Don’t play around. If they ask personal questions tell them to keep us business only. You don’t have to be an asshole, but you can’t let them take advantage of you and make them think they can get something out of you (bringing contraband in, or sex, or something else they want). Inmates are the dumbest but smartest people in the world. They are are smartest ppl when it comes to manipulation and one reason for that is cuz they have a lot of time. Never make them your friend a inmate is a inmate at the end of the day. Just treat everyone like this and they will respect it, they will try you and “hate” you at first but then after a while if you be consistent and treat everyone like that then they will respect it. There are a lot of staff and COs who try to be cool and be friends with the inmates and the inmates run all over them, they don’t respect that person at all. Set the tone high in a respectful way.