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A contraband cell phone photo hits the news and suddenly everyone wants a simple answer. I don’t have one, because prisons aren’t simple. We walk through what it actually takes to control contraband when one officer may be watching dozens or even more than a hundred inmates who spend all day looking for gaps in rules, staffing, and perimeter security. Along the way, I share what I’m allowed to about working as a corrections expert on Netflix’s new Stanford Prison Experiment project, and why the real lesson isn’t “prison stuff,” it’s human behavior under power. Then we get practical: how phones, drugs, and chargers come in through a small percentage of bad staff, vendor and delivery manipulation, old school perimeter tosses, and now drone drops that can fly right over the fence. We also talk body smuggling, what searches can and cannot catch, and why body scanners are still far from universal in many jails and prisons. The most surprising part for many listeners is the prison economy. Contraband isn’t only weapons or narcotics; it’s anything scarce that other inmates want, even something as random as a rare cup. Commissary items like tuna, snack cakes, and soups turn into currency, and skills like cooking, laundry, and access to phone time become tradable services. If you’ve ever wondered how someone with money can live “better” behind bars, the answer sounds a lot like the outside world: resources buy options. We close with a serious headline: the reported failed execution of Christina Pike in Tennessee and how lethal injection keeps getting more complicated as drugs become harder to source and procedures face new scrutiny. Subscribe for more real talk from behind the walls, share this with someone who has strong opinions about prisons, and leave a review so more people hear what corrections actually looks like. Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Two careers in the NYC Department of Correction put Phil Rizzo and Richard Palmer Jr. in the middle of September 11 from angles most people never hear about: Rikers Island security, emergency deployment into Lower Manhattan, and the unglamorous logistics that made the Ground Zero operation possible. We talk through what it felt like to watch the towers burn and fall, then step into ash, heat, and rubble with little protective equipment and a job that suddenly expanded far beyond jail walls. If you think “9/11 responders” only means a few agencies, this conversation will change your picture of that day. We also pull back the curtain on the DOC work that rarely makes headlines: helping stand up the Stuyvesant High School command post, running generators and supply convoys, supporting the boat lift that moved thousands by water, staffing the morgue operation, and sending teams to the Staten Island landfill for months. The department kept jails running while rotating hundreds of uniformed and civilian staff through 24-7 recovery efforts, a scale that surprises even experienced corrections professionals. Then we get into the aftermath that still isn’t over: cancers, long-term illness, and the brutal fight for health care and benefits. Phil and Rich explain why correction officers were overlooked, how rosters and affidavits became lifelines, what it took to push the Zadroga Act and funding extensions, and why private insurance and workers’ comp rules left many responders stuck in the middle. If “never forget” is going to mean anything, it has to include the people who kept showing up after the cameras left. Subscribe for more real stories from the profession, share this with someone who still thinks corrections is out of sight and out of mind, and leave a review with the moment that hit you hardest. Richard Palmer Email: [email protected] One Voice United - https://onevoiceunited.org/ Tunnels to Towers Foundation - https://t2t.org/ National September 11 Memorial & Museum - https://www.911memorial.org/    ====================== Visit Our Sponsors ====================== This podcast is sponsored by Command Presence Training https://www.commandpresence.net/ Command Presence educates and empowers people everywhere, so they can serve the public. = = = = = = = = = = = = = Support the Show = = = = = = = = = = = = = NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at: www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content • Behind-the-scenes insights • Leadership discussions • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer Contact me: [email protected] Buy Me a Cup of Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mikeml Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theprisonofficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Corrections officers, police, firefighters, dispatchers, and veterans often carry stress that stacks up quietly over years: shift work, chronic hypervigilance, moral injury, and the constant exposure to trauma. In this conversation, Mike Marotta explains why so many first responders feel safest with coworkers yet struggle to let their guard down at home, even with the people who love them most. That gap can fuel isolation, relationship strain, and unhealthy coping strategies. For anyone searching for first responder mental health resources, PTSD support, or addiction treatment options, the key theme is simple: you do not leave these professions unscathed, and pretending you are fine usually makes the bill come due later. Mike Marotta is a former U.S. Air Force C-5 loadmaster and San Antonio police officer who helped build a department-wide wellness initiative before moving into behavioral health leadership at Warriors Heart. His story is honest about the slow drift many first responders recognize: shift work, accumulating trauma, family distance, and coping habits that quietly turn into a problem. We dig into what makes Warriors Heart a true fit for the first responder, corrections, and military communities, including correctional officers. It is a 42-day inpatient residential treatment program built for veterans, active duty, and public safety professionals, with no need to explain the culture. Mike explains the interrelated model that treats substance use disorder and co-occurring issues like PTSD and trauma at the same time, and why peer community is not a bonus feature; it is the backbone. “Connection is protection” is not a tagline here; it is a plan. You will also hear practical guidance you can use immediately: the warning signs that stress is turning dangerous (sleep, weight gain, anger, isolation, increased drinking, risky behavior), how to start a compassionate but direct conversation with a coworker, and what treatment really looks like day to day. We walk through structure, routines, the powerful Lifeline process, and how families and careers can change when someone comes back healthier and sober. If this hits close to home, share it with a partner, a squad mate, or a supervisor who needs better language for tough conversations, then subscribe and leave a review so more first responders can find real help. Contact Mike: [email protected]  If you need help now - call (855) 610-1003 Mike on LinkedIN - www.linkedin.com/in/mike-marotta-96607754 Mike on FoxNews - https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/heroes-need-help-four-signs-first-responder-struggling Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

