Code Blue: Prison Officer in Danger

by Bruce Perham

BRUCE PERHAM SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE GOING IN AND OUT OF VICTORIA’S PRISONS. A VISITING SOCIAL WORKER HE DEALT NOT WITH INMATES BUT WITH HUNDREDS OF PRISON OFFICERS WHO TOLD HIM CONFRONTING STORIES OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES, AND OF HOW THEY WERE LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER RECURRING TRAUMATIC INCIDENTS HAD HARDENED SOME, BUT LEFT OTHERS PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR PHYSICALLY SCARRED. Perham began to see he was dealing with professionals expected to run towards unpredictably dangerous situations and prisoners, but who remain the most marginalised and unsung of our first responders. With a compassionate ear, Perham listened. In this book he documents accounts from men and women who walk the perilous line that keeps our prisons operating, and who he argues, need better backup, post trauma support, and community acknowledgement for what they do on our behalf.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2022