Prison Officer Podcast

Just a quick episode to thank all of you working the holidays!  What you do matters and I appreciate it!  Also I read A CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CHRISTMAS just for some lighthearted fun.  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and have a safe shift! A Correctional Officer's Christmas Christmas Music - Jingle Bells Intro - Thanks to Scott Holmes Music The Midnight Shift Before Christmas by Donna Miele S...

In this episode, I talk with Brian O'Connell, a retired Warden with the Missouri Department of Corrections.  Growing up with two Grandfathers who worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he knew he wanted to work in Corrections early on.  We talk about some BOP and family history, his career path to Warden in the Missouri Department of Corrections, and why he thinks there is room for compass...

In this episode, I talk about how I developed my own Personal Vision Statement and why you need one.  Much like an agency or company's Vision Statement, a Personal Vision Statement can give you focus, direction, and purpose, and help you reach the goals you have for your life and career. I also talk about my 3 Truths of Leadership and the differences between Strategic Leadership and Tactical...

In this episode, I talk to former Sgt. Kevin Phillips.  Kevin discusses his quick rise from rookie to sergeant to DOC Valor award winner, and how quickly things can fall down around you.  He talks about loving the job, and resilience, yet learning to deal with the stresses of working inside.  Kevin lets us in on some of the stories still floating around Columbia Correctional Center (CCI), the pris...

In today’s episode, we talk with former BOP Captain Glen MacDonald about doing the right thing, even when it is tough.  Glen walks us through many of the decisions throughout his life and career, where doing the right thing was not popular.  Despite being shunned by staff, loss of promotions, and horrible stress, Glen persevered. Glen also shares his passion for staying active, including CrossFit...

Since the beginning of law enforcement and corrections, officers have had to verbally try and change the actions of others to prevent force from being used to control the situation.  There have always been those who could communicate in this manner well.  Those officers were able to get their point across without resorting to force.  Some were able to do it by helping the person work through the l...

You know, whenever the discussion of the roughest, toughest prisons comes up, there are several names that come to everyone’s mind…Alcatraz, Sing Sing, Leavenworth, Joliet, and of course San Quentin. Opened in 1852, San Quentin State Prison in California is one of those violent prisons that has become part of our national culture.  A prison that currently houses more than 3300 inmates (700 of thos...

A cartoon I once saw showed a sinking boat with sailors in it.  One end is going underwater, and a couple of sailors are bailing as fast as they can to no avail.  The other end of the boat is still out of the water and the characters on the other end are saying, “I’m glad it’s not our end of the boat that is sinking." Wake up, people! It’s the same boat, if one end sinks the whole boat sinks....

My guest today is Neil "Sam" Samworth, former UK prison officer and the author of S trangeways – A Prison Officer’s Story .  Sam spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, a prison also known as  Strangeways.   His book Strangeways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high-security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers and goes hea...

Today I sit down and discuss the minutes from the 1959 Captain's Conference that was held in Washington D.C.  These minutes give us some insight into what challenges and changes were going on with the Bureau of Prisons.  I invited Capt. Gary Cooper (ret.), Captain Dennis Treadway (ret.), and Captain Glen MacDonald (ret.) to sit down and talk about Yesterday and Today in the Bureau of Prisons....

In this episode I finish talking about the Military Leadership Books Every Correctional Leader Should Read.  In Episode 30, I covered Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin.  In this episode, I talk about Left of Bang   by Patrick Van Horn and Jason Riley.  This book will help you hone your intuition and your understanding of human behavior.  A must-read for anyone working in prison.  H...

In this episode, I talk with author and gang investigator D.J. (or David) Schilling.  He has worked in the Criminal Justice Field since 2006 as a Correctional Officer, Security Threat Group specialist, and gang instructor. His specialties are the use of the Runes & Norse Pagan symbology used by white supremacist groups, criminal intelligence processes, and alternative religions/beliefs, such a...