You can be “in shape” and still be useless in a real response. That gap is what we dig into with Letha Cowan, a former Washington State correctional officer and the owner of Watchline Fitness and Watchline Supply Co. She combines lived experience behind the walls with NASM personal training and nutrition coaching to build functional fitness for correctional officers who work overtime, sit posts for hours, then suddenly have to sprint, grapple, and control chaos without warning. We talk honestly about what the job does to the body: mandatory doubles, short sleep, stress, and the food reality of vending machines and microwave meals. Letha shares her own wake-up call, including gaining 50 pounds during her time in corrections, and why bodybuilding style training didn’t prepare her for the moment she had to run to a fight and arrived winded. From there we connect the dots between officer wellness, morale, and a safety culture that too often feels upside down. You’ll get practical ideas you can use right away: simple strength training built around squats and deadlifts, grip and core work for control, short conditioning that mimics the “go time” surge, and meal prep tactics that keep you from living on Red Bulls and desperation. If you care about correctional officer fitness, prison officer wellness, shift work nutrition, and getting home healthy when the uniform comes off, this one is for you. Subscribe for more real conversations about corrections, share this with a partner who needs it, and leave a review so more officers can find the show. Letha's Email - [email protected] WatchLine Supply Company - https://watchlinesupply.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/watchline_fitness/ Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

The fastest way a jail gets dangerous isn’t a single riot or headline event, it’s the quiet drift: missed checks, inconsistent rules, sloppy units, and leaders who stop sweating the small stuff. We sit down with Major Sean Klucznik, Jail Administrator at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and immediate past president of the American Jail Association, to talk about what actually stabilizes a facility when staffing is tight, budgets are political, and public trust is fragile. We get into what he saw while traveling during his AJA presidency, including the funding battles agencies face nationwide, the importance of professional networking in corrections, and how relationships can turn into real outcomes like regional training partnerships. Sean shares how connecting with NYC corrections led to the launch of the Northeast Regional Correctional Training Center and why “back to basics” direct supervision still matters when everything feels like it’s changing. Then we go deep on his book, Broken Windows Behind Bars: Transforming Jail Operations Through Order and Accountability. The core idea is simple and hard at the same time: consistent standards prevent bigger problems. We talk mentorship, first-line supervision, ethics as a slow creep, micro training that supervisors can run every shift, and why line staff can shape culture by “setting the tone” with professionalism, presence, and follow-through. Subscribe for more real-world corrections leadership conversations, share this with a partner who cares about doing the job right, and leave a review so more officers can find it. What’s one small standard you’d enforce tomorrow to make your facility 1% better? You can reach Shaun - Email - [email protected] LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shaunklucznik Website - https://www.keeperofthekeysleadership.com/ Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

