Managing Manipulative Inmates

List (8) reasons inmates manipulate staff?

a. Power / Status. b. Contraband access. c. Favors. d. Comfort. e. Boredom / Entertainment. f. Sex. g. Revenge. h. Because they can.

What are the (4) observation tactics used by inmates to collect information about staff?

1. Visual observation / Body language. 2. Listening. 3. Verbal. 4. Action.

What is the average amount of time it takes to manipulate a staff member? 16 months.

16 months.

The average set-up takes approximately __ ______ to be successful.

16 months. It is a slow process because it is very subtle. And because they are applied subtly, set-ups can go on in full view of an employee's workmates, and managers, without being recognized. However, depending on the victim's susceptibility level, set-ups can occur in just weeks. To understand the set-up one must understand how manipulation works.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate comes into office and says, "My best friend died, you can feel me can't you when I say I don't want to do..."

2. Empathy and/or Sympathy.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate comes into office and says, "I can't do that, I don't understand the rules about..."

3. The Plea for Help.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate says, "I can't believe the way the other staff treat you. I'm sure you can imagine how the inmates feel since they treat you just like us."

4. The We/They Syndrome.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Staff person is having a verbal altercation with an inmate and another inmate steps in, confronts the first offender on the staff person's behalf.'

5. Offer of Protection.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate tells a dirty joke or makes a suggestive remark in your presence.'

6. Allusion to Sex.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate places hand on staff's shoulder.'

7. The Touch System.

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate comes into office and says, "Everyone is saying we have a relationship going on.'

8. The Rumor Clinic.

"Manipulation"

means to manage or use a process to one's own advantage and to serve one's selfish purpose or to 'control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.'

TARGET SELECTION: Accidental:

Accidental selection could come from the employee making an error in judgement that they would not normally make and the inmates becoming aware of it. a. job change, new position or assignment. b. financial difficulty, or family oriented problems. They do not necessarily have to be negative changes, they could be positive. c. response to emergencies; failure to react appropriately or experiencing a "panic attack" make a staff member vulnerable to future manipulation.

What type of Target Selection (Intentional or Accidental) is being used? 'As a newly promoted Lieutenant an inmate from the housing unit you ran as a Sergeant persuades you to suggest the current staff on the unit to issue a "warning" for a rule violation instead of a Conduct Report even though he has committed the infraction several times.'

Accidental.

What type of Target Selection (Intentional or Accidental) is being used? 'Inmate observes a staff member freeze during an assault and fail to respond appropriately.'

Accidental.

What type of (4) Target Selections is being used?: 'Inmate takes an extra cookie at lunch and when/if you confront him he says it is a minor rule and other staff let inmates let the inmates take extra cookies all the time.'

Action. Inmate is testing the staff by trying to convince them to allow a rule violation.

"Target Selection"

All staff remain vulnerable to the con game, even after "passing" the initial testing process. There are a variety of ways we can become a target:

TOOLS OF A SET UP 8. The Rumor Clinic:

Although most of us would like to believe that we are above falling for every rumor we hear, we still tend to wonder if there isn't some truth to them. The inmates will use this to alienate the staff member from their peers so that they can be more easily compromised. This is often used along with the we/they syndrome; a staff member can sometimes be convinced to turn to the inmates if they feel there is nowhere else to turn.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 3. The Plea for Help:

An inmate will use this strategy with a staff member who seems to "need being needed". He will emphasize his inadequacies in order to have a staff feel sorry for them and try to build them up. May tell sob stories.

TARGET SELECTION: Action:

At this point in time, an inmate will actually violate a rule or ask the staff member to bring something in. The inmate is not only attempting to get something from the staff member, but is also testing: a. method of control. b. view of job. c. response to emergencies.

What type of (4) Target Selections is being used?: 'Inmate notices you have a Harley tattoo.'

Body Language / Visual Observation. Inmate is making observations about staff based on their physical appearance.

T or F? Only new staff are susceptible to manipulation.

