Games Offenders Play ConGames Goal To provide a

Games Offenders Play Con-Games

Goal To provide a working knowledge of the con games that offenders play.

Performance Objectives Upon Completion the student will be able to pass a written test on the following at 80%; A. define the following: – 1. empathy, to include: i. jail officer empathy – 2. sympathy, to include: ii. danger of jail officer sympathy B. define psychological manipulation

Performance Objectives C. explain offender con game schemes, to include: – 1. defining a “set up” as it relates to a correctional setting – 2. “set up” team members – 3. detailing the steps of a “set up” D. state warning signs that an officer may be the target of an offender con game scheme E. identify officer characteristics to prevent being lured into an offender con game scheme

Introduction The Nevada Department of Corrections of manages and supervisors thousands of inmates daily throughout its institutions and facilities. Staff and employees must constantly be alert and on-guard against inmate manipulation, con games and compromise.

Hand Out Read “The Duck”

Definition The system of deception they have created is called the set-up. The set-up is a game. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines a game as any form of play, amusement, or sport involving competition under rules. There is a winner and a loser. The winner, in the case of a successful set-up, receives rewards and the loser pays the consequences. The inmate can receive illegal contraband, sex, status among peers, and the personal satisfaction from just being able to do it.

A Set Up Team This is a small group of inmates that will combine efforts and share information to initiate the set up process and push it through to the end.

Why Do Inmates Play? Favors or privileges for themselves Blackmail an employee Stature among the inmate Contraband in or out of the facility Escape plot

Empathy Definition – Understand the feelings of others, as you would have them understand your feelings. – Seeing through someone else’s eyes.

Empathy We want you have empathy. Without empathy real communication can not happen.

Sympathy There is no place for sympathy by any officer. Sympathy = Feeling sorry.

Manipulation Definition – Manipulation: to control or play upon by artful or unfair means especially to one’s own advantage

Manipulation For inmates, lying, using people and manipulation is a way of life. It is the name of the game. Ask – – yourself every time- What do they really want? Are they telling the truth?

Using Personal Traits The inmates use of: – Ethnicity – Age – Sex or Sexuality – Home Town or Region – Religion – Marriage – Children – Favorite Sports Team

How the Game is Started Employee doing a favor for an inmate or vice versa Once the employee is hooked, the inmate WILL escalate the demand Threatening the employee with exposure if he/she does not cooperate

Family and Friends The employee must act toward this inmate as he/she does toward all the other inmates When the new inmate comes into the facility, the employee will report the relationship at once to a supervisor

The Set up The three categories- – Techniques – Tools – Turnouts

SYMPATHY

1. The Observation Process Body Language Listening Verbal Reaction

2. Selection of Victim Look For Friendliness Naiveté Familiarity

3. Test of Limits Testing” or “Fish- Test theories Test Tolerance Levels Reaction to Minor Violations Personality Characteristics Pitting One Officer Against Another The Push

4. The Support System Offers to help Setting Loyalty Standards You’re the best Pledge of Devotion Expression of Faith

5. Empathy and/or Sympathy Sharing Problems The You, Me Syndrome A Tragic Event A “One Time Only” Violation of Rules

6. The Plea For Help I am a Failure Lack of Confidence Change of Life-style Rehabilitation

7. The We/They Syndrome They Don’t Understand, But WE do You’re Not That Way They Treat You Like One of Us

8. Offer of Protection Staging an Event I’m OK, You’re OK- They’re not Okay Use of Fear I Won’t Let it Happen to You

9. Allusion To Sex The Intent The Urge Nice Guy Image Allusions to “Out There” Rumors and Their Effect Institution Procedures

10. Touch System Flicking Pat on Back The Accident Frequency

11. Rumor Clinic Purpose Effect Understanding Street Psychology “Turning”

13. Shopping List One Time Only Money, Drugs, Alcohol, Sex Accepted and Refusal The Future

12. Lever Acquiring a Lever Usages Demand Wedge

14. Sting Use of Fear and Force Victim’s Choice Inmates Goal Victim’s Future Between a Rock and a Hard Spot

15. Consequences Discipline Lose your Job Arrest Death

Warning Signs Officers tend to fall into three categories: – – – Soft Medium Hard

Warning Signs Soft employees – Usually, very trusting, overly familiar, naïve – Need to be liked by both inmates and staff – Desire to help the inmate, sympathetic – Unable to say “NO”

Warning Signs Hard employees- – Strictly by the book. – Everything is black and white – “Macho Syndrome”

Warning Signs Medium- – – Traits of both soft and hard employees Know how and when to use those traits in the right manner

Warning Signs Soft = Gullible Medium Hard = Cautious = Suspicious

Warning Signs Inmates can only take advantage if you allow them. Be concerned if you notice some of these:

Warning Signs Inmates try to engage you in long conversations about your likes, dislikes, or other personal matters. Inmates suddenly begin offering you favors, doing extra work, being excessively nice to you, and showering you with compliments and attention. Inmates try to involve you in you/me situations, or an in-group alliance. Inmates pester you for materials in excess of what you are allowed to give. Inmates try to instill you with fear. Inmates try to push you to the limits of your patience.

Being Lured into the game Ask – – – yourself these questions Am I overly friendly or overly familiar? Do I appear to be excessively gullible? Do inmates consider me overly trusting? Am I excessively sympathetic? Is my demeanor usually timid? Is my enforcement of rules inconsistent?

Being Lured - Continued – Do I handle compliments in a professional manner? – Do I sometimes share my personal problems with inmates? – Have I forgotten to check the validity of inmate information and stories? – Do I tend to let issues slide that should be addressed immediately? – Do I have difficulty with command or control and with saying no?

Being Lured If you asked yourself “yes” to any of these question? – Evaluate your traits. – Recognize your vulnerability. – Be aware, of who and what you are.

No Respect Once an employee falls victim to an inmate scheme, he/she loses all respect with the other inmates who may also demand favors of their own since the word will spread quickly through the facility that the employee has been compromised

Protectors Understand the definition of a “professional” and strive to act and perform your duties as one every day Learn to recognize the steps to a setup and take appropriate action to prevent such steps from occurring

Protective Measures Look and act like a professional Have working knowledge of the department’s and facilities policies and procedures Knowing that it can happen to anyone!

Protectors Understand the communication consists of a sender and receiver Learn to say “NO” and mean it Be in command of your area

Protectors Check Be the inmate’s story! knowledgeable of prior institution/agency procedures relating to avenues confined people can pursue to acquire needs not covered in the institutional policy manual or post orders

Protectors Keep everything in the open Do not form a “You/me” situation Intended victims should let someone know they feel or believe they are being cultivated for a setup and let the inmate involved know you told someone

Protectors Put it in writing! Know what to do in a crisis situation.

Stopping the Game If your hooked, you can still stop it – Report everything that has happened to a supervisor. – Make a written report of everything that took place.

Don’t be fooled by Their Performance • Good Guys • Nice Guys • Naïve Neds or Nellys • Illiterate Dummies • Con Men or Women • Preachers • Sam or Samantha Sentimentals

Any Questions ?