Correctional Officer Basic Training Practice Test

Which of the following actions is NOT a way inmates can gather information?

1. Employee conversations

2. Incoming letters

3. Stealing information from staff

4. Observation of staff and visitors

The correct answer is: Stealing information from staff

Gathering information is a crucial aspect of how inmates can gain insights into the facility, the staff, and each other. The method of stealing information from staff specifically involves illicit or illegal practices and is typically not recognized as a legitimate or strategic way of gathering information. The other options involve more permissible or strategic avenues for obtaining information. For instance, employee conversations can happen naturally during daily interactions, and incoming letters can contain information shared by the outside world. Additionally, observation of staff and visitors allows inmates to learn about behaviors, habits, and routines without any unlawful action. The focus on the act of stealing distinguishes it from other forms of information gathering, marking it as non-permissible and outside the normative behaviors expected within a correctional institution.