sdc_63901@... asked this question on 5/9/2000:

How are prisoners really treated in prison? Is the show OZ on HBO accurate?

jellygator gave this response on 5/9/2000:

I don't normally watch TV so I can't tell you about the show. The prison where I worked was quite reasonable to the inmates most of the time, but there was an occasional officer who verbally crossed the line. I'm in another state now, and have heard horror stories about the treatment of inmates by the officers. (I've heard this from 2 correctional officers). The officers in this state supposedly ignore rapes and beatings among inmates, and sometimes beat inmates.

The prison where I worked wasn't like that. If two inmates started fighting, every available officer came running. Officers used pepper spray to stop fights. There were tales about officers and inmates fighting, but in a year I never saw a single instance of an officer willingly engaging in a fight with an inmate.