THE CORRECTION OFFICER (CO) USUALLY IS THE PERSON AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT WITH THE PRISONER 24 HOURS PER DAY, 7 DAYS PER WEEK, BUT THE CO IS PUT INTO A FAILURE-PRONE, BRUTAL, AND DEHUMANIZING SYSTEM. RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS SEEM MORE INTERESTED IN PHYSICAL ABILITIES THEN OVERALL TALENTS; AND SCREENING PROGRAMS GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT ALMOST ANYBODY CAN BECOME A CO. TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE NEITHER SUFFICIENTLY BALANCED NOR HELPFUL, AND ONCE TRAINING IS OVER, THE CO IS ASSIGNED TO THE POSITIONS OF (1) PRESSURE COOKER, (2) ISOLATION, AND (3) WATCHFUL KILLER. SUPERVISORS STIFLE CREATIVITY AND INITIATIVE, INMATES ENCOURAGE INTERSTAFF RIVALRY, AND THE MEDIA CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THE CO'S KEEPER-SECURITY ROLE AND TO FURNISH AMBIGUOUS MESSAGES. SO WIDESPREAD IS THE VICTIMIZATION OF THE CO, THAT SOME INSIGHT MAY BE GAINED BY GIVING CREDENCE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CO IS A VICTIM OF AN UNCONSCIOUS SCAPEGOATING BY SOCIETY. DEVELOPING THIS THEORY, CHAPTERS COVER THE RECRUITMENT, SCREENING, AND EDUCATION OF CO'S, AND DISCUSS ROLES, PRESSURES, AND ATTITUDES. STAFF RIVALRY AND THE ROLE OF THE UNION ARE OUTLINED, AND THE IMPACT OF THE MEDIA AND OF MINORITY RECRUITMENT IS DISCUSSED. AN AFTERWORD ON POSSIBLE PROGRESS IS ATTACHED AS WELL AS A BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX, AND APPENDIXES COVERING CO RECRUITMENT, SAMPLE MATERIALS, CORRECTIONS, THE POLICE, AND COURTS.