Correctional work beyond enforcement: Officers share perspectives from around the world

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This week’s spotlights span Singapore, Zimbabwe, Bulgaria, and the United States, offering a clear through line: corrections is built on accountability, communication, safety, and the belief that people can change when given the structure and support to do so.

In Singapore, Soh Chi Yiong, of the Singapore Prison Service, traces their path back to 2002, when a single “Captains of Lives” advertisement did what the best recruitment stories do, it made the work feel purposeful and real. Two decades later, Soh’s mission remains focused on more than enforcing rules, it is about changing lives, one conversation at a time. Asked what they would tell their day one self, Soh’s answer reflects the balance at the heart of the job: “Lead with fairness and firmness, but never lose your empathy — that’s where real change begins.”

In Zimbabwe, two professionals show how the mission of corrections is carried through both public engagement and daily operational discipline. Solomon Mapfumo, Assistant Public Relations Officer at the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, describes work centered on shaping understanding, engaging the public, and showing that corrections is not only about confinement, but about transformation. Through initiatives like the Another Chance programme, Solomon has witnessed moments where accountability meets healing, and where dignity can be restored. Alongside that public facing role, Simelinkosi Mkwananzi, a Correctional Officer Grade Two, underscores the daily practices that keep facilities safe and rehabilitative, emotional management, professionalism, and consistency. Their advice to their day one selves lands as two concise reminders: “Do the job, but never lose the person.” “Emotional management is essential in our daily work.”

In Bulgaria, Radoslav Smilkov, a Junior Inspector at Samoranovo Prison under the General Directorate “Execution of Punishments” (GDEP), speaks to how authority is built over time, and how it must be earned through conduct, not just position. What began as a commitment to maintaining order in a structured system has grown into a responsibility to lead by example and contribute to a safer, more constructive environment. For Radoslav, the lasting impact is found in the human dimension, seeing individuals develop new skills, shift their mindset, and move toward positive change. The advice offered to their day one self captures that same principle: “Be firm but fair and never lose your humanity - true authority is built through professionalism and consistency.”

In the United States, Joe Perala, recognized as Corrections Officer of the Year by the Michigan Department of Corrections, reflects on a career shaped by teamwork, adaptability, and responsibility to both colleagues and community. Over more than 20 years of service across security levels and environments, including housing units, segregation, and the yard at Baraga Correctional Facility, Joe points to a constant that defines the work, the people around you, and the shared responsibility that keeps operations safe and effective. Their advice to their first day self: “Become an expert in multitasking in order to be a good partner to your colleagues.”

Taken together, these stories show the profession in full, corrections is not a single role, it is a system of people and disciplines working toward the same purpose. It requires judgement, consistency, and communication, it demands knowing when to be firm, when to listen, and how to maintain balance as environments and expectations evolve. Experience may be built over time, but trust is built every day, in the choices made on shift, in the conversations that deescalate, and in the commitment to both safety and rehabilitation.

As National Corrections Officers Week continues, the message from across borders is clear: the work is often quiet, but its impact is not.