tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post2936834295389669034..comments2024-03-29T00:30:47.101-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: NorCo Jail's Subtle Racism in Hiring and DisciplineBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37620534748968841652015-12-03T19:35:48.822-05:002015-12-03T19:35:48.822-05:00For all the civilians out there,if you never stepp...For all the civilians out there,if you never stepped foot or worked in a prison/jail. Keep your comments to yourself,believe me you have no clue!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5362451663209316312015-11-26T15:17:04.794-05:002015-11-26T15:17:04.794-05:00Btw. We can stop dogging the women. Maybe the ...Btw. We can stop dogging the women. Maybe the wives should know about all the affairs!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13523280565468430102015-11-26T15:14:44.571-05:002015-11-26T15:14:44.571-05:00This is horrible,you guys need to stop.EVERYONE ha...This is horrible,you guys need to stop.EVERYONE has skeletons,if we get down to the nitty gritty the female co's suffer the most after all it is a man's world.....regardless what race we are,the women get treated like dirt.everyone that works there needs to do a little soul searching. We all talk dirt,just remember ppl. KARMA<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-62823094819322706812015-11-25T18:14:57.345-05:002015-11-25T18:14:57.345-05:00Bernie:
7:25 here - I was not aware that the poli...Bernie:<br /><br />7:25 here - I was not aware that the policy on admitted prior heroin use is an automatic disqualification. That would certainly change my opinion.<br /><br />As for the stripping, it was 20 years ago, and as far as we know, it was legal. If she didn't disclose, and there was some requirement that she do so, then maybe it's a small issue. In my view it is completely understandable why she would not disclose, and unfair to blame her. If a gap in a resume is an issue, it's on administrators to see that applicants fill them. <br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving. Among other things, I am grateful for your LV Ramblings and particularly your journalism in the public interest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37154859768493213942015-11-25T11:11:14.059-05:002015-11-25T11:11:14.059-05:00I am not going to allow vulgar comments about wome...I am not going to allow vulgar comments about women here. Go to LVL. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23199893482087972092015-11-25T08:29:38.388-05:002015-11-25T08:29:38.388-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13733805067912164932015-11-25T00:17:07.710-05:002015-11-25T00:17:07.710-05:00Moving up the ranks quickly has a price. Being at...Moving up the ranks quickly has a price. Being at the forefront of unjust suspensions to which the individuals and the union were rendered helpless to the point these people had to pinch pennies to retain lawyers. Regardless of race, in order to fit in with the good old boys you seem to have to be able to stab your workforce in the back, take no prisoners (bad pun maybe) and do anything other than LEAD. <br />Fact is that overt racism is not tolerated in the county. Covert racism is rampant. The issue is not diversity of those promoted, it's about a culture that's allowed to exist. Problem is an why wouldn't the character of an employee who rides into work with a confederate flag decal on his pickup be questionable but someone who frequents a Puerto Rican social club would be?<br />There are many employees who don't understand many minority cultures because their ultra rural exposure to such would be TV or music. Even small city locals may carry disdain for other cultures. So while NCP is somewhat diverse in workforce, I believe it can use much more. And those promoted through the ranks should include this dilemma in consideration, be promoted according to merit and not on who might carry out your hit list with least resistance. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-11766513372242518102015-11-24T23:30:42.264-05:002015-11-24T23:30:42.264-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09281395346858302912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-70563572681714390632015-11-24T23:29:58.786-05:002015-11-24T23:29:58.786-05:0011:24, Since you were not named, I respectfully su...11:24, Since you were not named, I respectfully suggest you delete your comment. Keeping your name out there actually hurts you. I will not delete you bc i know you want to defend yourself. But after being attacked anonymously, defend yourself anonymously and please delete the comment with your name. if you don't know how, ask me and i will delete it for you. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86553637372277485972015-11-24T23:24:58.540-05:002015-11-24T23:24:58.540-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09281395346858302912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-14343785644522666862015-11-24T23:19:02.224-05:002015-11-24T23:19:02.224-05:00Thank you for being so nice. I agree morale has no...Thank you for being so nice. I agree morale has nowhere to go but up. I disagree with your assessment of subtle racism. We can agree to disagree pleasantly. How 'bout that! Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15432997482186396562015-11-24T23:04:37.783-05:002015-11-24T23:04:37.783-05:00Bernie I have to totally disagree with you. Peopl...Bernie I have to totally disagree with you. People in power needed to come forward long ago if racism, whether subtle or rampant, was taking place. I'm not sure an African American would go from corrections officer to lieutenant to captain in a matter of a few years in a place where even subtle racism was taking place. I actually think the entire staff at the prison should be proud of how diverse the workforce is and should be applauded not torn down. I would also like to add this little note to Director Keen, you cannot and will not rehabilitate a broken population of inmates until you rehabilitate a broken workforce. Improving morale amongst your staff will go a long way toward improving every aspect of prison life. I concede the rest of my time to Mr. O'hare and bid all a good night!