By C1 Staff
Inmates can sometimes be a volatile lot, which is why many of them end up behind bars to begin with. It’s up to correctional officers to keep people calm and cool, in order to prevent fights and other incidents that can happen all too easily behind the walls of a correctional facility.
We recently took to Facebook to ask our readers, what are some things you would never say to an inmate in order to de-escalate a scenario? Here are the nine best responses. Add your own thoughts in the comments if you think something was missed.
Donald Ohler: Don’t say this is “my” house. We are there for our shift, and, yes, they need to obey the rules, but they dislike when you tell them “this is my house.”
Danny N Tiffany Mcfleeganski: I try to handle requests and complaints when it comes to inmate morale. But when they get demanding, I tell them to take it up with hotel management. They look at me funny then I tell them “Oh, that’s right. This isn’t a hotel and you’re not paying to stay here. The people you robbed, pillaged and plundered are.” They usually get quiet after that.
Andrew Keith: Don’t ever get mad while arguing with an inmate and finish with, “What are you going to do about it?” Just don’t.
Roseanne Rodriguez: When an inmate is wasting my time by whining, I press my finger to my ear piece and give a serious look of concern. Then I say to the inmate “hold that thought” and I walk away. They assume I have to respond to a call and they go away. I do this to the chronic whiners only.
Shavon King: I often think “This mug is crazy” but since I’m the mental health nurse, I’m certain to keep that one to myself.
Logan Jergens: Never raise your voice or yell (except in emergency situations). The more upset an inmate gets the softer and quieter I speak. I’ve only worked at penitentiaries and I get 100 percent compliance.
Being loud and angry is a sign of weakness and fear.
James Dempsey: “Last chance. I’m not telling you again.” Stuff like that boxes you in to a corner and makes it so you have no room to maneuver without sticking to what you say.
Aaron Griffin: Plain and simple “calm down” gets them pretty good.
WalterAnthony Michael Luczejko: Whenever an inmate would begin their tirade by screaming, cursing, etc., I would speak very softly and at times even say, “I can’t hear you when you yell.” They literally would calm down and have a positive outcome. It didn’t work on everyone, but I found it a good way to approach a volatile situation.
