The shock of incarceration can push first-time and repeat jail inmates toward fear, violence, and suicide, especially in the first hours after booking. Corrections officers can reduce those risks by treating every new arrival as a possible suicide risk, documenting checks, and practicing guarded compassion. This approach keeps jails safer while giving inmates a path to communication, mental health care, and hope.
Most people in the U.S. have jobs, families, homes, and stability. But occasionally, some come into conflict with the law. They may be arrested for driving under the influence, shoplifting, domestic assault, public intoxication, or worse. When that happens, the result is often time in jail.
Now imagine how it would feel if you were accused or convicted of a crime. Your life would change in an instant. No matter whether you’re a first-timer or a veteran of our jail system, incarceration is traumatic. Some offenders take it in stride, remaining calm, while others become anxious, nervous, and scared. The calm ones are easier to manage, while the more volatile ones need close attention.
My main focus here will be on offenders doing their first stretch in the local jail. I’ll begin with a discussion of the problems facing all inmates when they first enter jail — their anxieties, fears, and stress. Next, I’ll discuss management problems staff should be aware of and how to handle them. Finally, I’ll talk about “guarded compassion” — how to be empathetic without sacrificing safety, security, and professionalism.
Coming to Jail
For the first-timer, walking into jail feels like stepping onto another planet. Nothing is familiar, and nobody hands you a map. Contrast that with the streetwise career criminal, for whom jail is a very familiar environment. We often call these people “frequent fliers.” Whether it’s someone’s first booking or their fifth, everyone goes through the same process: searches, phone calls, medical screening, a classification intake interview, and an initial court appearance. The frequent flier usually wants a phone call, either to let family members know where they are or to arrange bail — frequently both — then settles in, tries to relax, and sleeps. The first-timer, with no idea what happens next, rarely settles so easily.
The picture gets more complicated when a new arrival isn’t sober. Some offenders may be high on pot, crack, meth, or heroin. Others may be under the influence of alcohol. And many have mental health issues. One of the most frightening scenarios is the offender who has a substance use disorder combined with a serious mental health problem. They may fight with corrections officers, demand to be released, or express delusional thoughts.
An inmate once told me he would not be in for long. When I asked him why, he said that a starship was in orbit and he would be beaming up soon, Star Trek-style. Another said he could leave his body, go home, run some errands, and be back later. The mental health staff agreed: These offenders needed careful monitoring.
Some offenders don’t practice good personal hygiene. Every corrections officer has dealt with arrestees who are in desperate need of a shower or have lice or scabies. After working in the receiving area of the jail, the first thing many officers do at the end of a shift is take a shower.
Frequent fliers bring something else through the door: history. Old rivalries and current gang beefs can resurface the moment two enemies from the street end up in the same holding area. Some posture and swagger to mask their own fear. Others, though, may be truly aggressive.
Fear: A Predictable Reaction
When discussing the shock of incarceration, we can’t ignore the element of fear, which is both normal and understandable given the environment.
When a first-timer is being booked in, for example, they are searched, have their personal property taken and inventoried, are interviewed, and are escorted to a cell or holding area. Suppose they’re in a holding area and two other inmates get into a fight a few feet away. This can be a frightening situation. Or maybe an inmate with some underlying mental issues decides to smear feces all over the wall while screaming loudly. The sight is disgusting, the smell sickening, the noise deafening. Think about how you would feel in this situation.
Fear can also be a result of anxiety. Thinking about job loss, family abandonment, bonding out, and release may lead to frustration, anger, despondency, and depression. No matter whether an inmate is a first-timer or a repeat offender, officers must keep a close eye on them, checking every 15 minutes (or whatever the facility’s policy dictates). With some offenders, officers must keep them under more frequent, near-constant supervision.
Newly arrived inmates quickly realize their new “home” comes with deprivations. The loss of liberty hits hard. Inmates cannot do many of the everyday things they have always taken for granted, such as waking up when they want, eating what they want, going where they want, and using phones or other devices when they want. They have to get along with strangers, many of whom they have no desire to associate with. They have to follow rules and a regimented routine, and activity may be limited mostly to watching television or playing cards. Most normal goods and services are out of reach on the inside. Instead of taking their medications when they want, they have to wait for sick call. Showers are communal. Clothes are jail uniforms.
