# I work in a military prison. Ask me anything. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578 "2011-11-11T07:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/61 "2011-11-12T16:11:51Z")
Is it possible for a psychopath lie on the Hare test and fake out the test to “pass”? (I’m unfamiliar with the test, also.) ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/62 "2011-11-12T16:19:08Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > Is it possible for a psychopath lie on the Hare test and fake out the test to “pass”? (I’m unfamiliar with the test, also.) They can try. The test is over a hundred questions, and the answers to the questions are compared to the background information from the inmate’s file. If the information provided by the inmate doesn’t match then there is an indication he is lying. Pathological lying is one of the points that indicates psychopathy. One of the other advantages we have is that we, the mental health staff, know what characteristics we are looking for to determine psychopathy. The inmate doesn’t unless someone has told him that he is a psychopath. Finally, the rule of thumb that we use is if you find yourself liking the inmate, he may be a psychopath. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/63 "2011-11-12T16:47:41Z")
In my state prison system (for which I help manage health care delivery), about 70% of our inmates have a history of significant alcohol/drug abuse, and over 30% have mental illness diagnoses, with over 10% with severe mental illness. 13% have hepatitis C, and 0.6% have HIV. Between 10-20% are psychopaths. Have any statistics on your military population? ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/64 "2011-11-12T16:52:37Z")
I’d be curious to hear your thoughts about the treatment of Bradley Manning. If that qualifies as information on a specific inmate or if you just don’t want to touch that potential firestorm, I completely understand! Thanks for doing this thread, it’s fascinating. And thanks for your service. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/65 "2011-11-12T17:32:00Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > Yes, officers lose their commission when they are sentenced. Even the former officers are reduced to E-1. Most seem to think that they are still in charge and should get some cred for having been an officer. It doesn’t happen usually. > > I don’t deal with many that go back. Usually if they stay in my prison, they have been dishonorably discharged. I have had two in the last last couple months that will go back. One was reduced from an E-8 to an E-4, and he will be an E-4 when he gets out and goes back to work. > > The other went from an E-5 to an E-1. He will be a PVT when he goes back to work. > > SFC Schwartz Are there any convicted former officers that finish their sentence with a service obligation as an enlisted person? From my recollection, after an officer has fulfilled their minimum obligated time (to repay Academy or ROTC scholarships), they can resign at any time. How does this work with an officer who has been demoted to E-1 but not discharged? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/66 "2011-11-12T17:34:53Z")
This thread is very fascinating. The entire TV remote control thing would make my kids heads asplode. (and we only have one TV in the house.) ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/67 "2011-11-12T17:43:07Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > Finally, the rule of thumb that we use is if you find yourself liking the inmate, he may be a psychopath. > > SFC Schwartz I use this rule in everyday life. I am free of psychopaths, but have no friends. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/68 "2011-11-12T18:02:09Z")
> [@FlyByNight512](#): > > I’d be curious to hear your thoughts about the treatment of Bradley Manning. If that qualifies as information on a specific inmate or if you just don’t want to touch that potential firestorm, I completely understand! > > Thanks for doing this thread, it’s fascinating. And thanks for your service. Not to dodge your question, and I won’t ignore it, but I’m not gonna touch that!!!😃 SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/69 "2011-11-12T18:07:28Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > Not so much by branch of service. Everyone has a certain amount of “cred.” Cred gets you slightly larger portions in the dining facility. Cred gets you control of the TV remote. Cred gets your suggestions taken seriously when there are problems. **The Marines usually get more cred than anyone else when they first arrive. Rangers, Special Forces and Snipers get automatic cred when they arrive.** The next thing to sort status would be the type of offense. Murder gets you cred. Sex offenses not so much. You can earn it, but you don’t start with it. > > SFC Schwartz How do the inmates know what service another inmate was? How would they know if they were special forces, etc? ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/70 "2011-11-12T18:16:27Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > In my state prison system (for which I help manage health care delivery), about 70% of our inmates have a history of significant alcohol/drug abuse, and over 30% have mental illness diagnoses, with over 10% with severe mental illness. 13% have hepatitis C, and 0.6% have HIV. Between 10-20% are psychopaths. > > Have any statistics on your military population? I don’t have hard and fast numbers, but we have one with MRSA, one with HIV, and out of 400+ inmates only two psychopaths. Alcohol abuse is involved in over half of the inmates offenses. We have less than 10% with severe mental health issues. The reason that the numbers are so low, is that psychopaths generally are not drawn to the structure and organization of the military. Most of the Soldiers with severe alcohol or drug issues get put out. The same goes for those with mental illness. Another thing is that if the needs of an inmate exceed our abilities, the inmate may be transferred to a federal prison, where they can get the care they need. > [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Are there any convicted former officers that finish their sentence with a service obligation as an enlisted person? From my recollection, after an officer has fulfilled their minimum obligated time (to repay Academy or ROTC scholarships), they can resign at any time. How does this work with an officer who has been demoted to E-1 but not discharged? I haven’t seen an officer at our facility get reduced in rank and not get a dishonorable discharge. Being an Officer in the Military requires a high level of professionalism, so I would think that the former officer would resign his commission and request an early separation. That is another one that I will have to go over to our other facility on Tuesday and ask. > [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > This thread is very fascinating. > > The entire TV remote control thing would make my kids heads asplode. > > (and we only have one TV in the house.) Yeah, I make sure I share the remote with my wife a lot more. I don’t want her to think she is my bi…:smack: > [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I use this rule in everyday life. I am free of psychopaths, but have no friends. 