5 Prison Staff: Overview

Remember that our program depends on access to the prisons, which is controlled exclusively by prison staff.  You must be respectful in your interactions, and we strongly encourage you to build a positive relationship with prison staff, regardless of your personal position or beliefs. Whenever possible, express good will, openness, and appreciation to all staff, including security. Without them, our work is impossible.

Access to the prisons is our program’s most precious resource, and we can lose access easily if we abuse it. Do not use your access to the prisons to advance individual agendas or interests, such as research. We are in the prisons to teach and provide academic support. Side projects jeopardize our relationships with the DOC and the institution where you teach.

Please limit your requests of DOC staff generally, and if you have a problem with a staff person, please do not complain to them directly.  We find DOC education staff to be strong allies, and some devote a lot of time and effort to ensure students’ success. But again, DOC staff are typically overworked, and they are employed by DOC, not UW-Madison. If you encounter a problem with prison staff, contact the OBB program manager as soon as possible, and we will discuss a solution.