In today's episode, I talk with Wally Long, a former co-worker of mine from the Federal Medical Center in Springfield, MO.  We worked a lot of the same units together and I was always impressed by his resilience, his unwavering faith, as well as his leadership, and drive to always better himself.  As you will hear today, retirement has not slowed him down any.  From Prison to Politics, he is...

In this episode, I talk about Extreme Ownership - How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin a #1 New York Times Bestseller.  One of the premier leadership books of the last decade, Extreme Ownership is written by retired Navy SEALS on the lessons they learned in combat and leading some of the toughest men on the planet.  I discuss some of my takeaways from the book and how E...

In this episode, I get the chance to talk with Pat Bliss.  An artist, and former correctional officer at the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary in Saskatchewan, Canada.  He shares the stories behind his artwork and the many things he saw during his varied career. Behind the Razor Ribbon: A Correctional Officer's Perspective Send us Fan Mail Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice:...

Opportunities to become a correctional officer are better than ever before.  Agencies are offering bonuses and pay incentives to entice new hires.  Hiring fairs, online ads, and billboards are all trying to recruit new staff to become part of the corrections family.  But, where to start?  With so many options it seems impossible to find the information you need. A new book The Prison Officer Podca...

Vicki White, a jail supervisor, helps a convicted murderer escape from an Alabama jail.  Mexican Mafia member and convicted murderer, Gonzalo Lopez managed to free himself from restraints, break out of a transport cage, and attack the driver of the prison bus he was in.   If you have looked at the news lately, there seems to be an epidemic of escapes.  So what are the circumstances that allow inma...

Much like the current story of Vicki White and convicted murderer Casey White, Dorr helped John Manard escape from custody on February 12, 2006, in a dog crate and the two lived together in a cabin for 12 days until their capture and arrest in Tennessee.   Married mother of two, Toby Dorr (Young at the time) was running a dog program at a Kansas prison when she met inmate John Manard through the d...

This is a short episode, but I just wanted to talk about my first trip to the MOCK Prison Riot in Moundsville, WV, while it was stilll fresh in my mind.  What a great place to train and meet people from all over the world who work in our prisons and jails daily. Shout out to my Correctional brothers and sisters in Ecuador, Columbia, Trinidad-Tabago, North Hampton, FCI MCDowell, and all the others...

In this episode, I talk with a friend, former co-worker, and Leavenworth Historian/Author - Ken LaMaster.   Ken retired after 31 years in the Correctional field which included working at the US Disciplinary Barracks, Kansas State Penitentiary, and the United States Penitentiary Leavenworth.   I have always enjoyed listening to Ken's stories and research, and I know you will enjoy hearing abou...

There are currently 59,100 female officers working in local jails in the US.  Another 10,500 female staff work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  Across the country, female correctional officers make 38% of the total correctional officers nationwide. In this episode I talk with Sgt. Natasha Blake and her experiences as a Prison Officer.  I wanted to know how being a female Prison Officer is diffe...

What started as an offhand remark to family and friends, turned into a real conversation about what I would do if I were the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  More than 20 years on the job, gave me some definite ideas about what could be improved. In this episode I talk about how we can save taxpayer money, hold inmates and staff accountable, and improve our inmate programs to a point th...

In this episode, I do a little soul searching about God, religion, and faith and how prison affects our spiritual life.  Friend and former co-worker Chaplain Daniel O'dean joins me to bring another perspective to these issues.  We discuss prison volunteers, the First Amendment, inmate manipulation and the nature of evil inside the fence. U.S. Missions Assemblies of God Chaplaincy Ministries S...

I this episode I ask and try to answer the questions”Does ethics in Corrections matter?”  How important is integrity, honesty and ethics, and how do we build a culture of ethics where we work. Send us Fan Mail Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://a...

In this episode I talk about Positivity and Gratitude.  Inspired by a Facebook post that simply  asked "Name something positive you were able to accomplish because you have a good steady job as a Correctional Officer," I look farther into why it is so important that we find something positive to keep us motivated at work. Send us Fan Mail Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Just...