Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing

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“Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing” written by Ted Conover, a journalist and university professor, is the recounting of his experience of learning about the New York State correctional system by becoming a correctional officer for nearly a year. Conover went to such lengths after being repeatedly denied cooperation by the New York State Correctional system. In the novel, he divulges the inner-workings of the system. It starts with his seven week para-military training academy, which extolls the virtues of excellence and diligence. Beside having to pass the academic portion of the academy, recruits are required to face the grueling exposure to tear gas and complete a timed physical performance test. Instructors define the job of correctional officers as the “care, custody, and control” of inmates, but what was never discussed in any of Conover’s academy lessons was the moral aspects. After graduating, the story continues with Conover being assigned to Sing Sing correctional facility. Even though officers have the knowledge of procedures, their inexperience is registered immediately and the new arriving officers are identified by the title New Jack. Conover determines the true role of correctional officers to be the “ware-housers of human beings.”