“God — I wish I wasn’t in here!” That thought has most likely run through the minds of all offenders who have been locked up. A desire for freedom is basic human nature.
Every corrections officer (CO) is taught security, safety and escape prevention from the first day in the recruit training academy all the way to the day they retire. The traditional view among corrections staff is that success is measured by how well they maintain safety and security, battle the introduction of contraband and prevent escapes. Everyone in corrections has had endless training on searches, counts and situational awareness. We are also keenly aware of the street smarts of offenders — how intelligent they are and how manipulative they can be.
When we talk of escapes, we usually think of inmates tunneling underground or climbing fences. Some offenders have escaped on transports, from hospitals and from courthouses. Preventing escapes is a cat-and-mouse game, with COs always trying to stay one step ahead.
COs are constantly thinking of the tools inmates can obtain or improvise. If an inmate gets hold of a sharp object, for example, it can become a digging tool as well as a weapon. An ordinary paperclip can become a handcuff key or a lockpick. A tiny wad of paper can be inserted into a door lock and prevent it from latching. These items are tangible things; we can see them, touch them and feel them. We can confiscate them after searching an area or an inmates’ person.
A former inmate once told me institutional staff — no matter what jobs they do or where they are assigned — have something every incarcerated inmate wants: access to the outside world. And through that portal, staff can bring in contraband, tools and information to aid in escapes.
The goal of this article is for both correctional officers (sworn) and civilian staff (non-sworn) to recognize a key tool in escapes: inmate-staff relationships.
Let’s Go Shopping!
I remember once when I was a kid and a family member took me shopping. “Pick anything you want,” they told me. This generous gesture was specifically designed to show me how much they loved me.
Unfortunately, the same thing can also happen in corrections. If an inmate can convince a CO that they are “not really a bad person,” convincing them to lower their guard, the “store” is open for that inmate. For a variety of reasons, some officers and staff members choose to do things for inmates, even going so far as engaging in sexual acts. “Pick anything you want,” indeed.
And inmates can lay it on thick with flattery, compliments and promises of love and romance. They say they will fill a void in your life. The goal? For you to view them not as a criminal, but as a person — a friend, a confidante or a lover. Once you do that, the “door to the store” is now open, and the inmate is ready for business. (It’s worth pointing out that engaging in sexual activity with an offender in your custody is against the law.)
There are many examples of escapes from correctional facilities with the help of staff, such as the Lauderdale County, Alabama, escape of inmate Casey White. In April 2022, Assistant Jail Director Vicky White (no relation) began a romantic affair with Casey, a convicted felon and a suspect in a capital murder. Vicky engineered the escape, fabricating a fictious mental health evaluation appointment for the inmate, where she would be the transporting officer. She planned the escape to coincide with her last workday before retirement, and in preparation she sold her home and even purchased a getaway car.
The couple was spotted after 11 days on the run, prompting law enforcement officers to pursue them and eventually force their car off the road. Vicky White fatally shot herself. She had been well liked and respected, a veteran with nearly 20 years of service. People in the jail and the community expressed surprise at her actions .
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Building Relationships
Building a relationship with a corrections employee takes time, but inmates are patient. Inmates observe staff members, both sworn and civilian, watching for weaknesses. Some of these might include how sloppy you are in searching, how consistent you are in holding inmates accountable and whether you follow policies and procedures. Most importantly, they pay attention to how friendly you are.
While most of us in corrections want to have positive interpersonal relations with inmates, being too friendly can be a problem. An over-friendly officer tends to slack off on security practices, as they want to be seen as a friend (or at least friendly). Staff who do this may think they are making their jobs easier, but in reality, inmates are just waiting for the right time to make their move on someone who may be susceptible to manipulation.
The more staff talk about themselves, the more the inmate will use the information they hear to become friends, or someone the officer will confide in. This is crucial. Everyone wishes to be liked, appreciated and respected. This is emotional feedback . But inmates exploit this natural human desire to short-circuit the objectivity of staff members. Being objective means inmates are viewed as people — albeit people who are accused or convicted of breaking the law. That key point must never, never be forgotten.
There are two other things corrections staff must never forget. First, always keep your personal information confidential. Never discuss your private life, problems, hobbies, likes and dislikes with inmates. Do not mention how upset you are that you did not get promoted, or your negative opinions about your job and supervisors. Inmates will feign sympathy and use this information to build your trust. Second, always remember inmates are not your friends, and you are not theirs.
Once inmates start building relationships, they will try to push the envelope to see how far they can take it. But sympathy and flattery are not the only tools they use — they also use sex. If an inmate can convince a staff member to have sex with them, the door is wide open for favors, including contraband smuggling and escape.
Staff training on manipulation and improper relationships is key and must be constant and clear for all sworn and non-sworn staff.
Institutional staff — no matter what jobs they do or where they are assigned — have something every incarcerated inmate wants: access to the outside world.
An Extreme Example: The Five F’s
There is no shortage of articles and books written about the infamous escape of two convicted murderers, David Sweat and Richard Matt. This case is a textbook study of manipulation, escape and improper relationships with inmates, and can be used for training using the Five F’s.
