Episode 15: Dave - Correctional Officer from MA, 17+ experience, including Crisis Negotiation.

Welcome to I Will Hold Space For Your Darkness; a First Responder Mental Health Podcast hosted by Erin Jane. 

A former Australian Police Officer and Detective, wife of an American Firefighter, previous crisis counsellor for a suicide prevention organization and current CISM trained, certified Life & Wellness Coach for First Responders, Emergency Services Members, Spouses and Loved Ones.

In this episode, Erin speaks with Dave, a Correctional Officer from Massachusetts with over 17 years experience.

Dave talks about why he became interested in Law Enforcement in the first place and why he chose to become a CO. He details what the academy experience was like and all of the different aspects of training a Correctional Officer must undertake.

A profession that we all know exists and that is glorified on TV and film, Dave reveals what being a CO is really like, what his every day duties entail and the high level of turnover amongst inmates that occurs, bringing with it variety and a constantly changing environment.

Dave tells Erin about how utilising your communication skills as your primary tool is one of the most important skills he could possibly have and how his Crisis Negotiation training comes in handy in de-escalating tense and dangerous situations with inmates.

They discuss the unique smell of a prison, how claustrophobic it can feel at times, the atmosphere when something is about to spark up and what it's like to work in an environment where you're outnumbered so drastically.

Erin asks Dave about what it's like having to remain in such a hypervigilant state each and every day and how he manages to turn his levels down to return home to his family.

They also discuss the mental health of Correctional Officers overall and how it can often feel like they are "doing time" alongside the inmates. Dave talks about why it's important for him to be there for his colleagues, to be astute in noticing the subtle differences in people's dispositions and why that led him to be a part of the Peer Support and CISM teams in the past.

It was wonderful to speak with Dave and we both hope you enjoy listening to this episode! It was great to find out more about this lesser known aspect of Law Enforcement and share some insights with you all.

Please feel free to reach out if you'd like a topic discussed, would like to be a guest or are interested in receiving coaching services from Erin Jane.

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