After nearly three decades in corrections, I returned to the prison where my career began. Walking those old cellblocks brought back memories I hadn't thought about in years—the lessons, the mistakes, the friendships, the fear, and the moments that shaped the leader I eventually became. In this deeply personal episode of The Prison Officer Podcast, I take you behind the walls of the institution that started it all. You'll hear stories from those early days, reflections on how corrections has changed, and why some lessons never leave you, no matter how many years pass. This visit also became the perfect opportunity to introduce my new book, The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons. Many of the experiences that began behind these walls ultimately found their way onto its pages. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to spend a career in corrections—or how those experiences shape a person long after they leave the institution—this episode is for you. Tour the Missouri State Penitentiary: https://missouripentours.com/ Buy The Weight of Justice: Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Buy on Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Every corrections leader eventually faces the moment when the order coming down the chain doesn't sit right — when policy, pressure, or politics puts your people at risk. Leading up isn't insubordination. It's one of the highest forms of leadership. In this episode, we're talking about how to manage your boss, influence decisions above your pay grade, and still protect the men and women counting on you to have their backs. We also dig into what actually builds influence in a prison or jail setting: checking your ego, choosing results over credit, and making yourself valuable through skills and outside training. If you want a seat at the table, you earn it by becoming the person leadership trusts for expertise. Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Corrections gets judged by headlines it didn’t write, so I’m taking you behind the scenes of a month that reminded me why this profession deserves real respect. From Correctional Officers Week events to national recognition, I share the moments that felt like the “best of corrections” and the lessons we can bring back to our own agencies. We start at the One Voice United conference (link below), where I join Pete Bludworth (Corrections Unfiltered) and Sarah Robuck (Lexipol and Corrections1) to talk about our jobs and our voices. If we don’t tell the truth about what correctional officers do, nature abhors a vacuum, and the public story gets filled with TV myths, one-sided news, and silence about the good work happening inside facilities. We also dig into wellness in corrections, efforts to get lawmakers to walk through prisons before setting policy on staffing and funding, and a powerful account from New York’s union leadership caught between political pressure and officers pushed past the breaking point. Then we pivot to the stories many people never hear: the role correctional staff played during 9/11 recovery, and how corrections shows up in emergencies with resources and readiness. I also talk about practical support for staff, including a vendor focused on home loans for public servants that explicitly includes corrections, and the National Medal of Honor for Corrections banquet, where courage and service are honored on a national stage.  One of the vendors I met at OVU (link below) is a company that is working to get public service heroes, including correctional officers, into houses. American Hero Home Loans uses its Hero Advantage+™ to connect eligible heroes with trusted real estate, lending, title, settlement, insurance, and home service partners.   We close with training and leadership: field training insights from the Southeast Field Training Officers Association (SEFTOA - link below).  I also share with a new leadership class my framework for handling change by reframing fear and walking through the next door of their life with skill and confidence. If you care about corrections leadership, correctional officer wellness, and changing public perception of corrections, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a coworker, and leave a review so more staff can find these stories. One Voice United & The National Medal of Honor for Corrections https://onevoiceunited.org/ American Heroes Home Loans Corrections Webpage: ahhlusa.com/corrections AHHL Flyer: https://canva.link/theprisonofficer  Joe Ferraro Founder & CEO American Heroes Homes and Lending 631-767-9073 [email protected] or [email protected] Angela Harren Director of Business Development & Marketing American Heroes Homes and Lending 612-423-4423 [email protected] Southeastern Field Training Officers Association https://seftoa.org/ For my new book: Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Michael Cantrell's books: https://www.cantrellwrites.com/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/4utqUSO Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

