Recent developments in New York State’s correctional system have made one thing abundantly clear: the focus should not be on choosing sides between incarcerated persons and staff. Instead, the priority must be a commitment to humanity—an overarching principle that recognizes the dignity, well-being, and rights of all individuals within the system. The entrenched “us versus them” mentality, which has historically divided incarcerated persons and correctional staff, only leads to mutual suffering. A system that truly values reform must address the needs of both groups, acknowledging that improvements for one inevitably lead to improvements for the other.
The notion of picking sides—whether supporting incarcerated persons or staff—results in a zero-sum game where everyone loses. Poor living conditions for incarcerated persons, lack of rehabilitation programs, and inadequate mental health resources not only harm those incarcerated but also create dangerous and stressful environments for correctional officers. Likewise, when officers are undertrained, overworked, and unsupported, their ability to perform their jobs effectively diminishes, which in turn negatively impacts rehabilitation of incarcerated persons and overall facility safety. A balanced approach that prioritizes humanity ensures that both incarcerated persons and staff benefit. For instance, implementing better training, increasing staffing levels, and improving programming not only provide incarcerated individuals with a chance at rehabilitation but also create a safer and more manageable environment for officers.
This toxic “us versus them” culture in corrections is deeply rooted and pervasive, much like an invasive species that grows uncontrollably. It is a narrative that has long been sensationalized by Hollywood, where correctional officers are often reduced to the role of “guards”—a term that, in popular media, is frequently used in a derogatory manner. Such portrayals strip away the complexity of the profession and reinforce harmful stereotypes that further deepen divisions. While these dramatizations may seem exaggerated, the reality is that this conflict has existed for decades, fostering an environment where both staff and incarcerated persons become trapped in a cycle of mistrust, resentment, and institutional failure.
More recently, this divisive culture has extended beyond incarcerated persons and officers to a rift between correctional agencies and their workforce. Administrators are tasked with balancing safety, budgets, staffing, and programming, while also responding to public and political pressures for reform. In a system committed to true change, these administrators would also invest in the well-being of officers, recognizing that their mental health and job satisfaction directly impact prison conditions and offender outcomes. However, when labor and management are at odds, just as when incarcerated persons and staff are pitted against each other, meaningful progress becomes impossible. Instead of working toward a collective goal of a functional, humane correctional system, efforts are wasted on internal conflict.
Somewhere along the way, in this constant battle between different factions within the system, we have lost sight of the core issue: that corrections is, at its heart, about people. It is not about incarcerated persons versus officers, management versus labor, or policymakers versus social justice advocates—it is about human beings coexisting within a system that has historically dehumanized everyone it touches. Until there is a collective recognition that all individuals within prison walls—whether incarcerated or employed—deserve to be treated with dignity, common decency, and fundamental human rights, true prison reform will remain out of reach.
If we continue to ignore this reality, we will remain trapped in a cycle where violence, injury, and death within prisons become routine headlines. The world prefers to consume these stories through the lens of television dramas rather than confronting the raw, unfiltered truth of what happens behind prison walls. But prisons are not entertainment—they are institutions that hold real people with real struggles. Only when we begin to prioritize humanity over division will we be able to create a system that is not just functional, but just.
