Original Writing - Prose: Behind Bars - It's a tough job with unsociable hours, rare contact with the outside world and a less than impressive pay package. So why would anyone want to be a prison officer?
Behind Bars
It's a tough job with unsociable hours, rare contact with the outside world and a less than impressive pay package. So why would anyone want to be a prison officer?
I am asked to place my coat and bag in a small cloakroom area, and am ushered to a small room where my pockets are searched and body is frisked. I find this 'procedure' quite uncomfortable, but think myself lucky that these rigorous checks aren't performed everyday. I am given a white sticker with 'visitor' on it and am promptly told to 'wear it at all times' so I can be easily identified.
I am let through a series of grey cold steel doors, opened by a large bunch of jangling keys and am greeted by the prison officer I have come to interview with a firm, almost predictable handshake.
Carol Tomlin has been a prison officer at Bournemouth Magistrates Court for thirteen years. She works in twelve hour shifts, five, possibly six times a week in the 'cells' in the basement of the court.
Her only interaction is with the prisoners themselves and her fellow officers. " Sometimes I don't see daylight all week, by the time I leave work its dark outside and when I get up its also dark-it can be quite a strain".
To look at Carol you wouldn't think that her job was a 'strain'. She is far removed from the stereotypical prison officer that is synonymous with polished black boots and a stern air of authority.
She has long blonde hair that is neatly tied up with a red flower hair band. She is tall at 6ft, but not overpowering, as her smile and welcoming stance assures. Her bright blue and pink make-up mirrors her personality and enthusiasm for the job she calls 'her life and her passion'.
"The job is hard, but I do ...
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To look at Carol you wouldn't think that her job was a 'strain'. She is far removed from the stereotypical prison officer that is synonymous with polished black boots and a stern air of authority.
She has long blonde hair that is neatly tied up with a red flower hair band. She is tall at 6ft, but not overpowering, as her smile and welcoming stance assures. Her bright blue and pink make-up mirrors her personality and enthusiasm for the job she calls 'her life and her passion'.
"The job is hard, but I do love it, you get a great deal of job satisfaction when you have helped somebody with a problem. Whether that means getting through to someone about their drug addiction, or just talking to one of the prisoners and giving them a bit of comfort."
I watch Carol as she hands one of the prisoners awaiting trial a cup of tea, she smiles and says "here you go love", the man politely says 'thank you' and smiles warmly back at her.
I ask Carol if she knows what all the prisoners are on trial for, and whether this affects how she acts with them. "I do know what all of the prisoners are on trial for, and sometimes it can be hard remaining impartial, but you have to. You see the difference with working in a court prison to a normal one, is that most of the people we see haven't been tried yet, so we don't really know whether they are guilty, or as innocent as you and me.
"Last week we had a man of about fifty in here. He was well spoken, immaculately turned out, and looked like he came from a fairly 'well off' background. It was hard trying to talk to him though as he was on trial for rape of a minor. When kids are involved in something like that I tend just to detach myself from the situation, but sometimes it does really play on your mind".
Carol has two children, a girl of fourteen and a boy who has just turned seventeen. She tells me that her son is thinking of following in her footsteps, but looks slightly apprehensive at the thought.
"It's a tough life, and you have to be prepared to handle a lot of stress, and I don't know if my son has the kind of personality to do that. But I would really love to see him do it, just because of all the things I have gained from doing it. Seeing the people come in here from all walks of life, with all different problems, makes you look at the world differently. I think it makes you a better person".
Carol was the prison officer for the man accused of murdering Jill Dando. She was in constant contact with him for a week whilst his trial was being heard. "You get to know someone quite well in a week. He generally kept himself to himself, he was a quiet man that was always polite".
I asked Carol whether she thought he was guilty of murdering the famous TV presenter, but her professionalism prevailed "I couldn't possibly answer that, it's not for me to say".
In between her prison shifts Carol also has to keep fit and visits the gym twice, maybe three times a week. "It's a requirement that we keep ourselves fit and healthy. When I began my training to become a prison officer I had to learn self-defence and restraining manoeuvres, obviously encase someone tried to escape whilst in my custody".
Being a tall well-built woman, I find it hard to believe that anyone could escape from Carol. However, she assures me that there is a lot who try. "It's because I'm a woman that people think I'll be a soft touch and try their luck. I've had my arm broken and ribs badly bruised when a man tried to escape before. But it is part and parcel of the job and you just deal with it".
I ask Carol what one aspect about her job would she change if she could. She ponders for a while, looks at her brightly painted red nails, then at the cold, dull cells that surround her "all that I would change is the decoration in here, it needs some colour and life, so everyone feels more at home".
If the prison doesn't get the lick of paint it needs, then I am sure that Carol will brighten up the cold surroundings.
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