A NARROW DEFINITION OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S ROLE EXCLUDES IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OFFICERS CAN SERVE IN PRISON, INCLUDING CRITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY CAN MAKE TO THE SURVIVAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF INMATES. SUCH FUNCTIONS ARE CURRENTLY EXERCISED BY A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY OF OFFICERS, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NEITHER RECOGNIZED NOR REWARDED. THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER INTERVIEWS FROM WHICH THESE EXCERPTS ARE DRAWN WERE AIMED AT DEFINING THESE FUNCTIONS. THE EXCERPTS SHOULD STIMULATE THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE GUARD ROLE IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER NONCUSTODIAL SERVICES, AND HOW AND WHY IT IS POSSIBLE. THEY POINT OUT THAT CONSTRUCTIVE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION INCLUDE INVOKING NONCUSTODIAL PRISON STAFF AND CIRCUMVENTING RESISTANCE TO CHANGES. OFFICERS ALSO FORM PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH INMATES WHICH DE-ESCALATE CONFLICT, AMELIORATE CRISES, AND PROVIDE SUSCEPTIBLE INMATES WITH REHABILITATIVE ROLE MODELS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)