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47626370404242669062015-11-24T22:40:10.465-05:002015-11-24T22:40:10.465-05:00The biggest problem at the prison is a total lack ...The biggest problem at the prison is a total lack of leadership, an upper administration filled with yes men who are afraid to make tough decisions. They are like puppies seeking approval from their master! They are afraid to dissent or show an ounce of independent thought and it's truly sad. I know it's hard but stand up and be a true leader, stand up and be a man.............I promise you'll sleep a lot better at night and gain the respect of your coworkers once again! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-892501652655042522015-11-24T22:37:05.094-05:002015-11-24T22:37:05.094-05:00We are not talking about rampant racism. That'...We are not talking about rampant racism. That's the point. It is far more subtle. It is by no means intentional. I know the NAACP member of whom you speak, and I admire her greatly. I believe she would largely agree with much of what I have written. If she told me i was wrong, i would listen to that, too. That is how much I respect her on this topic. The same goes for some of the other minority members you mention. Have you tried speaking to them? Look, I am pointing to subtle racism. I am not trying to drive a wedge that does not need to be driven. But I suggest you speak to some of them. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-27591392084189672742015-11-24T22:22:56.959-05:002015-11-24T22:22:56.959-05:00A high ranking member of the Easton chapter of the...A high ranking member of the Easton chapter of the NAACP is also a member of the NCP Admin, if racism and sexism is so rampant at the prison don't you think she'd be screaming it from the mountain tops??? If it is so rampant and she's standing by silently isn't she doing a disservice to the community??? We have women and/or minorities at every level of the prison staff. We have an African American captain, an African American lieutenant, 2 out of 4 members of the field officers are females and one being African American, 3 out of 5 members of the classification team are females and 2 out of 2 of case managers are females. Throw in an African American Intake Administrator who recently retired as well as a female lieutenant who left on her own and I'd say we have a more diverse staff than any other department in the county. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41307146485157565102015-11-24T21:53:55.864-05:002015-11-24T21:53:55.864-05:00I'm appalled at the name dropping on here. No...I'm appalled at the name dropping on here. Not surprised though. The environment is volatile and seemingly getting worse over time. My opinion is that it definitely starts at the top and the atmosphere will never be fixed until the administration is. <br />The problem is that while the matters if madame x, other employees with issues of their own, the culture of discrimination or favoritism, etc. are all issues that need to be addressed. Sadly these are only a few pieces to a much larger screwed up puzzle. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34342670704052107712015-11-24T21:30:20.884-05:002015-11-24T21:30:20.884-05:00If you want to slam someone, you need to ID yourse...If you want to slam someone, you need to ID yourself. Follow the rules. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-45828472220391440072015-11-24T21:04:25.601-05:002015-11-24T21:04:25.601-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56640208648841762442015-11-24T20:25:19.194-05:002015-11-24T20:25:19.194-05:007:25, I will not use her name. I have too much res...7:25, I will not use her name. I have too much respect for her as a person to do that, and will delete comments that do refer to her by name. Northampton County prison policy is that prior heroin use is an automatic disqualifier. It does not matter how I feel. Since that is the policy, it needs to be followed. <br /><br />As for the stripping, I doubt there is a set policy. I could understand disqualifying someone within a five year or even ten year time span of quitting, since it is very possible that the former stripper would run into one of her customers. But once the likelihood of that is remote, I personally would want to give that person a second chance. I would not be willing to do it for a person who tried to hide it. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67827752590964927632015-11-24T20:12:16.105-05:002015-11-24T20:12:16.105-05:00every one knows theirs two sets of rules & sta...every one knows theirs two sets of rules & standards. One for the women and one for the men. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57907618808236637232015-11-24T19:25:54.335-05:002015-11-24T19:25:54.335-05:00Dismissing a current employee for a current positi...Dismissing a current employee for a current positive marijuana test is not the same as hiring someone who admits to having used illegal drugs in the past. A double standard may well exist at the prison, but the aforementioned does not prove it. If the CO who you feel should not be there regularly passes drug screenings, I do not believe her past use of drugs should be an issue. Perhaps more frequent screenings would be in order, but nothing more.<br /><br />I struggle to understand why past work as a stripper would disqualify someone from holding the far less lucrative job of C.O. So she took off her clothes for money twenty years ago. If it was legal, who cares? What exactly is the reason for denying her this low-wage, unpleasant employment as C.O.? Moral turpitude? Give me a break. Would you feel the same if this were a male C.O. with exactly the same set of facts?<br /><br />Kudos for not publishing her name at least.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-82749272724673900612015-11-24T17:36:54.687-05:002015-11-24T17:36:54.687-05:00This was funThis was funAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-90607207873452045742015-11-24T15:38:47.011-05:002015-11-24T15:38:47.011-05:00Hiring and disciplinary practices are way overdue ...Hiring and disciplinary practices are way overdue for a review. Something is obviously wrong. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-43460492900330727002015-11-24T14:57:59.282-05:002015-11-24T14:57:59.282-05:00NCP hires 28 new male officers, but only 2 female ...NCP hires 28 new male officers, but only 2 female offices. Just enough to work the female units and no other posts. Cant let the female co's get to uppity, next thg u know they'll wont to advance or somtgh. Cant let that happen. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-55054896756586757152015-11-24T14:05:39.617-05:002015-11-24T14:05:39.617-05:00Uh huh.Uh huh.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.com