Why does the Shortage of Correctional Officers exist?

In order to understand the effects that the shortage of Correctional Officers is having on the life of the imprisoned, we must first understand: why does the shortage of Correctional Officers exist?

Wherein, lies the rub:
Obviously, there has been a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of America, when it comes to accepting employment as a Correctional Officers: and paradigm shifts’ are no more than the mind -by way of- the conscience, evolving from one moral stage to the next. Therefore, it appears that the “amoral” lifestyle of a Correctional Officer, stands in Stark Contrast to the moral and ethical growth and development of this conscious oriented America we find ourselves living in these days – for, not only doe’s such a career choice leave’s the mind and consciousness stained with unfavorable memories ( i.e. PTSD ) but, for those who relegates’ themselves to the retirement line, more often than not they find themselves searching for another job, just to make end’s meet, therefore, I surmise low wage’s can also be a contributing factor.

Anyway, the question becomes:
How do the lack of moral consciousness within the staff, rather short or full, effect the prisoner therein? Well, it’s akin to the blind leading the blind, for, how can a Correctional Officer teach or learn an inmate what they don’t know and vice versa: therefore, when I hear inmates mimicking the shortage of Staff, effects; the freedoms and liberties within the prison, such as; Visitation, Recreation, Vocational Programs……. etc. I just mentally shake my head in silence, because, these are the obvious tears of the blind, who, can’t see pass their own incompetence, thereby, trying to appear intelligent in their mimicking of the aforesaid.

And, as not to be misunderstood, I’m not advocating anti-social behavior when it comes to taking advantage of said freedoms and liberties within the prison: Quite the contrary, for, by all means please amass all of the trades and programs….. etc. that you can amass, for, these are the fundamental accomplishments that you don’t want to be a hindrance when it comes time to go home.

However, and at the same time I’m also trying to impart to the Inmates, DOC can’t teach you how to become a man, therefore, please stop waiting on teaching/instructions on how to become a man, especially from a person whom has never seen or looked upon you as a man. Look, I am a staunch believer in self-reliance and Self-discipline and that through such attributes, he who apply themselves can accomplish anything (within reason) that they set their mind to. Therefore, irrespective of the number of officers or staff, the direction of ones choices ultimately rest upon the individual, as it pertains to what you are trying to contribute to this life, because, it is absolutely through what you put into this life that will determine how life responds to you.
Therefore, in addition to amassing said fundamental accomplishments, you must learn to continue to educate yourself beyond your own expectations. (autodidact). Because, it is 99.9% likely more than not, that the job you secure upon your release will not have any resemblance to your fundamental prison accomplishments.

And just one more philosophical thing to add to your studies:
Pay attention to that inner voice of consciousness, for, the best teacher is within, with the understanding that the knowledge imparted therefrom, is also being imparted to other students of the like. therefore consciousness is sharing and sharing is consciousness.

In closing and from an analytical perspective, I would just like to add:
The life of a Correctional officer has been devolving into this stage of decadence for a minute now – and now the powers that be are desperately searching for a panacea to a problem that they have – (through perpetual greed) – created upon themselves, which, they are not now understanding, that as the prisons continue to evolve, the algorithm seed of greed and hate has taking on a life of it’s own, thereby, in it’s wake creating a prison environment that has never been needed for breaking the hardest of the hardest, and thereby, slowly and silently absorbing any attractive features of incentives that, at one time may have possessed the job of a Correctional Officer, prior to this critical stage of decadence said job now finds its self in.
However, it appears DOC., is of the erroneous opinion of, thinking that the hiring of poor English speaking people from oppressed geographical locations around the globe is the answer: and nothing can be further away from the truth, for, quite the contrary, this quick fix hiring scheme is only going to exacerbate -(if not already)- the future of decadence – for – the conscience has no choice but to be true to itself, therefore, the question of morality becomes: how do one whom is running from being oppressed; reconcile becoming the oppressor?

And please let it be understood: he who lives contrary to the truth inexorably becomes a cynic.
As not to let this analytical interpretation on behalf of DOC take away from the topic of discussion, I’ll share the following advice with DOC: Employ more classes on human-relations for staff and try treating all people with a little more of humanity and kindness, also revisit your Correctional Officer and Inmate Pay scale’s with a little more of everything, thereby, marketing your brand in accordance therewith.

And to my fellow inmates, make sure its top notch, cream of the crop, because, this is how BBB Rock.

A. Cameron(# 1172733)
Beaumont Correction Center

Another World

Breaking and Shaking in the grip’s of shattered screams,
like fish in water, I’m caught up in evils vicious beam,
Trying to shake this curse, I’m looking from terror to fright,
I mean from left to right, but there’s no peace in this black light.
“Well,” try turning around and watch things get worst,
Can you see the grotesque eyes’ of demons in that contorted Hurst ?
Is it real or is it evilcidal fantasies on ride?
My elevating pulse rate began to shutter, searching for depths to hide,
I’m in the fight or flight concept with fist trembling by my side,
Mounting perspiration begin’s to flow with drop’s of pride,
throwing down I refuse to be a victim to my soul’s homicide,
Keeping my mental focus, no one knows if this is my plight,
Dear sweet creator, if is please don’t let me die tonight!?