False. All staff are open to manipulation, though being new, passive/weak, have a vulnerable personality (gullible, naive), are experiencing crisis or have become complacent, you may be more susceptible to be targeted.

T or F? Being overly familiar with inmates and letting professional and personal boundaries to be crossed is okay if you have at least 2 years experience.

False. Allowing personal/professional boundaries to be crossed lets inmates believe you can be compromised and will lead to further manipulation, no matter how much time in you have as a correctional officer.

T or F: Inmates rarely "case out" staff prior to attempting manipulation, as there is nothing a staff member can do to avoid being "set up" by an inmate(s).

False. Inmates "case out" all staff prior to attempting manipulation. This is typically a step-by-step process which improves their chance for success. If, at some point, they determine that a staff member is not vulnerable to a set-up, the inmate(s) will likely not proceed to the next step.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 4. The We/They Syndrome:

If an inmate believes he can cause a staff member to question their loyalty to the administration, rules, superiors or peers, they believe they can drive a "wedge" between the two using common ground. This way an inmate can try to get a staff member believe they are on "thin ice" or are better aligned with the inmate than their coworkers.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 2. Empathy and/or Sympathy:

Inmates are adept at discovering issues which are sensitive to staff members. One technique is to use an issue which a particular staff member is sympathetic to and try to compromise that person's objectivity. *Try to identify with personal issues you may have to hint for you to share details or "bond" over struggles.

TARGET SELECTION: Body Language / Visual Observation:

Inmates are adept at judging people by their non-verbal behaviors. They draw numerous conclusions (quite often accurate) simply by watching the following: 1. Body movements: gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, appearance etc. 2. Signs of nervousness, fear, discomfort: fidgeting, avoidance, poor posture, etc. 3. Manner of dress (confidence/self-esteem): make up; hair styled/trimmed; uniform disheveled, tattoos, etc. 4. Personal items brought in by staff: photos, car keys, etc.

TARGET SELECTION: Listening:

Inmates gather a great deal of useful information by listening to staff conversations. We must be conscious of inmates nearby when we are conversing. 1. Places of gathered information: a. staff dining area. b. phone conversations. c. staff offices. d. Hallway or tier conversation. 2. Kinds of gathered information: a. likes/dislikes. b. conflicts with other staff. c. personal information. d. backround/employment history.

TARGET SELECTION: Verbal:

Inmates take the information they have acquired through the previous steps and attempt to learn more through actual conversations with the intended staff member to confirm "listening observation" and gather more information. The staff members reaction to this step will determine whether the inmate will go on to the final step. 1. Verbal target selection conversations will include: a. questions about personal life. b. comments about other staff members. c. discussion about "common" interests. d. tentative suggestion of minor rule infraction.

TARGET SELECTION: Intentional:

Inmates watch and listen to new staff members, looking for weaknesses and vulnerability. Especially: a. excessive friendliness or over-familiarity. b. naive and trusting nature. c. suggestibility or lack of experience.

THE SET UP TEAM 3. Runners role?

Inmates who may not be active members of the set-up, but will assist in any phase for some reward.

What type of Target Selection (Intentional or Accidental) is being used? 'Inmate asks you about your feelings regarding recent changes in institution management.'

Intentional.

What type of Target Selection (Intentional or Accidental) is being used? 'Inmate observes a staff member is easily swayed by other inmates to disregard rules'

Intentional.

What type of (4) Target Selections is being used?: 'Inmate Janitor takes such a long time cleaning a staff area the staff no longer notice he is there.'

Listening. Inmate is hoping to learn information by listening to staff interact / eavesdrop.

THE SET UP TEAM 2. Contacts role?

Provide information about a staff member, and may ask subtle questions to gain additional information about their subject(s). a. Have access to staff to overhear personal conversations, etc. b. Move from area to area, picking up/moving contraband.

If you notice an inmate trying to "set you up", what should you do?