Every inmate wants to be respected as a person with needs and feelings. On the outside, a relationship often includes physical contact and intimacy. In jail, that’s not possible (and not allowed).[1]
“Everyone should be considered a suicide risk. This even goes for the frequent fliers.”
Problems: Keep a Close Watch
Offenders coming into jail may feel as if their lives are over. Suicide is a big risk. Sitting alone in a cell or being placed in a crowded holding area with people they don’t know (or like) can have a devastating emotional toll. Some inmates ride it out, while others break down. The noise, violence, odors, and unpredictability are always present, and they can have a huge impact on inmates’ mental health.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, an estimated 12% of suicides in jail from 2015 to 2019 occurred during the first 24 hours of incarceration. About 77% of jail suicides from 2000 to 2019 were inmates in pretrial or unconvicted status. And about 18% of jail suicides from 2015 to 2019 were offenders held for assault; nearly 10% were offenders accused of murder or nonnegligent manslaughter.
Just because the first 24 hours pass does not mean the danger is over. Research shows 44% of jail suicides tend to occur in the first week of being locked up, while 66% happened in the first 30 days.
Offenders with serious psychological distress (SPD) may not handle incarceration well. Those with severe mental issues often come in having not taken their psychotropic medications, which can cause them to act violently. This can be dangerous for officers, medical staff, mental health staff, and other inmates. All jail staff should be aware of these facts concerning inmates and mental illness:
- An estimated 26% of jail inmates reported experiences meeting the threshold of SPD.
- Data shows 44% of jail inmates and nearly 37% of state and federal prisoners had been told by a mental health professional that they had a type of mental health disorder.
- Prison and jail inmates who met the threshold for SPD were more likely to be charged with or written up for assault while confined.
- The most common treatment in the past 30 days for inmates who met the SPD threshold was prescription medication.
After orientation, decisions are made about housing. If inmates cooperate with staff and clear medical and (if necessary) mental health evaluations, they are placed in general population. However, the environment is still controlled just as in the receiving area.
To some inmates, this is difficult. Arguments, fights, and other forms of acting out are real possibilities. Underlying fear and anxiety are always there. Also, if mental health and substance use disorders rise to the surface, reassignment to restrictive housing (such as booking cells or segregation units) means the inmates must readjust.
Managing the Shock of Incarceration: Guarded Compassion
Booking is the first stop on the incarceration highway. So many things can go wrong when those jail doors slam. Every corrections officer knows the importance of safety and security. Booking has to be safe for all, and these practices should be followed by booking and processing officers, medical staff, and mental health staff: [2]
- Everyone should be considered a suicide risk. This even goes for the frequent fliers. Observe the demeanor, mood, and behavior of all who enter your jail. They may claim they’re not suicidal, but they may still surprise you. I have met offenders in for another stay who said they were tired and thinking about suicide. They should immediately go on suicide watch.
- Expect the unexpected. Offenders are unpredictable; they may experience a psychotic episode, panic, or turn violent. Use caution and have other officers as backup when searching and processing. Never let your guard down. Inmates can go from calm to angry in an instant.
- Refusal to cooperate is a red flag. Offenders who refuse to answer questions or follow instructions must be treated with extreme caution and segregated. All staff must be informed.
- Evaluate the sick and unstable. Offenders with potential medical and mental health problems should be seen by qualified mental health and medical staff as soon as possible. The exact timing is determined by state laws, facility policies, and availability of staff. Inmates may tell you things or act in ways that require frequent observation. If necessary, they may have to be transported to the appropriate medical or mental health facility for care after an evaluation.
- Contain the high-risk inmates. Offenders who are suspected of being escape risks, security risks, assaultive offenders, or members of security threat groups must be isolated from other inmates until all information is obtained about them. Once a decision is made, classification and command staff can decide where to house them and which precautions to take. Precautions may include hand and leg restraints when out of the cell and two-officer escorts.
- Document everything about new arrivals. Make sure your checks are recorded and logs are filled out. Follow policies and procedures. Make frequent interpersonal contact with newly arrived offenders.