We talk with Captain Tevin Dixon about the road from Oklahoma DOC Correctional Officer to shift supervisor and the mentors who shaped his calm, respectful leadership style. We also break down the gate incident with a derogatory provocateur and why professionalism, transparency, and peer support matter when corrections gets tested in public.  We also dig into what shaped Tevin’s leadership long before he wore a uniform: growing up in Oklahoma with a true village, being held accountable by family, and learning discipline through work and expectations. He shares what it felt like to step into prison work at 24 with no prior exposure, how mentors guided him, and why respect, nonverbal communication, and policy knowledge are survival skills for any corrections officer. His time in both security and case management adds another layer, showing how understanding process, paperwork, and programming can make you more effective and more approachable. The conversation goes deeper into mentorship and resilience, including what Tevin tells younger officers, how he supports staff under stress, and why corrections trauma is often invisible to the public. If you care about prison safety, correctional staff wellness, leadership under pressure, and what professionalism looks like when someone is trying to bait you on camera, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coworker, and leave a review so more people hear what the job really takes. CorrectionsOne Article - https://www.corrections1.com/corrections-training/when-provocation-meets-professionalism-lessons-from-an-okla-corrections-incident Tevin Dixon on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/tevin-dixon-4b92b6265 Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

A correctional officer gets assaulted at work and someone shrugs it off as “part of the job.” That mindset is poisoning recruitment, accelerating burnout, and making prisons more dangerous for everyone inside. We sit down with Jeffrey Noble, a 39-year corrections professional who rose from correctional officer to warden and later worked inside Ohio’s legislative oversight world, to explain why Andy’s Law is gaining traction and what it tries to fix. We start with the case that shaped the bill: the Christmas Day 2024 killing of Officer Andy Lansing at Ross Correctional Institution. From there, we dig into prison safety and accountability reforms that go beyond slogans, including treating spitting and feces assaults like the criminal acts they are, strengthening penalties when staff are murdered, and keeping people who commit serious violence in higher security longer. Jeff explains why behavior-based classification matters when agencies feel pressure to “push custody down” to solve bed-space problems. We also get specific about modern security risks: contraband and illegal conveyance, fentanyl exposure, the lack of detention authority when a visitor is caught bringing drugs, and why reliable K9 access can’t be a once-in-a-while luxury, and why leadership qualifications should be based on real corrections experience, not politics. If you care about correctional officer safety, prison reform legislation that targets misconduct, and practical ways to reduce contraband and violence, listen now, share this with a coworker, and leave a review so more people find the conversation. Jeff Noble email: [email protected] Ohio Senator Nathan Manning   614-644-7613  ohiosenate.gov/nathan-h-manning Aide's email: [email protected] Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Most use-of-force problems don’t start with bad intent; they start with bad preparation. We’re talking with Joe Buice, a lifelong martial artist and retired sheriff’s office lieutenant who has spent decades in corrections, led high-liability teams, and now serves as Pepperball’s Director of Implementation. The result is a practical, no-theory conversation about what actually keeps officers safe in jails, prisons, and street encounters.  We get specific about defensive tactics and why “just grab an arm” fails when stress hits. Joe breaks down the real gap he sees across agencies: perishable skills treated like check-the-box training. We discuss how hesitation shows up in body-worn video reviews, why fundamentals and repetition create fluidity, and how control tactics can reduce injuries for both staff and inmates while staying inside policy and lawful orders.  We also connect the dots between training and leadership. Joe shares how strong teams are built by putting the right people in the right roles, leading from the front, and slowing down long enough to listen. Then we shift to safer options first, including Pepperball for distance, area saturation, buffer zones, and lowering the career-long toll of hands-on fights. If you care about corrections officer safety, law enforcement training, defensive tactics that work, and smarter use of force decisions, this one delivers.  PepperBall - [email protected] LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/joe-b-56116bb1  Surround yourself with professionals who take this work seriously. Join us Behind the Wall: https://patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

Announcement!  Behind the Wall is Live! https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer Silence doesn’t stay empty for long. When correctional agencies refuse to talk about what happens behind the wall, someone else will gladly explain it for us, and they’ll usually pick the most extreme version. From the ILEETA conference, I take one simple line, “nature abhors a vacuum,” and apply it to one of the biggest challenges in corrections: who controls the narrative of prison life, jail incidents, and use of force. We get specific about what the public rarely sees. A 30-second YouTube clip won’t show the hours of de-escalation that happened before a cell extraction. A headline counting jail deaths may skip the cause, the medical response, and the reality that correctional officers perform CPR, cut people down, and intervene in violence far more than outsiders assume. In a world of doom scrolling and sensationalism, partial facts become “truth” fast, especially when movies, scripted TV, and even inmate podcasts fill in the blanks. We also push back on the idea that this is just a PR issue. Our goal is light, not spin. That means sharing real context, owning mistakes when they happen, and inviting the people who shape policy to see the real environment: legislators, judges, and community leaders taking honest tours, not staged walkthroughs. If we want smarter conversations about public safety, accountability, and prison reform, we have to start with accurate information. Subscribe to the Prison Officer Podcast, share this with someone who thinks they already know what prison is like, and leave a review with the biggest myth you want corrected. Send us Fan Mail Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