Report to your superior and confront the inmate.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 1. The Support System:

Series of praises and supportive comments intended to build the staff members appreciation for the inmate. Often the inmate will find a quality about which the staff member is insecure and will compliment them on it.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 7. The Touch System:

Since personal space is at such a premium in a correctional institution, physical touch is a powerful communicator. With a staff member, it will usually begin with an inmate flicking a piece of lint off the back of a shirt or straightening a collar. If allowed, it will escalate to "accidental" contact with other parts of the body. It may be as simple as a handshake. The intent is to see if the staff member will allow this invasion into their personal space without comment.

THE SET UP TEAM 5. Point Person/Man role?

Stands guard as look-out person(s) when staff is in the process of being compromised.

The system of deception inmates create to manipulate staff is called?

The Set-Up. The set-up is a game. The Dictionary defines a game as any form of play, amusement, or sport involving competition under rules.

THE SET UP TEAM 1. Observer role?

They watch and listen for potential targets for a set-up. They will theorize on whether you are a good candidate based on your actions, including: a. Use of inmate jargon. b. Ignoring minor rule infractions. c. Playing favorites by enforcing rules with some inmates and not others. d. Lack of staff support. e. Ease of distractibility.

THE SET UP TEAM 4. Turners role?

This is the recipient of staff "fraternization", may befriend an employee in an attempt to coerce them to do favors, look the other way

TOOLS OF A SET UP 5. Offer of Protection:

This may be an attempt to make a staff member feel obligated or at least grateful and may be used to draw them into a set-up. It may involve an inmate coming to a staff member's "rescue" when other inmates cause a problem (may even be staged). In other situations, staff may be asked to break a rule and is promised that the inmate will take the heat if anyone else finds out.

TOOLS OF A SET UP 6. Allusion to Sex:

This usually invovles an inmate approaching a staff member and telling them some "nasty" things other inmates were saying. The inmate assures staff that they stood up for the staff, insisting the staff member isn't like that. This is a test to see if thes staff member will be grateful for the inmate's support or if they will recognize their desire to talk about this subject. Sometimes this tactic can involve telling of "off-color" jokes to gauge staff member's reaction.

T or F? Displaying positive or negative behavior influences how inmates interact with you, and indicate if you are someone who they could consider a "mark" for a game to be played on.

True.

T or F? Much of inmate Target Selection is information we provide ourselves through Body language / Visual Observations or even through what we tell co-workers?

True.

T or F? A "trouble spot" for a correctional officer can include a consistent job placement.

True. If we are supervising the same inmates daily, we can become comfortable and complacent, leading to lax execution of our jobs and pressure to violate rules.

T or F? Conversing loudly with other staff about other coworkers or a boss can make you and/or other coworkers vulnerable to inmate manipulation.

True. This is unprofessional and puts you and other coworkers in a vulnerable position, and not just because you are giving the opportunity for inmates to know personal information about whom you are speaking; this also shows inmates there is a separation in the team, which is another opportunity to manipulate.

T or F? Inmates will take the "path of least resistance" so when you feel you are being targetted for a set up, the best thing to do is confront the inmate and share the interaction with your supervisor.

True. When in doubt, keep yourself protected, and even take notes just in case. Follow your gut and be sure to be clear that you are not going to be compromised.

TARGET SELECTION: Inmate Observations include (6)?

Type 1:. a. Body Language / Visual Observation b. Listening c. Verbal d. Action Type 2. a. Intentional b. Accidental

What type of (4) Target Selections is being used?: 'Inmate asks how your vacation to Florida was after you were off for a week.'

Verbal. Inmate is trying to get close to the staff by starting a personal conversation.

Can multiple inmates be involved in an attempt to manipulate a single staff person?.

Yes.

TOOLS OF A SET-UP (8)

1. The Support System 2. Empathy/Sympathy 3. Plea for Help 4. We/They Syndrome 5. Offer of Protection 6. Allusion to Sex 7. The Touch 8. The Rumour Clinic

TOOLS OF A SET UP - The following is an example of what type of set up?: 'Inmate compliments a new officer on how terrific a job they are doing.'

1. The Support System.