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The Audio Long Read

My life as a prison officer: ‘It wasn’t just the smell that hit you. It was the noise’

Mar 21, 2025
Alex South, a former prison officer and author, shares his gripping insights into life behind bars. He highlights the overwhelming sensory experiences and emotional toll of the job. South discusses the troubling reality of acutely mentally ill inmates in segregation units, revealing how both inmates and prison staff struggle in such chaotic environments. He emphasizes systemic failures that lead to violence and overcrowding, calling for urgent reforms in the prison system. His candid anecdotes shed light on a world many rarely see.
27:16

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The urgent need for improved mental health care in prisons is highlighted by inmates suffering from severe mental illness often placed inappropriately in segregation units.
  • Overcrowding and staffing shortages in prisons exacerbate violence and chaos, posing significant safety risks for both inmates and correctional staff.

Deep dives

Life Inside the Segregation Unit

Working as a prison officer in a segregation unit presents unique challenges, which often entail dealing with individuals grappling with severe mental health issues. One poignant example involves a mentally ill prisoner who had caused chaos within his cell, believing he was a target of brain implants. This incident reflects a broader concern within the prison system, where reports indicate that mentally ill inmates frequently experience extended waits for appropriate medical care, sometimes spending months in inappropriate environments. The crisis emphasizes the urgency for a more effective mental health care strategy within prison systems, contrasting with the overcrowded facilities where individuals like this prisoner are left without the support they truly need.

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