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Ismael Benitez graduated from Brown Mackie College – Tucson in 2007. With a newly earned Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in his hands, Ismael was confident in his ability to make positive contributions to the world of law enforcement. While working at small private prison just after high school, he gained a sense of career possibilities in the criminal justice system. Benitez enrolled at Brown Mackie College – Tucson with the goal of “obtaining a job with the Federal Government in law enforcement.”
Benitez worked fulltime at the prison while earning his degree. At the outset, frequent changes in his work schedule sometimes interfered with classes, forcing breaks from the program. A promotion on the job set his regular work hours to the graveyard shift, and he resumed steady classes during the day—gaining stability, but losing sleep.
Today, Benitez works as a correctional officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Tucson, Arizona. ”Typically, people think of us as knuckle-dragging key-turners,” he says. That’s not the case because the position requires the ability to think on your feet. When incidents pop up, we respond without panic. It takes clear thinking.”
Success in the prison environment requires highly developed people skills. Responsibilities include safeguarding staff members, inmates, and the public. Benitez says, “Officers interacting with inmates need to come across clear, and stay calm. You have to work with them like any other person at the mall. Patience is mandatory.”
Benitez also interacts with the family and friends of inmates who come to visit. “We show them professional respect, and at the same time assure their safety,” he says. ”I work with other professionals who take pride in what they do. There is a sense of brotherhood.”
Benitez achieved his goal via Brown Mackie College – Tucson. “Now that I have a real career, not just a job, I am happy and satisfied. Opportunities for advancement are great, and it’s possible to transfer to different locations throughout the country. He says he chose Brown Mackie College – Tucson because “I felt that I would get more individual attention from instructors. Class sizes were small, and allowed for more interaction.”
He enjoyed the school’s comfortable, friendly environment, and singled out David Fruchtman, Chair of the Criminal Justice Department, as one of his favorite instructors. “He shared his own law enforcement experience, giving real-life examples of how things used to be, and how they have changed,” Benitez says, “I never found class to be boring.”
Benitez recently graduated from a three-week training course at Glynco Academy in Brunswick, Georgia. Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the academy session focused on policy, procedures, self-defense techniques. To others, he says, “No matter how long it takes, finish your education. You can’t lose. Your education will never depreciate. Its value cannot be dictated by the stock market or economy.”
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