What if your first real job at 20—walking onto a men’s medium-security yard—became the foundation for a lifetime of leadership, policy savvy, and humanitarian impact? That’s Judi Simon Garrett’s story, and it upends a lot of what people think they know about prisons, “solitary,” and the people who run complex systems under pressure. Judi explains why training that centers presence, words, and posture mattered more than keys and cuffs, and how overtime on the toughest posts built credibility that no title could.  Judi breaks down the myths around solitary confinement, reframing it as restrictive housing with services, checks, and human contact. The leap is from prison to a more controlled prison—not from a living room to a dark cell—and sometimes that move protects both staff and the individual. We talk about safety, suicide prevention, and the hard truth that a few people cannot safely live in groups. Then we pull back to language and policy: why lumping everyone in custody under one gentle label hides critical differences, how rehabilitation is a door people must choose to walk through, and why measuring systems only by recidivism misses the point. We also honor the Bureau of Prisons legacy—from Sanford Bates to modern growth—highlighting professional culture, continuity of leadership, and a mission that kept programs alive even as populations surged. Judi shares candid leadership lessons: humility over ego, influence over authority, context over commands. Finally, we pivot to her current work leading aid for Jewish communities in Ukraine, where logistics, transparency, and storytelling now deliver food, medicine, and care to tens of thousands. It’s a full-circle look at service: macro policy that keeps people safe and micro moments where one family gets the help they need. If this conversation challenged your assumptions or gave you a clearer view of corrections and leadership, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judi-simon-garrett-24a2b4157/ Jewish Relief Network Ukraine - https://www.jrnu.org/ Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

In this episode of the Prison Officer Podcast, host Michael Cantrell speaks with Justin Stevens from Desert Waters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to correctional officer wellness. They discuss Justin's journey through the corrections system, the importance of leadership and training, and the role of peer support in addressing mental health issues within the field.  The conversation also touches on the normalization of trauma in corrections, the need for a wellness culture, and the public's perception of corrections professionals. Justin shares insights on how Desert Waters is working to improve staff wellness through training and resources, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in peer support and the need for a shift in how corrections staff are viewed by the public. [email protected] https://desertwaters.com/ Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

In this episode of the Prison Officer Podcast, host Mike Cantrell speaks with Joe Willis, the Deputy Executive Director of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA). They discuss the importance of instructor development in law enforcement, the unique offerings of the ILEETA conference, and the value of networking and community among trainers. The conversation highlights the diverse classes available, including certifications, and the significance of emotional intelligence and decision-making in corrections. They also touch on the future of training, including innovations in technology and the importance of collaboration across different sectors of law enforcement. The nights matter as much as the days. Emerson Hour hits hard with nine-minute talks that spark laughter and tears. Tuesday stacks an author meet-up, whiskey night, and a competitive cornhole tournament. Wednesday shifts to a relaxed lounge and cigar night, and Thursday’s Symbols of Service brings a patch and coin exchange plus trivia to honor identity and build bonds. It’s deliberate by design: connect, learn, reflect, repeat. We bridge a divide that should not exist: patrol, corrections, and community supervision share core skills. Decision-making under pressure, emotional intelligence, defensive tactics, less lethal judgment, and investigative thinking belong to the entire justice ecosystem. Add the future-ready edge—VR, synthetic training environments, and panels led by researchers and seasoned trainers—and you get practical tools you can apply on day one. Ready to join a world-class community that raises the bar for training? Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow instructor, and leave a review with the one skill you think trainers overlook most.  Send us Fan Mail Save the World PodcastIn-depth lectures and interviews on issues affecting the continued survival of human...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...