''Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing'' is a nonfiction book by journalist and professor
Ted Conover
Ted Conover (born January 17, 1958)Ab ...
published in 2000 by
Vintage Books
Vintage Books is a trade paperback publishing imprint of Penguin Random House originally established by Alfred A. Knopf in 1954. The company was acquired by Random House in April 1960, and a British division was set up in 1990. After Random Ho ...
. Conover, Ted. ''Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing''. 2000. Vintage Books, NY. In the book, Conover recounts his experience of learning firsthand about the New York State prison system by becoming a
correctional officer
A prison officer (PO) or corrections officer (CO), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as a prison guard, is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation ...
for nearly a year. Conover sought the job of correctional officer after the
New York State Department of Correctional Services
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS) is the department of the New York State government that administers the state prison and parole system, including 42 prisons funded by the state government.
New ...
denied his request to shadow the department's employees in a journalist role.
The main title of the book, ''Newjack'', refers to the nickname given to newly hired and inexperienced correctional officers. Throughout the book Conover divulges the inner workings of the New York State correctional system by recounting his experiences of working in nearly every type of custody post in the prison, from solitary confinement and mental health units to visiting rooms and prisoner transport vehicles. The book begins with his seven-week experience in the department's paramilitary training academy, where the department communicates its values and priorities to new recruits. Conover and other recruits learn that in addition to passing the academic portion of the academy, they must also experience real and direct exposure to chemical agents (
tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the Mace (spray), early commercial self-defense spray, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the ey ...
) and complete a timed physical performance test to ensure they are prepared for potential prison workplace conditions and demands. The academy instructors define the job of correctional officers as the "care, custody, and control" of inmates, and Conover explores the ethical aspects of correctional philosophy and training that are not addressed in the academy curriculum through his account of the experience. After his academy graduation, Conover's story continues as he is assigned to various rotating entry-level custody roles throughout the
Sing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum-security prison for men operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in the village of Ossining (village), New York, Ossining, New York, United States. It is abou ...
prison.
Conover presents the complex feelings and experiences of a well-educated correctional officer with universal human emotions and flaws working in the challenging prison setting. The chapters present both sympathetic and unpleasant aspects of the behavior, thought processes, and practices of all the stakeholders—prisoners, employees, and contractors—that Conover encounters during his work duties. His writing highlights the boredom, fear, violence, trauma, and psychological dynamics that shape the prison experience for all of these stakeholders on a daily basis.
''Newjack'' was the winner of the