😃 After working with some of the inmates, I am fine without friends. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/71 "2011-11-12T18:22:53Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > How do the inmates know what service another inmate was? How would they know if they were special forces, etc? When the inmates first arrive, they are in a reception pod. There is not a lot to do when in reception at night, other than talk to the other inmates in reception. So the common questions are what did you do? What was your rank? Branch? etc. That is how some of the information gets shared. When the inmates leave reception, they go to their regular housing pod. Again they will be asked what they did, any special skills, rank, etc. The inmates can lie, and say they were officers in special forces, but generally, there is no good reason to lie. It will be found out. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/72 "2011-11-12T18:25:58Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > I really can’t answer that. :smack: > Ah, not surprised. > SFC Schwartz > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Thank you, Sir. > This is a term of contempt used by the Marines? > [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > No, it is a term used by pretty much anyone who has lived in Virginia Beach or Norfolk, VA. 😃 > > SFC Schwartz LOL or by those married to them. Though properly he is a retired bubblehead =) ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/73 "2011-11-12T19:14:39Z")
Do you ever, or could you in theory, get civilian inmates? E.g. Sgt. Joe commits a crime while in the service, isn’t caught, then finishes his service and receives an honorable discharge. Later on (say, later that year), evidence linking Joe to the crime surfaces. This might tie in to whether or not ex-military can still be tried under military jurisdiction for events occurring when they were military. Or, alternately, can civilians be sentenced to military prison if they committed a crime on a base, or if they were a civilian employee or contractor to the military? ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/74 "2011-11-12T19:53:24Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Do you ever, or could you in theory, get civilian inmates? > > E.g. Sgt. Joe commits a crime while in the service, isn’t caught, then finishes his service and receives an honorable discharge. Later on (say, later that year), evidence linking Joe to the crime surfaces. This might tie in to whether or not ex-military can still be tried under military jurisdiction for events occurring when they were military. > > Or, alternately, can civilians be sentenced to military prison if they committed a crime on a base, or if they were a civilian employee or contractor to the military? Civilians, those without any military experience will not be sentenced to the USDB. If a civilian contractor shot someone over in Iraq, he would be tried in a federal court, and sentenced to a federal prison. In your other example, I remember reading about a case several years ago in which a Soldier had killed his family. He was acquitted in the Court Martial, but the state of North Carolina had some charges to present. He was convicted by the state of North Carolina and sentenced. The military found some new evidence for another charge that had not been tried, so they restored the inmate to Active Duty for the period of the Court Martial. If the inmate got out, and several years later was charged with a crime under the UCMJ, I would imagine the military would do the same thing and restore the accused to Active Duty, just like he was called up on Stop Loss. He would have pay and benefits restored until the Court Martial was over. I have not seen anyone that falls into that case, so I would think the federal prisons would take that inmate as well. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/75 "2011-11-12T20:20:21Z")
Does the Army Corrections Command also control POW’s or is that a separate system? ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/76 "2011-11-12T20:24:02Z")
Does sick call work the same way it does in the rest of the Army? How would they handle an inmate put on quarters? ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/77 "2011-11-12T20:30:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Does the Army Corrections Command also control POW’s or is that a separate system? The Corrections Specialists that I work with generally do rotations to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba. They deal with the detainees the same as they do the inmates at the USDB. > [@NinjaChick](#): > > Does sick call work the same way it does in the rest of the Army? How would they handle an inmate put on quarters? Yes, good question. The inmates report to sick call first thing in the morning. If you are too sick to go to work, you go back to your cell. There are still corrections staff during the day, as not everyone works dayshift, and not every one has a full time job, so it wouldn’t be like he is alone back there. SFC Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/78 "2011-11-12T22:38:31Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > They deal with the detainees the same as they do the inmates at the USDB. What happens is a POW commits a serious crime? Let’s say for example that one POW assaulted another one. I’m assuming that the Army would take disciplinary action in response to something like this. Is the disciplinary system for POW-on-POW crimes run solely by the Army or do the POW’s have a voice in the outcome? What happens if a POW is sentenced to ten years imprisonment for a serious crime and the war ends before his sentence does? Is he sent back with the other POW’s being released or does he have to stay behind to complete his sentence? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/79 "2011-11-12T22:42:09Z")
So what do YOU do on your time off duty? My aunt and uncle live in Leavenworth (uncle’s retired Army and still works for TRADOC), and there doesn’t seem to be squat to do in that town. Pretty place, and pretty post, but deathly dull. Do you go to Lawrence, Kansas City, or just hang around Leavenworth? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578/80 "2011-11-13T04:02:27Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > The Marines usually get more cred than anyone else when they first arrive. Rangers, Special Forces and Snipers get automatic cred when they arrive. This is probably verging on the “stuff you can’t talk about” category, but…do you _get_ a lot of Special Forces guys as inmates? I mean, is it especially rare, or are you as likely to get one sent to you as you are someone from any other random branch of the service? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-work-in-a-military-prison-ask-me-anything/602578.md?page=5)