In June 2015, Sweat and Matt were serving life without parole in the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. They escaped with the help of Joyce Mitchell, a civilian corrections employee. After a massive manhunt, Matt was killed in a shootout with law enforcement and Sweat was recaptured near the U.S.-Canada border. Mitchell and CO Gene Palmer both served time for their roles in the escape.
When presenting training to correctional staff, the trainer faces several challenges: To get staff to think, and to dispel the notion that “it will never happen to me” because “I am too smart.” Inmates live by street smarts, where they identify people’s weaknesses and then use them to achieve their own goals. Let us look at each of the five F’s in turn:
Flattery. Flattery inflates our egos. Matt and Sweat worked in the prison’s tailor shop, where they were supervised by Mitchell. Mitchell was reportedly too friendly with inmates, bringing them food and treats. She engaged in flirtatious conduct with them and told investigators the two inmates were always nice to her and made her “feel good.” Matt and Sweat’s flattery also extended to CO Gene Palmer, who viewed himself as a go-to guy who everybody looked up to. Ask your COs and civilian staff if an inmate has ever told them, “You are not like the others. You actually care.”
Friendship. Once flattery takes hold, the inmate acts the part of your new friend. And we do not want to get our friends in trouble, do we? With a friendship established, corrections staff tend to overlook problematic inmate behavior. Mitchell and Palmer thought Sweat and Matt were not that bad. They saw them as friends. Mitchell told investigators how difficult it was to maintain a proper distance from inmates because she was with them every day of the week. As a result, she developed a close rapport with Matt and Sweat.
Favors. Flattery builds friendships, and friendship results in favors. Matt and Sweat were talented artists and gave paintings and drawings to members of corrections staff. As a result, Palmer helped Matt and Sweat circumvent security, avoid metal detectors, and cook food on hotplates behind their cellblocks. By this time, Mitchell was complaining about her marriage to Matt while also performing sexual favors for him. Matt and Sweat convinced her to smuggle escape tools hidden in food packages. These favors (bypassing security procedures, smuggling contraband and providing sex) helped the inmates devise an ingenious escape plan by taking advantage of a naïve, trusting individual. Mitchell was a willing participant and was convinced the three would flee to Mexico and live out their lives there in happiness.
Flight. On the night of June 5, 2015, Sweat and Matt descended three levels below the prison. They had modified tunnels and steam pipes, thanks to the favors provided by Palmer and Mitchell, and came up through a manhole about a block from the prison. But Joyce Mitchell, who had promised to drive them away, was not there. She had experienced a last-minute panic attack and checked into a local hospital. The two inmates went on the run, evading authorities for three weeks. Authorities killed Matt and recaptured Sweat. Mitchell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to up to seven years in prison. Palmer received a fine and six months in jail. Sweat pleaded guilty to several charges and received additional prison time.
Failure. The final F is failure — failure of management to deal with Palmer’s and Mitchell’s unethical behavior, failure of security procedures to detect contraband in incoming food containers, and failure to adequately train staff about the dangers of inmate manipulation.
The result was a violation of the public trust and an embarrassing chapter in American corrections.
Paying Attention to Reality
While many people tend to think escapes from custody result from spur-of-the-moment action or simple brute force, they often begin with something far more subtle: inappropriate relationships between corrections staff and inmates. Manipulation is a core survival skill among inmates, who often exploit emotional vulnerabilities in those who supervise them to gain trust, favors and ultimately, opportunities to escape.
Through examples like those involving Casey White, David Sweat and Richard Matt are relatively uncommon, they still demonstrate how flattery, friendship and favors can lead to flight — and institutional failure. The message is clear. Maintaining professional boundaries, guarding personal information and staying vigilant are essential to preventing escapes and preserving the integrity of our corrections system.
A word of caution to supervisors and trainers: Train your staff well, and caution them that inmates trying to strike up friendly relationships likely have a hidden agenda. Staff training must be ongoing and candid, reinforcing the reality that no one is immune to manipulation, and that the best defense is awareness and strict adherence to policy.
See Also
State of New York, Office of the Inspector General. Investigation of the June 5, 2015 Escape of Inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt from Clinton Correctional Facility. Catherine Leahy Scott, Inspector General. June 2016. Accessed 4/7/2025 at https://ig.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/07/DOCCS%20Clinton%20Report%20Final%206.6.16%20with%207.23.19%20Typo%20Correction.pdf
References
- Newsum K, Sparkman L. “One year since the escape of Casey White, aided by jailer Vicky White”. WHNT, News 19, April 29, 2023. Accessed 4/7/2025 at https://whnt.com/news/manhunt-for-escaped-alabama-inmate-and-wanted-jailer/one-year-since-the-escape-of-casey-white-aided-by-jailer-vicky-white/
- Cornelius G F. The Correctional Officer: A Practical Guide, Third Edition. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2017.
- Cornelius G F . “Manipulation and the Five ‘Fs.’” The Corrections Connection, corrections.com, June 15, 2021. Accessed 4/7/2025 at http://garycornelius.corrections.com/?p=307
