Don't Worry, The US Prisons Are In Good Hands....ha, ha, ha, ha!

[Jan Klimkowski]

Jan, a big part of the problem that I forgot to mention is what I refer to as the dreaded "uniform disease". It happens when people who aren't used to having power over other people are suddenly granted a uniform and turn into God...or something like that. I partially attribute the spread of this disease to the TV show "Oz", wherby many new officers come into the system thinking that that's what prisons are really like. And then when it isn't, they tend to try to make it that way, usually resulting in unnecessary uses of force and the eventual loss of their jobs.

And lest I forget, the disease tends to make some of the weaker-minded people who get it show a total lack of respect for anyone, especially an offender, who doesn't wear that exact same uniform, and even some who do. What they tend to forget is: There but for the grace of God go I, especially in this society.

James - very important point.

It is in large part the uniform. But it's also what the uniform represents: namely power.

There was an investigative documentary shown on BBC1 here a week or so ago where a young reporter went undercover at a care home for young adults with learning disabilities or forms of autism.

The documentary revealed a culture of staff with low esteem placed in a position where there were effectively no boundaries, no sanctions for misbehaviour, and no management oversight. As a result, these staff boosted their self esteem by bullying and abusing these most vulnerable of adults.

It was disgusting. But I have little doubt that such abuse is widespread - particualarly in private for profit care homes like the one featured in the programme.

And it is simply another manifestation of what you termed "uniform disease".