Apparently They Are Expecting Change

Since we have had so much turnover lately it seems like there are changes in the wind.

A new Warden. A new Major. New Captains and Lieutenants. New FUM's and caseworkers. Not to mention that passel of new Sergeants wandering around like puppies looking for a bowl of milk.

And everybody new wants to step into a spot and say "I want to change things! I have plans!" So they set about fiddling with this and that and moving things here and there and churning out mighty memo's outlining what the future will be like.

They all approach it a bit differently. Some of them will point vaguely towards the sky and try to paint a rosy mental picture of what their future utopia will be like. Others will just say "This is how we did it in the place I came from. I'm the boss and this is how we'll do it. Or else."

We'll all sigh and go about our jobs and wait for it to pass. Those of us who have been around for awhile know that actual change in the Department of Corrections comes with the same gringing speed as continental drift.

No matter if it is a good idea or not, there is someone further up the chain who will always say "Nope. That's not gonna happen. Some inmates grandmother will be offended and we'll get sued. Put it back the way it was. We have been doing it this way since 1706 and we are not going to change it now."

And after a month or two of turmoil and dissension things will go back to the way they were. And we can go back to doing our jobs the way we have been doing them for years. It may not be the right way and it may not be the only way or the best way, but it's the way we've always done it and that's not going to change drastically any time soon.

They added a couple of new lines in our yearly performance ratings this year that have already caused some comment.

1. "When attempting to affect change offender's behavior uses positive reinforcements."
and
2. "In behavior and attitude, encourages offenders to adopt a commitment to the reentry process, modification of their behavior, and successful living."

Those lines seem to be leaning more towards a "kinder and gentler" form of incarceration. Or as we put it a "Hug-A-Thug" mentality.

Now I'm not really all that warm and fuzzy a kind of guy, even outside the fence. I'm more of the kind of guy they point to when all the fuzzy stuff doesn't seem to be sinking in and say "Behave yourself or Sgt Rev over there will spray you and plant you face down in the concrete and drag your sorry butt down to the Hive for a few months vacation."

Hey, we all have our strengths. Mine is being a misanthrope. It works for me.

And that's probably not going to change any time soon.

So... Tuesday.

Tuesday will be National Frozen Food Day, Namesake Day, Unique Names Day, US Snowshoe Day and National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day.

Now there's a holiday I can sink my teeth into!