I recently read Ted Conover’s book “Holding the Key”, which I think may have been published under a different title in the US. He’s a journalist who spent a year training and working as a Corrections Officer (prison guard) at Sing Sing.
I found the whole thing quite an eye opener, particularly in the way the other officers treated the job (and were treated themselves by society). Is it really such a low prestige job? Casdave, any US COs, do people really treat you that badly? Is it an accurate portrayal of prison life?
It was very accurate. I work in the same department as Conover did although I never worked with him. I do however know some of the people he mentioned in his book.
The one thing I’d say is that while Conover wrote a very accurate description of what being a first year officer at Sing Sing is like, Sing Sing is not a typical prison. It’s generally regarded as the worse prison to work at in the New York state system (although ironically, New York has one of the best overall prison systems in the country). Which is why new officers like Conover end up there. Most officers either quit or transfer to a better workplace as soon as possible and are replaced in turn by even newer officers.
For those interested Conover’s book was published under the title New Jack in the US and was recently released in paperback.
No, but I heard the author being interviewed on NPR when the book first came out.
I was very interested in the concept of the book, but he was so terribly conceited and boring that I lost all interest. Little Nemo’s comments may be enough for me to change my mind.
obfusciatrist, I did read it and I wouldn’t recommend it. While it is a facinating topic (thats why I read it in the first place), Conover manages to turn it into a droning recitation of facts thats like reading a strangers diary.
As for the OP, I can’t speak to the portayal of prison life, but where I live (CO) a corrections officer is not considered a good job. The ones I know have all quit.