When Do Prisons Need Locksmiths
When Do Prisons Need Locksmiths?
Some prisons have been known to teach locksmith skills to
inmates. There has been some controversy over this for obvious
reasons. Why would prison officials give someone the tools to
become an even better criminal? To learn the craft, the group
has access to tools that can be made into weapons. Prisoners are
quite creative in learning how to make and hide weapons. They're
also creative in the weapons they do make with what few tools
they are provided. So, allowing the prisoners to become
locksmiths not only teaches them a skill to enhance criminal
behavior, it also provides access to something that could later
harm another inmate, guard, or nurse. But there has been much
information and attention on reforming criminals as opposed to
merely housing them during their time of incarceration.
It is true that people who go to prisons can become reformed
individuals who decide to turn their lives around for the good
of the public. There are people who are falsely accused and
incarcerated who deserve a chance to improve their skills. But
people who are put in the position of changing locks and
maintaining security systems are supposed to be free of criminal
backgrounds.
Much criticism occurred over the television series that
provided information on improving security in homes.
Professional criminals would be called to stage a break in to
show the homeowners how vulnerable their security systems
actually are. The homeowners would watch the whole ordeal on
camera; then a professional locksmith would go in to change the
locks and enhance the security system for the home. Some said
this only set the stage for amateur criminals to learn more
tricks. However, just as much damage is done by well-meaning
individuals who keep valuable information from the public. How
do our security measures improve? They improve by exposing the
weaknesses. So, someone who has actually been in prison or jail
for breaking and entering would be the best person from whom to
acquire information.
Locksmiths have been called to several prisons across the
globe because of staff carelessness. Keys are placed in the
hands of what is supposed to be competent, trustworthy
individuals. Allowing anyone to take these keys home after work
only sets up the temptation for misuse and the chance to
misplace a highly valuable set of items. Even long-term
employees can become tempted by wrong-doing. High priority is
supposed to be placed on keeping the criminals in their jails
and prisons, which should mean high priority to protect the very
keys that are necessary to keep them there.
When keys are lost to a prison, thousands of dollars must be
spent to re-key and/or replace locks for the facility. Prisoners
must be kept on lockdown while the locks are being replaced or
re-keyed. This is an example of a simple mistake that cost the
institution a large sum and also provided job security for the
locksmith.
Not only does the locksmith have to keep the prisons safe,
they also have to keep the employees safe in their own homes for
the times a prisoner could be released who has a grudge.
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