Dysfunctional psyche of correctional staff...as described by
former warden Ron McAndrewTwo-core staff assembly:
first core group - did the work as required by rules and
regulations, but often with the exception of 'not reporting'
certain incidents observed, for fear of job loss or retaliation.
second core group - certainly the minority core but the group
who illustrated that they owned the law and could enforce at
will without regard for its content. Though not core, a third
and very small group did in fact give their full worth toward
excellent corrections as demanded by law.
Mr. McAndrew's statement before the COMMISSION ON SAFETY AND
ABUSE IN AMERICA'S PRISONS April 19, 2005 - Tampa, Florida
WITNESS: Ron McAndrew was most recently Interim Director of
Corrections for Orange County, Florida, before his retirement in
2002. In that position, he was responsible for overseeing 1,651
employees; the custody, care, safety, and rehabilitation of over
4,000 inmates; and the direction of a budget that exceeded $100
million. Prior to that, Mr. McAndrew worked for more than 20
years in the Florida Department of Corrections, starting as a
Correctional Officer at the Dade Correctional Institution. He
was an Investigator for five years at the Tomoka Correctional
Institution, and was Warden at the state prison facilities in
Wewahitchka, Starke, and Orlando.
STATEMENT (Excerpted from a written statement submitted to
the Commission): "It was experiencing direct involvement in
putting down two major riots in my first year as a correctional
officer, finding a near dead fellow officer, unconscious and
bleeding from razor slashes over his face and entire body;
finding myself being beaten with iron rebar and steel chairs and
personally observing both physical and mental torture of those
under our custody and care that spurred me on toward a goal of
better corrections.
"It was during the early days that I began to learn that [the
Florida Department of Corrections] had a two-core staff assembly
throughout the department. There was first the core group who
did the work as required by rules and regulations, but often
with the exception of 'not reporting' certain incidents
observed, for fear of job loss or retaliation. The second group
was certainly the minority core but the group who illustrated
that they owned the law and could enforce at will without regard
for its content. Though not core, a third and very small group
did in fact give their full worth toward excellent corrections
as demanded by law."
To read the complete transcript, click
Testimony of former warden Ron McAndrew
