A Prison Officer Writes " Appreciate Our Job, We Reform.."

I love my work not because I had to go through a six-month period of hard and vigorous training or not because I have to wear the colourful and beautiful uniform with full jerk up sometimes to be called an officer. I am, not because of the respect I am accorded.

I love my work because I have the duty to keep in safe custody,reform, to rehabilitate and to reintegrate inmate. 

The Military fights and defends the country, they fight against criminals, seasoned and harden criminals with rifles, heavy-duty automatic machine guns, modern explosives with protective armours and vehicles, strategically formed up with back up supporting platoons on stand by because they know the capabilities of these criminals. 

I appreciate the Police because they work through out. They stay up protecting the citizens against these criminals, arresting those who contravene the laws with rifles and ammunition, with their bullet proof jackets on.

When these criminals are arrested where are they sent to? 

The Prison and there it becomes my duty to reform them, to rehabilitate and to reintegrate them.

I stay with them, 

I interact with them,

I sit with them,

I play with them,

I Share their pain, 

I share my food, cloths, 

I become a brother, father, uncle to them

I sometimes share the little I have with them,

They become my family just because I need to reform them

I go into where these inmates are without any weapon.

In my line of duty  sometimes I get beaten up,

Asulted, 

Insulted, 

Threatened,

Called name's by angry inmates which I can't retaliate any because I have to reform them.

On all these, I risk my life for others to be better in the society, 

For a peaceful and lovely society,

For a crime free and a society of tolerance. 

Yet what do I gain. 

 Appreciate the Prison Officer

BY 2CO Dunee Nathan.