Submitted By: Alexander Cameron, # 1172733
Beaumont Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
Beaumont, Virginia 23014

Mental Health, Hopelessness, Depression, and Despair: You Are Not the Sin.

MENTAL HEALTH IS THE TOPIC,
NOW ALLOW ME TO ROCK IT.

Mental Health, Hopelessness, Depression and Despair, you are not the sin,
You are sometimes just misunderstood on your acceptance as a friend.
Mental Health is a friend and guide to help you heal inside,
She’s not evil’s prize come to take you to the other side.
Relax’s and understand Hopelessness is just a distant relative of despair,
Introducing you to hard times, so you can find out who you are.
Depression is no more than an emotion trapped inside of an illusion,
Expressing an array of feelings while searching for a conclusion.
But first things first, allow me to introduce Myself,
My name is “Alexander Cameron,” and of course you are Mental Health,
My vernacular is very sharp and cunning, How about yourself?
Mental Telepathy is how I roll, I think y’all call it Top Shelf!
Well, Mr. Top Shelf, Gun Violence has you labeled as a crisis,
Pay attention my son, its called politicians making sacrifices,
Y’all call it splitting hairs, we call it word splices,
You know, that lip service, that has you and yours on drugs and reaching for vices.
Check it: Japan say Guns on the streets are just simply dumb,
Her deaths through gun violence in 2022 is absolutely none,
Now, America, you know you are just too through,
Death’s through gun violence has you at Four Hundred Fifty Thousands in the year 2022.
America’s relationship with Mental Health knows no truth,
Mental Health, you are expendable and less than an excuse,
At lease there’s a silver lining, you are not responsible for the youth,
Who has their parents turning back the clock, looking for a clue,
To free their kid’s from this paranoid maze of deceit,
That has their minds trapped in what appears to be certain defeat;
Listen Children;
Your problems are yours to confront, but first you must understand,
No life is without problems, they go hand in hand.
Ultimately your problems are yours to face and yours to Solve,
Excuses are for cowards, get yourself Involved.
Some problems are easy peesy and some are very
hard,
but, its only when you try solving them, that you can tell yourself Good Job.
So, America, let us all give Mental Health her due: because;
No one is responsible for your happiness but you and only you.

Submitted By:

Alexander Cameron
# 1172733

Beaumont Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
Beaumont, Virginia 23014

The Vital Right in a Democracy

“There is no more vital right in a democracy than the right to vote. Without it, no other right is secure.”

These are the words of Lawrence Goldstone, author of “Stolen Justice: The Struggle for African American Voting Rights” (Scholastic Focus: New York, 2020). This invaluable book should be required reading for all who are currently in the struggle for voting rights because people not only need to know what they are fighting for, but, they equally need to know about whom they are fighting against. Many people in the struggle for voting rights get so caught up in the here and now that they lose sight of the events that lead to the here and now. In other words, in order to fully understand disenfranchisement today, one must fully understand the historical mindset of those who made it their generational mission to disenfranchise African Americans, and to understand how each generation has it’s own methods by which it use’s to achieve that mission.

The methods used are well documented, but, many today are unaware of the magnitude of those methods, and how those methods brought the American voting system to the brink of collapse.

In 1890, J. J. Chrisman, a Mississippian judge, took pride in declaring: “In plan words, we have been stuffing the ballot boxes, committing perjury, and here and there . . . carrying the elections by fraud and violence until the whole machinery for elections was about to rot down.”

Malcolm X once said: “As time changes, your methods for achieving your objectives must change.”

Mr. Goldstone informs us that by 1900, all of the old Confederate States were in agreement that the time had come to change their methods in by which to deny African Americans the full and equal right of citizenship. He quotes an Alabama lawmaker as saying: “We cannot afford to live with our feet upon fraud. We will not do it. We have disfranchised the African in the past by doubtful methods, but in the future we will do so by law.”

The political events taking place throughout America today are the methods employed more than a hundred years ago by those seeking to continue the course of disenfranchisement.

I have been incarcerated for the past 33 years, and like so many incarcerated men and women, there was a time when I believed that politics (particularly voting) was a waste of time. Thankfully I have matured in my historical and political understanding when it comes to voting. When we do not vote, or at least participate in the process in some way, we become accomplice’s in our own disenfranchisement.

I am currently employed by the Virginia Correctional Enterprise (VCE) where we print letterheads, pamphlets, brochures, businesses cards, and other stationary for State institutions, colleges and universities and nonprofits throughout the State. VCE also supplies the State with it’s Voter Registration Applications. Due to my status as a convicted felon, I can’t vote. However, I find comfort and satisfaction in doing something that helps others in registering to vote. It gives me a sense of inclusiveness and a sense of pride because I feel like I’m a part of the process. Also, I feel like I’m keeping Dr. King’s dream alive when he said:

“Everybody can be great . . . because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

In closing, I want to leave you with this food for thought:

All of your rights and all of your privileges, as an American citizen, are contained in your right to vote. To forgo or relinquish that right puts all of your rights and privileges in jeopardy. We in the present owe a debt to all who fought for the cause of suffrage in the past. Let us not be unmindful of that obligation. Let us not let their suffering be in vain.

Peace and Blessings to all.

Anthony Maurice Jordan #1161827
Beaumont Correctional Center