The Effects of Working As a Prison Guard
With median wages of $38,330, as of 2008, prison guard jobs appear desirable, yet suicide rates far outstrip many other professions. The stresses of constant monitoring and having to keep emotions in check -- no matter how flagrantly inmates abuse guards -- are blamed for lower life expectancy and above-average suicide rates among prison guards. Even guards who avoid displaying these behaviors are considered greater risks for domestic violence and emotional abuse, depending on their circumstances.
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Decreased Life Expectancy
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Median wages were $38,380 for corrections officers and $59,380 for first-line supervisors and managers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, due to the job stresses, a prison guard's life expectancy averages just 59 years, or far below the national norm of 77, the Denver Post reported in March 2007. Even guards who manage to retire do not enjoy their benefits for long, due to heart attacks and other stress-related illnesses.
Greater Isolation
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Greater isolation from families and friends is a reality for many prison guards, who must frequently work nights, weekends and holidays. Guards who work irregular shifts or lack the seniority to get time off miss many key moments in their families' lives, wrote former corrections officer Mark Smith in a column addressing the subject for a website called Heavy Badge. Children might also be treated differently because of their parents' job titles -- which only increases their isolation within the community, according to Smith.
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Higher Suicide Rates
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Prison guards' suicide rates are about 39 percent higher than similar averages for other jobs, according to an Archives of Suicide Research study quoted by the Denver Post. Many explanations have been proposed for this phenomenon, such as the expectation for guards to control their own emotions, even if inmates threaten to maim or kill them. Employee assistance programs are becoming more common at many agencies. These include the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where 45 suicides had been recorded through 2007.
Negative Emotional Outlets
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For many guards, the attempts to relieve stress often find a negative outlet first. Chronic short-staffing at many prisons is blamed for higher incidences of "rage attacks" on families and friends, the Denver Post noted. Guards who spoke to the newspaper also acknowledged overreacting to minor problems. The realities of working in a custodial environment make it difficult -- if not impossible -- for guards to check their security impulses when they go home, the newspaper said.
Poor Management Support
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Lack of management support remains a major complaint. This perception yields tragic results, as a prison captain's 2003 suicide demonstrated, says a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. The captain felt guilty about failing to end a riot that injured 24 inmates and left one guard permanently disabled. The incident raised new questions about the system's self-policing abilities, following revelations that an associate warden allowed the riot -- because he had allegedly done favors for a prison gang.
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