"Ms Kestler, "You have a few valid concerns about PA's [Pennsylvania's] prison system. These problems my be possible to correct. In order to do that, I recommend that you apply to become a corrections officer ["CO"], attend the basic training academy and then come to one of the state prisons to work as a CO. "As a CO you could actually see what goes on and correct it on the spot. Perhaps you couldn't change the whole system, but certainly you could influence your own little corner of the world. "I have to warn you that as a CO you may be in for a rough ride. Some things that [have] happened to me as a CO were the following. Keep in mind [that] many of the inmates who did these things to me, I had never met prior to the incidents; they were just lashing out at 'the uniform.' "I've had urine/feces thrown at me, been kicked, punched, elbowed, slammed against walls; had an inmate attempt to electrocute me (ie. attempted homocide), had an inmate try to slash me, nearly been stabbed by an inmate stabbing another inmate, been in and witnessed more fights than I care to recall. One officer in one of these fights received six broken ribs, another needed fifty-six stitches in his mouth, others [sic] had a broken jaw, one CO was stabbed. Keep in mind that these are officers who DID NOT touch the inmates involved prior to the incidents. "From the administration? [sic] They don't like me because I treat inmates with respect and normally I get respect returned to me by the inmates. This violates the 'normal' guard to inmate relationship. Many times I have called the control center asking for relief so that I could use the bathroom. They knew [that] I couldn't leave my post until I got relieved. They didn't send anyone a few times. Other times, they waited two and a half hours before they allowed me to use the bathroom. They thought this was funny. Once, I had to go to the dispensary because my stomach was in knots because I had to wait so long. These are my coworkers! "Yes, people can be monsters, but it happens on both sides of the fence. I've met inmates who were monsters of the most vile sort, and I've worked with some staff who would match them. "In general, though, regarding inmates and staff, the majority want to do their time and go home. We want to go home to our families with no more holes in us than when we [went] to work. Inmates want to go home with their sanity. I think [that] these are modest wishes on both our parts and I imagine you'd agree. "...And, just for the record, if I wasn't currently a CO bound by my department's order forbidding me from giving my name, I'd give it to you happily. Perhaps one day...Bob (as you've guessed) that's not my real name, unfortunately."