Crossing boundaries in Corrections is a relentless concern
for both administrators and employees that work there. One must realize that
such crossings come in different forms and impact the environment in many diverse
ways. Unfortunately, many employees have not given the act too much concern as
they don’t realize the potential effects it has on their lives, their career
and their health. Whether the crossover is sexual or nonsexual, the perils
still exists and creates major disruptions in their ability to perform the job
assigned and the harm done towards someone’s credibility that goes along with being a corrections
employee.
Corrections employees hold many different positions that
require them to intermingle with prisoners and other persons. One needs to
realize the importance of maintaining a level of objectivity within their scope
of duties as becoming subjective in nature will only draw them deeper into an
abyss one can rarely escape from without some kind of harm or conspicuous
exploitation of their existence and reputations.
Some of the immediate results of such crossings of
boundaries include a prompt condemnation by co-workers for you becoming
involved with an inmate or inmate’s family as their trust in you evaporates
instantly. They will view you as a policy breaker and risk taker but most of
all, they will consider you to have betrayed them and identify you as someone
that cannot be a friend or even associate with after receiving knowledge of
such dishonorable interactions.
Correctional employees denounce the concept of betrayal and
breaking boundaries. It has an asserted position that cannot be reversed and
forgiven no matter how much time passes by. Someone that breaks their lines
with their coworkers and peers can expect rigid, cold and standoffish aloofness
from their former teammates, co-workers or friends. They will lose any feelings
of empathy and will be dealt with in the most destructive negative behavioral
correctness that will offend many and cause them to either quit their job or
ask for a re-assignment.
The most constructive way to handle such cross overs is to
resign and leave the corrections field. Although that may seem a bit harsh it
impacts your health and wellness much more than you might ever expected and
could create hostilities that may cause harm to you or your family. The
consequences are endless but nevertheless undesirable in nature. Some agencies
initiate immediate misconduct reports and launch internal investigations that
may reveal violations of law or your code of conduct which may result in your
termination.
Remaining to work inside a jail or prison will only draw
more criticism, disruptions and elevate distrust of your mere existence within
the same environment as those offended. It will draw a cynicism that is harmful
to your health and invokes pain and other complexities very difficult to handle
and still maintain the ability to do the job correctly.
It has been known to break a person’s morale, ethics and
their cornerstone practices leaving them nothing but defensive postures
whenever approached by someone that asserts their role to question your
integrity or purpose for doing things no matter how insignificant they may be.
Regardless of what your own reasons were, these actions carry with them
violations of being a reputable person and condemnation is always a sure response
to your presence.
Working within the established guidelines is the best advice
given in such moments where the emotional aspect may override the practical side
of you. Being human you may not want to surrender your emotions to the
situation but the consequences for such a submission will be sanctions designed
to minimize your presence, effectiveness and existence within such a hostile
setting.
It is and has always been the rule to remain focused on
these boundaries that divide fairness from partiality. They are designed for a
purpose and becoming emotionally involved in relationships has often been
regarded as a means to satisfy your own gratifications and total disregard for
the institutional concerns around you as it compromises your ability to make
good decisions when you become emotionally involved in unapproved
relationships.
Removing the emotional part of your job is difficult but may
allow you to be switched to a role of empathy where you may still be kind and
even compassionate but never delving into the abyss of sympathy or other
personalized emotional qualities that draw you in to the relationship rather
than a controlled interaction between two or more persons with clear defined
and structured ethical visionary expectations.
Remaining focused and dispassionate in your job reduces stress
as it will spiral downward when you perform within the boundaries given or
provided. You will work in a less confusing and unexploited work environment
making your contributions safe and comprehensive - free from unwarranted criticism
as well as negative subjectivity by your peers. Although you may think you do
not care what others think the impact is much more severe than you may realize
when chastised and blackballed because of mistrust and betrayal issues in the
workplace.
Clear and consistent boundaries provide you structured
ground which you can defend based on ethical and morally sound values. It is
understandable that one cannot avoid all nonprofessional interactions but
relying on these boundaries to break away from any temptations is something you
can depend upon at all times. Doing so will allow your integrity, your
reputation and your professional judgment intact.
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