two days (ie two long commutes).

Again, thanks!

[speechchick71]

Great to hear that update debtheaven. I couldn't imagine that the prison would have been any worse than the MS you were in earlier last year even if it was the only option for you! Thanks for the shoutout on my regional thread. I've been paying bills like crazy. Hoping to see the end of my debt in 3 weeks!

[debtheaven]

I couldn't imagine that the prison would have been any worse than the MS you were in earlier last year even if it was the only option for you!

Speechchick I'm sure you're right about that, LOL!

Three weeks, wow! Hopefully I will be joining you soon afterwards!

[reeneejune]

debtheaven - I'd like to offer another perspective if I may. My dear brother is in prison in the States. Yes, there are hardened criminals in prison. But there are also men like my brother who struggled with severe dyslexia and never graduated high school. He ended up running with the wrong crowd and one day he was in the wrong place at the wrong time with someone who lied to him. I firmly believe that the lack of an effective education along with other factors in his life contributed to him ending up in prison. Now that he's there, I encourage him to take any opportunity to better himself and further his education. Now that he's got plenty of time on his hands, he can take all the time in the world to read the classics and study anything I can get him books on. Remember that for inmates EVERYTHING right down to the ability to look out a window is a privilege and anyone who makes trouble has their privileges revoked. Had you taken the job in the prison, I have no doubt that you would have been totally safe and pleasantly surprised by the willingness and dedication those students show. Sorry if I rambled on a bit... I just visited my brother this morning where he told me that he hasn't been outside or even able to look out a window in more than 6 months. I'm still a little emotional.

[debtheaven]

Renee
Although this job would not have suited me, I agree that it is a good thing the prisoners have these opportunities.

I'm so sorry that you and your family are going through this. I hope things go well for your brother. He is lucky to have such a devoted sister.