As I like to say, corrections is a people profession. People who come to jail have problems and can feel overwhelmed by the negative environment, stress, and fear. What they do not need are condescending officers who take pleasure in treating them harshly or lazy officers who can’t be bothered to make rounds.
If your gut (that tiny alarm bell in the back of your mind) tells you an offender is despondent, depressed, shaky, anxious, or afraid, step in and talk to them. This doesn’t mean you will solve all their problems or give them advice when they ask about lawyers, bail bondsmen, or what to say in court. What you do want to show is “guarded compassion” — giving them hope, steering them away from suicidal behavior, and opening an avenue of communication and caring.
Empathy is an effective tool. Empathy means you objectively understand the problems inmates are experiencing and are there to calm them and assist them within the boundaries of your job. I have talked to offenders who have cried about their situation, essentially mourning the loss of their job, home, and marriage. They know nobody is coming to the jail to bond them out. They feel tired and would rather die. A statement like that is never brushed off. I would notify my supervisor and mental health staff right away, and the offender would immediately go on suicide watch. Then I would tell them that I understand (objectively) what they are going through.
After the Shock
Guarded compassion shouldn’t end after booking. For some offenders, it can last longer. You want to help offenders adjust to their new lives inside the jail, within boundaries.
Often, this comes down to showing kindness. The media — movies, television, and online videos — at times portray law enforcement officers as tough and no-nonsense. Some officers think that if you are kind or show compassion to an inmate, you are weak. But kindness can be shown to inmates as a type of reward for good behavior and compliance. Inmates will see kind officers as humans instead of tough robots. You want inmates to feel comfortable enough to talk to you about their problems. You want the inmates to come to you with concerns about safety, such as who is planning to make or get contraband. Get to know them. Many will seem like “pests” — but if they welcome your presence and know that you’ll work to keep them safe, that will help them adjust. You want them to come to you for safety, rather than to gangs or hardcore inmates. [3]
WEBINAR – Actionable advice to help keep correctional staff safe: WATCH NOW
Humane Services Officer Approach
Being a humane officer does not mean that you’re not professional. To relieve the pains of incarceration and keep inmates calm and hopeful, criminologist Robert Johnson, author of “Hard Time,” advocates an approach I found useful throughout my 27-year jail career: [1]
- Goods and Services: Make sure inmates receive basic needs such as hygiene items, bedding, laundry, and medications. This shows you are concerned about them and think about what their lives are like on the other side of the unit door.
- Referrals and Advocacy: Offenders realize they made mistakes that resulted in them being in jail. Some blame others, and some realize they have to change. Officers can refer inmates to programs. They can also advocate for solving a problem, such as an inmate not getting medication or the phones being out of order. I recall in my career talking to inmates about their problems and advising them on how programs work and how they can contact substance abuse staff, education staff, and the chaplain. That’s guarded compassion — I informed them that they have to take the first step, they have to want to change, and they have to do the heavy lifting.
- Assisting with Inmate Adjustment: After inmates are booked in and classified, they are assigned housing, either to segregation (restricted housing) or general population (with other inmates). Check on them — ask if they are having any problems, especially with other inmates. New inmates may be victims of inmate harassment, assault (including sexual assault), and manipulation by more hardcore inmates. Watch for signs of mental distress, both in restricted housing and in general population. If they are anxious, nervous, or appear depressed, talk to them, and refer them to mental health staff. Inmates want to be safe — and they may open up to you.
- Be Part of a Helping Network: Officers and nonsworn staff can be effective when they work together and respect each other. Inmates should see a united front of caring and concern. The officers who see inmates the most every day will calm tensions if inmates know that counselors, mental health staff, chaplains, volunteers, and teachers are all working together.
The shock of incarceration is very real. Practicing guarded compassion helps manage that shock and keep the facility safer. Officers who treat every new arrival as a possible suicide risk, stay alert, and show professional empathy give inmates a path to communication, care, and hope.
References
- Johnson R. (2002). Hard Time: Understanding and Reforming the Prison, Third Edition. Wadsworth.
- Cornelius G F. (2008). The American Jail: Cornerstone of Modern Corrections. Pearson Prentice Hall.
- Koonce L. (2012). Corrections Officer’s Guide to Understanding Inmates: The 44 Keys to Power, Control and Respect. Koonce Publishing.
- Blog Articles
