Should a Buddhist be a correctional officer?

Question

I am a former correctional officer and a Buddhist. When I was working as a C.O., I was very conflicted about this work in relation to the 8 fold path and "Right Livelihood". I always wondered if this is a correct choice for someone who is serious about their Buddhist faith. Use of force is a very real possibility. C.O.s are trained in weaponsm, including guns, although it would be very rare if they were used. Is a Buddhist a positive role model for inmates or is their compassion better suited for other professions? In the prison system, you contribute(however indirectly) to the suffering of inmates, especially those who would be better served through treatment(drug users, etc.). This always was an issue for me, as I know there must be many Buddhist C.O.s in Asian countries!

I am no longer a CO, but my husband is. I left the system after I realized I could no longer work with so many lazy people(staff!!!). I pose this question from a more philosophical angle. In retrospect, I believe I did more good than I ever did harm. I tried to treat everyone with respect at all times. I was not their friend...some of them hated me, but I always tried to do what was right and fair.

Answer 1

I am touched by your obvious compassion and thoughtfulness on this. I think these qualities would in a way make you a wonderful C.O. so long as you are able to reconcile some of the suffering you see and the need to be able to enforce boundaries and discipline. It might make the job harder for you since you have these qualities but it also may make you a better C.O.. In life we see suffering that we can often only address in limited ways. Your job gives you the opportunity since you have such awareness to be sensitive about not adding to their suffering and even diminishing it through understanding and compassion where appropriate. I can see that might make it hard to know where to draw the lines sometimes though. Just my thoughts, knowing yourself you must decide what is right. Best wishes though to you with whatever path you decide on.

Answer 2

As long as your reasoning for being a correctional officer applies the concept of altruism and you don't go around abusing your position, killing people without altruistic intent, or otherwise harming them or using the system for personal harmful gain/intent.

Here's the rub: YES the system is bad, it's corrupt however it's there. This is the world you had the karma to be born into, therefore you work, using common sense, with what exists. It's always said that one can be a very GOOD Buddhist practitioner outside of a monastery because your constantly put to the "test" of your training, so to speak. SO... you apply your altruistic intent, any of the vows you've taken and the concepts of what constitutes breaking one of those vows and examine yourself according to that.

If you go into a prison as a CO with the intent to manipulate the system to get yourself drugs, to torture prisoners, to kill with glee and enjoy what you're doing in that respect THEN that is when I'd say you have something to worry about.

Last point: According to the lojongs... "Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one." which basically means you're the ultimate judge of your OWN character and how well you're practicing.

Hope this helps.

_()_

Answer 3

Oh my. I would think it would be the perfect place for you to be. You can treat them with loving kindness, even if you have to use physical force. You can treat them with respect, work for their rights. You need to keep yourself safe. You could look at it as you are keeping other inmates and staff safe therefore meeting a requirement of being a Buddhist.

I teach in a Psych center for kids. I am also Buddhist. I risk having to place them in a hold. To keep other staff and students safe. I try to make sure I always treat them with dignity and respect.

Answer 4

Buddhism is where martial arts comes from, It baffles me that people have the impression that even Buddhists are 100% passive, when martial arts comes from Buddhists monks. I like the idea of a Buddhist correctional officer, i think they would be stern, but very fair and not the type to do something underhanded/

Answer 5

Read the following taken from the Buddha's gospel-


"He who deserves punishment must be punished,
and he who is worthy of favour must be favoured.
Yet at the same time he teaches to do no injury
to any living being but to be full of love and kindness.
These injuncions are not contradictory,
for whosoever must be punished for the crimes which he has committed......"


The Buddha is clear that if you are motivated solely by good intentions then you are not at fault. The full text is at the following-

Answer 6

If you feel that it's right for you, do it. If you don't feel 100% comfortable, then choose somehting else.