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Taking off the Uniform: Understanding Command Presence and the Implication for the Family
(Beginning to Intermediate Level)
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
- Describe Command Presence and explain why a Command Presence is necessary for correctional officers to develop.
- Identify the adaptive and maladaptive consequences of maintaining a Command Presence.
- Identify physiological changes experienced during states of acute and/or chronic stress.
- Identify the mental health issues, which result from chronic stress.
- Describe the impact maintaining a Command Presence 24/7 might have on the family of a correctional officer.
- Identify techniques for assisting the correctional officer in suspending his/her Command Presence after work hours.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- What is Command Presence?
- How is Command Presence Developed?
- Locus of Control
- Consequences of Maintaining a Command Presence 24/7
- General Adaptation Syndrome Graph
- Impact of Command Presence on Health
- Impact of Command Presence on Mental Health
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Cynicism
- Alcohol/Drug Abuse
- Suicide
- Warning Signs of Suicidal Ideation
- Command Presence and the Family
- When a Perpetual Command Presence Becomes a Problem on the Job
- How to Turn-off Command Presence
- Exploring Locus of Control
- Volunteer Work
- Involvement in an Organized Religion
- Alpha-Stim Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation
- Laughter
- Hobbies
- Breathing
- Meditation
- Breathe Meditation Video
- Meditation Exercise
- Thought Stopping
- Progressive Relaxation Exercise
- Guided Imagery
- Relationship Tips
- Couples Communication Questionnaire
- Resources
- Stress Quiz
- Stress Release & Safety Valves
- Locus of Control of Reinforcement – Addendum
- Bibliography
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INTRODUCTION
The California prison system has been called the “toughest beat in California.” This is because our prisons house the most violent and hardened criminals in the State. It is also because our prisons are dangerously overcrowded. At any given time they house more than 172,000 inmates in only 33 State prisons, outnumbering correctional officers and prison parole agents more than 5 to 1.
To maintain safety and security the correctional officers need to be experts in their jobs. They need to be aware of everything going on around them. They need to be calm, in-charge, and firm. They need to make the inmates believe that “they are the boss,” or the inmates could successfully revolt at any time. On the job the correctional officer needs to repress his or her feelings and stay focused on the goal of commanding and controlling the inmates. The primary objective of this course is to explore the persona that correctional officers must project in order to do this job. This persona is referred to as a command presence.
Understanding how a command presence is developed and why it is essential to the work of a correctional officer will help the therapist provide the best possible treatment for correctional officers and their family members. It will help the therapist understand the changes a person must go through to become a correctional officer and how this impacts the family.
This course will also explore how and when a command presence is detrimental to the health and relationships of the correctional officer. Research done on the physiological and psychological impact of chronic stress and correctional work will be reviewed as it relates to maintaining a consistent command presence. Research on the impact of prison work on the family of correctional officers will also be used to fully understand the impact of this job.
In this course we will be using the pronoun “he” rather than the more cumbersome use of “he/she” or “him/her” This is not because we are discounting womens’ contributions as correctional officers; it is only to allow the text to flow more smoothly. Currently, women make up approximately 25% of the prison workforce, and any issues that specifically relate to gender will be specifically addressed.
And finally, the physical, psychological, and relationship issues that result from maintaining a command presence 24/7 are often neglected in correctional officer training, and to prevent chronic health issues, emotional problems, divorce, and job burn-out, correctional officers must learn to bring the command presence under their control. In this course, the psychotherapist will learn how to assist in this process.
California’s correctional officers are unsung heroes, keeping violent, hardened criminals off the street with much risk to themselves and their families. This course will provide therapists with the tools to help our correctional workers mitigate the risks associated with their job.
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