A Correctional Officer
From What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath by Dan Heath
May 19, 2026 · 35 min · Season 1 · Episode 71
About this episode
Bill Farrell shares his experiences as a correctional officer in Massachusetts, discussing the challenges of the job and its impact on mental health.
Grinding through 16-hour shifts, standing behind inmates (never in front), and trying to stay human in an inhuman environment with Bill Farrell, a correctional officer in Massachusetts. What happens when an officer gets "frozen"? And why does the sound of scuffling sneakers stop him in his tracks? LINKS & REFERENCES Bill was the co-creator of a short documentary about the physical and mental toll of being a correctional officer. It's called "Behind The Wall".WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS?...
People in this episode
Host: Dan Heath
Guest: Bill Farrell
Topics covered
- correctional officer
- mental health
- work environment
- prison system
- documentary
Keywords
- correctional officer
- prison
- mental toll
- 16-hour shifts
- Behind The Wall
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Behind The Wall
Places: Massachusetts
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