Joe Calitri

Correction Officer! Joe Calitri

Correction Officers are often referred to as "the forgotten cops!" Working behind the walls and fences of correctional institutions and prisons understandably ranks as one of the most dangerous professions, and Correction Officers are rarely observed by the public in performance of their duties. They function as police officers within communities where EVERY citizen is a convicted felon. The mandate of Correction Officers is care, custody, and control of inmates, and involves much more than just standing around eyeballing convicts. Their responsibilities frequently include disturbance control; fire prevention; emergency first aid; weapons proficiency; and documentation of incidents and events; but a successful shift was one in which it was unnecessary to utilize these skills. My career as a Correction Officer was similar to that of other public safety professionals like police officers and firefighters; there were frequent moments of inactivity amidst the routines of the day, but when "the fertilizer hit the fan," that's when we earned our pay. I made my contribution to society by helping keep the local public safe from a large population of criminal offenders. CORRECTION OFFICER: The Other Side Of The Wall provides an in-depth look at my 20-year career at MCI Norfolk, Norfolk, Massachusetts; the difficulties and rewards of the occupation; the hazards of inmate contact, unreasonable management, and interpersonal relationships; and the professionalism, camaraderie, and dedication expressed by Correction Officers in the face of so many obstacles. A time-honored expression very appropriately states, "We walk the toughest beat," and I did - on the other side of the wall!