THEY guard some of the state’s most notorious criminals, but little is known about the work correctional officers do behind the walls of Bathurst Jail.
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The work of these men and women, who deal with offenders in prison, is the focus of National Corrections Day on Friday, January 19.
The initiative was established by Corrective Services NSW in 2017 to acknowledge staff and provide the community with a better understanding of the challenging and often dangerous work Corrective Services officers do to keep the prison and community safe.
Staff at Bathurst Jail, in particular, need little reminder about the volatile nature of their profession. Twelve months ago they were faced with a riot involving 76 inmates where the prison had to be locked down and the jail’s Immediate Action Team called in to contain the situation.
One officer was injured in the riot, sparked by an inmate who refused to leave a maximum security wing; another prisoner intervened and struck an officer on the head several times.
The challenges of the job, while not widely known, are not lost on Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin.
“These men and women are the unsung heroes of our communities, working tirelessly to rehabilitate offenders and keep us safe,” he said.
“It can be a difficult job and a dangerous job at times, and our officers show bravery, dedication and commitment that should be formally commended.”
Despite the challenges corrections officers face on a daily basis, they all agree on one thing: the job comes with rewards.
“I worked with an offender who turned his life around after seven years in custody and he still stops me in the street with his wife and his children – almost six years after being released - to thank me for helping him when he needed it most.”
- Assistant Superintendent Shane Earsman
Assistant Superintendent Shane Earsman was 23 when he began working with maximum security inmates at Long Bay Correctional Centre.
Since then, he has worked at Lithgow Jail, Bathurst and Moree Court Escort Security Units, and Bathurst Community Corrections.
His current role involves managing staff and offenders, including training and mentoring staff, overseeing inmate placement and mapping out their rehabilitation needs.
Mr Earsman said living in a regional community means he often runs into inmates in town.
“One thing that keeps me motivated is when I see them on the straight and narrow,” he said.
“I worked with an offender who turned his life around after seven years in custody and he still stops me in the street with his wife and his children – almost six years after being released - to thank me for helping him when he needed it most.”
Mr Earsman said he loves the job and it enables him to be a good role model for his children.