Many custodial facilities have implemented anti-fraternization policies that regulate contact between staff and inmates. These policies either limit, or altogether prohibit, interactions between employees and current or former inmates and their families. Offenders cannot consent to any relationship behind the wall so this violation will end in termination and possibly jail time, depending on the details. If you are aware of any such relationship you have an obligation to come forward and report it. You never know, you may be doing your colleague a favor.

We are not supposed to have compassion or empathy but we do. We hear the offender stories through our clinical interactions and they can be heartbreaking. We fight the good fight and advocate for treatment, that advocacy is not always supported. Over time, we get tired of fighting, we lose the ability to continue to care and we find ways to disconnect. Folks on the outside just don't know how hard it can be to get programming and introduce new treatment modalities. Sometimes, it is hard to identify but when we do, managers must support the service providers to help mitigate some of the pressure and avoid burnout.