purefairydust's blog: "Work"

Working with inmates can be hard on you. A lot of the inmates can't read or write. Most of the inmates will try to con you, so you have to be on your toes all of the time. This doesn't mean you have to be distant and not talk to them. Recently I had the third ex-inmate come up to me and thank me for listening and talking to them. They said they never want to go back to jail. They said it is rough working but better then being on the inside. I guess I do preach to them on the inside. I try to reach down into them and pull that part of them that is righteous out. I do listen to their personal problems and try to help. The day before yesterday, it was the inmate that said he would soon be getting out. His girlfriend is leaving him for her ex-friend. The inmate wanted something to tell her to make her stay with him. I told him to let her go since she wants her ex back and to find someone better when he gets outs. I told him generally when people break up there is a good reason and it is a mistake to get back together and think everything will be great. I told him she might have been using him on the outside to make the ex jealous. I told him that to make a good relation both parties have to work at it. I told the inmate that she is a weak woman to think she has to have a man in her life at all times. I said he needs a strong woman that is willing to be herself first. I told him that he has potential to get out and do something with his life and not to take less when he gets out. I told him to start thinking now how he wants his life to be on the outside and to start planning. I told him that he will have to make new friends, because the old ones are the ones that will drag him down. And that it is like the old saying his grandmother or mother used, "show me your friends and I will tell you what you are". I let him know that he will have to get his GED and learn a trade, because nothing is handed out on a silver platter. I said if he wanted to go to college he will have to work to pay for it, because that is how a lot of people go. Yes, I told him a lot. I try to give him the wisdom he needs not to return to jail. Sometimes I repeat this to the same inmates and try to make it stick in their heads. If I can change one life, I am changing a lot of lives. One life can touch many of lives.

Yesterday, I had mandatory overtime. I had to do 16 hours, then go in today. We have a list everyday of people who have to work overtime. I was not on it the previous day so did not expect to be second on the list. If I had known I would have been prepared, I would have brought a sandwich for the evening and a snack for the night. The sandwich would have been turkey and 2 slices of wheat bread while the snack would have been some grapes. There is no refridgeration at work for the employees to use. And with only 15 minutes for a break, that makes it impossible to go anywhere for food. The building is parish owned and they are slow on doing anything to improve the working conditions for the sheriff office employees. Everyone know that if you work a high stress job it is important to eat right and to get enough sleep. On top of that I was recently dianosed as a type 2 diabetic, so meals are very important.