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Under these circumstances it is inevitable that the prison-guard subculture will nurture abuses of the children by their guards. It is likely already happening but is being kept as quiet as possible.16/16 m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c…
Homestead is not operating under optimal conditions. It is being run by a 4–profit co w/no experience in running prisons, a co that refuses 2 allow almost any scrutiny & declines 2 answer questions about how children R being treated.15/16
But none of that is present at Homestead prison. The guards R temps s/little or no training, supervision, or accountability, w/no commitment 2 or from their employer & no career to aspire to advance in. 14/16
There have already been significant numbers of documented cases of assaults at other immigrant child prisons. Under best circumstances, well-defined rules & regs, scrupulously followed & enforced by dedicated corrections professionals, can moderate prison-guard subculture.13/16
They will decide that kids as less than human, so imprisoning them doesn't matter. They will divide their world into "us" & "them." This is not speculation. It is the long history of prison-guarding. 12/16
They will start enforcing discipline 2 set an example 4 others; start thinking of children as deserving of what they R getting cuz they broke the law. They will decide that families who R waiting 4 them R bad people who shouldn't B allowed 2 raise their own children. 11/16
Guards will start 2 👀some of kids as not really being so innocent. They will magnify incidents of misbehavior:grow suspicious of what is being said in languages they don't understand. They will become exasperated that some of kids repeatedly rebel against their authority.10/16
Inevitably, guards must find ways 2 justify 2 themselves that they R imprisoning kids whom they know R not bad or dangerous people-& treating them in a way that they wld never want their own kids treated. The prison-guard subculture will teach them how to B at peace 9/16
They hear R president & politicians who have hired them say that border walls R needed in order 2 keep other kids from coming in. They hear immigrants referred 2 as being dangerous & violent. 7/16
But truth is security guards who have been hired at immigrant kids’ prison in Homestead R prison guards, they R being indoctrinated in2 prison-guard subculture. They R told that kids came here illegally, in violation of laws that R designed 2 protect rest of us from danger 6/16
Spokespeople 4 immigrant children's prison in Homestead, say that guards-whom they deny R really guards-protecting children from dangers outside prison. They say that the guards help the children while they are in their custody. It all sounds benevolent. 5/16
... breed notion that prisoners' histories & dispositions lead them 2 B dangerous & require harsh treatment. Guards who view prisoners this way comfortably abuse people subject to their power. 4/16
Unfortunately, prison-guard subculture can also provide self-justification 4 all kinds of cruelty & abuse. Unless a prison's administration relentlessly reinforces expectations that prisoners will B treated properly & w/respect 4 their humanity, prison-guard subculture can. 3/15
Central 2 this subculture is notion that prisoners deserve treatment cuz they have done bad things This worldview allows guards 2 👀themselves as righteously serving greater society. They also imagine they R helping prisoners by protecting them & guiding them towards release 2/16
SHARED BY WITNESS LEE GOODMAN Guards at the children's prison-Prison guards live in a subculture that makes it possible 4 them 2 do what would be considered aberrant & abhorrent elsewhere - imprison their fellow humans. 1/16
BY WITNESS
