A look into the lives of law enforcement officers
Reggie Yates is back with another moving and insightful documentary series. Season 2 of The Insider: Reggie Yates brings three new episodes to BBC Three, the third of which deals with his experience working as a guard at Guilford County Jail in North Carolina.
In a world where the police — especially in America — are currently under intense scrutiny and criticism, this programme gave an alternative insight into the pressures and problems facing members of the law enforcement and gives another side to the story. It is not just the intriguing topic that pulls viewers in, however. Many in the UK know of Reggie Yates and his personable nature, and the desire to watch him in action is as much of a pull as the subject at hand. Yates provides a calming presence in a very tense environment, allowing you to connect on a personal level with the guards and prisoners he talks to, even amongst the tremendous amount of pressure and conflict. This is something that not many presenters are able to do, but Yates pulls it off with incredible ease and makes the programme a pleasure to watch, despite the hard-hitting topic.
The episode definitely challenges the way you view law enforcement officers. Early on we are introduced to Training Officer King who explains the principles he abides by — Communication, Confidence and Courtesy. He hails the latter as the most important principle, believing that if you treat the inmates with respect, they will respond in a positive manner. His pleasant, kind, and respectful demeanour and the way in which he engages with the prisoners is a very different image than how jail guards and their interactions with prisoners are normally presented. The other guards act the same. They joke and laugh with the prisoners in the right circumstances, trying to build positive relationships with them.
Along with a more encouraging presentation of the guards, the audience is also introduced to the struggles that the officers face. Working 12-hour shifts and having to do overtime because of a shortage of staff. Being constantly outnumbered by the prisoners and thus feeling constantly threatened. Continuously being on edge, as shown by Officer King who always carries a gun, even to church, because of concerns that a former inmate will come after him or his family. Relentlessly being tested, harassed, disrespected, and even attacked by the inmates. African American jail guards are given an added pressure, as there is a certain level of antagonism from their community. The fact that they are involved in a law enforcement role is seen as a form of betrayal to a system that is perceived to be against African American’s. Officer King’s relationship with his daughter, for example, deteriorated because she could not accept his job. After only three days, Yates discusses the mental toll that the job is having on him. A toll that makes him understand why, in America, correctional officers have a higher than average rate of mental health problems and are nearly twice as likely to commit suicide. Seeing the pressures that the officers face, it is not had to see why they develop such problems.
There is, however, a hint of biasness within the episode. Despite stating that recruitment of African American officers is the main challenge facing the jail, other than the female correctional officer, no other White jail guards are predominantly featured. The emphasis placed on featuring Black jail guards is undoubtedly an obvious attempt at trying to improve race relations between members of the African American community and law enforcement officials. By presenting an alternative to the stereotypical image of a White law enforcement officer and a Black inmate, the episode helps break down the wall between prisoners and law enforcement officers. This is undoubtedly a good thing, and yet there is a nagging sensation in the back of your head that the episode has been set up in such a way as to reinforce this point to the audience and provide a very specific perspective. It doesn’t feel as natural as perhaps Yates and his team intended.
Nonetheless, the episode delivers an intriguing alternative insight into the US jail system and the personalities and actions of the jail guards themselves. Yates’ empathy is contagious and his attempt to bring a calm to the divisiveness between prisoners and law enforcement officers is commendable. After exploring the life of prisoners in the US jail system in Season 1, Yates has balanced out his investigation by examining the other side and offering an alternative to the current viewpoint in society.
Edited by Cheyenne Abrams.
