Trained To Change: The Unfortunate and Unintentional Consequences of the Correctional Curriculum

by William Young

Without a doubt, without exception, the correctional profession alters the way we behave outside, out of uniform. Every aspect of our existence, our personal life is affected in one way or another. Our heads, our hearts, and our households will all be impacted to some degree by the experiences we have inside of our facility and our current strategy of minimizing, dismissing, or completely disregarding the reality that our work, our experiences, and the trauma we endure is not only irresponsible, it’s unsustainable.

In Trained To The Unfortunate and Unintentional Consequences of the Correctional Curriculum, William Young digs into how the necessary skills and concepts that correctional staff are taught to survive on the inside, can complicate life on the outside.

Ask yourself these

Has your day-to-day routined changed since becoming a correctional officer?Are you comfortable sitting with your back to the door when you’re out to eat with the family?Have you ever yelled or screamed or exploded on your spouse or your child or your dog for no reason at all?Have you ever avoided going to certain places during certain times because you hate large groups of people?Have you recently thought to yourself or said aloud, “there are too many people in this world”?Maybe your answers to those questions made you think, ponder, and reflect a bit. Maybe you have noticed a change in yourself, your behavior, in the way that you engage and interact with friends and family. Maybe you’ve been looking for, searching, struggling to find an explanation for your excessive anger, for your inappropriate outbursts, for your inability to experience joy and happiness. Maybe you hate people. Maybe you hate yourself.

You’re not alone.

So, let’s act. Together we have the ability, the power to rescue, to salvage, to save the lives of correctional officers by creating an environment where staff are comfortable to ask for help and are confident that they will find it.

And that starts with you and this book.

That starts with you, the reader, the leader and influencer in your facility to help change our direction, the current trajectory of the correctional profession. You can help us take the first real steps towards institutional change and the way we approach staff wellness. You can help save lives.

You.

Are you ready?

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Fred Fontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read everything William Young has written, and Trained to Change might be his most intentional and well-structured work yet. As someone who works in corrections and frequently recommends books to peers and new staff, I can say confidently that Young is the most compelling author in this space; hands down. His voice is honest, raw, and deeply relatable for anyone in the field.

What sets Young apart is hi gift as a storyteller. He doesn’t dramatize the job, but he doesn’t sugarcoat it either. His experiences are real- the kind every correctional officer has either lived through or seen firsthand. His stories are personal without being self-centered, and each one is tied to a broader lesson or reflection about the work we do, the trauma we carry, and the resilience we build (or struggle to maintain).

Young’s passion for mental wellness jumps off the page. You can tell that he’s not just preaching about self-care. He’s lived it, and he's pushing for cultural change in a system that often resists it. As both a corrections officer and a peer supporter, his perspective brings hope that this career doesn’t have to eat us alive. He’s clearly advocating for a new kind of conversation around wellness, accountability, and survival. Not just on shift, but in life.

The introduction of terms like “mental-morphosis” and “trained correctional perspective (TCP)” really stood out. These aren’t just buzzwords- they’re frameworks that help explain the shift in mindset that happens (or needs to happen) when you work in this field. TCP, in particular, has already made its way into my conversations with coworkers and my wife. It’s a useful lens for talking about how the job shapes us, often in ways we don’t even realize until we’re knee-deep in it.

Each chapter ends with a journaling prompt, and while I do wish the questions went a little deeper, I still love the inclusion. It encourages readers to not just read the lessons, but process them. It invites introspection, which is something this job doesn’t usually allow time for, but desperately needs. This format makes the book incredibly approachable and useful whether you’re reading it cover-to-cover or revisiting a chapter at a time.

Trained to Change is not just another corrections book. It’s a heartfelt, well-constructed, and necessary read that gives voice to the struggles and hopes of those of us who walk the tier. William Young continues to be a powerful advocate for mental wellness in corrections, and this book is another strong step toward changing the culture from the inside out.

Highly recommended for anyone in corrections, especially those who feel like they’re drowning in the weight of the job. This book won’t fix everything- but it will remind you that you’re not alone, and that you can change.

Not to be lost, this book featuress quotes at the beginning of every chapter. It also has 25 questions to help start conversation with others after reading the book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Young’s books should be a prerequisite for Correctional Officers BEFORE they step inside the walls.