The 4 inmate

personality types
In corrections, we find four
basic personality types the
entitled, the bully, the selfrighteous, and the sheep
Feb 1, 2011

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By Barry Evert
This article comes directly from a confrontation I had
recently with some civilians. It led me to ponder the
different types of people we deal with, and how we
classify them based on their behavior.
During a night on the town with my wife, an otherwise
normal seeming couple became extremely belligerent
toward us about a small issue that had little to no
consequence. I immediately recognized that they were
trying to find someone to bully to get some satisfaction.
Sadly for them, they picked the wrong victims, and at the

end of the day they were revealed as a set of

troublemakers who were just trying to pick a fight.
The incident struck me because I recognized a certain
familiar set of character traits from my work, and I was
able to use my experience as a corrections officer to
resolve the issue.
In corrections, we find four basic personality types the
entitled, the bully, the self-righteous, and the sheep. How
you deal with each type is a matter of personal
preference. Here is a breakdown of the different types
and the strategies I have found useful in handling them.
The Entitled Personality The entitled personality
believes they are entitled to superior treatment,
regardless of their own contribution to society, situations,
or circumstance. They tend to be narcissistic, believing
that they are owed something, either real or perceived,
no matter what they do in life.
This is the second most common personality found Ive
found among criminals, both on and off the street. This is
the type of person who leaves their shopping cart one
foot from your car, unsecured, in high winds. The world
revolves around them, and everyone else is of little
consequence, as long as they are happy.
Entitled criminals will always try to justify their crimes.
Most will admit to committing the crime, while arguing
that they did so out of necessity for their own happiness
or well being. The obvious solution to their problems
like finding a job instead of stealing is not an option.
The entitled person feels that society should take care of

them, and they are allowed to commit crime simply to

make their lives better.
Ive found the best way to deal with this type of person is
to highlight their selfishness. I usually explain why their
actions are their fault, not somebody elses. This often
leads to a verbal argument, but rarely violence, as entitled
inmates feel they are right anyway and do not see a need
to physically express their self perceived
exceptionalism.
The Bully Personality The bully believes that
anything in life can be achieved through physical or
verbal abuse. They often have low self esteem and see
themselves as street smart and physically superior to
most people.
This is the personality type I see most often in prison.
Bullies will resort to any means necessary including
yelling and physical violence to get what they need.
The couple I mentioned at the beginning of this article
falls into this category. They, and many like them, feel
they are entitled to anything they want if they scream
loud enough. We all know this personality type from
middle school. Young bullies may grow out of this
behavior, but some cling to it for life. Those who do will
often end up in prison or jail for crimes like assault,
battery, robbery or car jacking. These folks will kill you for
making eye contact. On the outside, bullies make a scene
over a one-cent price difference between the paid
amount and the advertised amount. They cannot simply
ask it to be corrected; they will become loud, belligerent,

and even physical, no matter how trivial the matter.

There are two schools of thought about dealing with
bullies. The first calls for confrontation. This may instigate
a physical attack, which will earn the bullys respect after
youve stood up to them.
Another school of thought calls for ignoring the bullying
behavior essentially allowing them the self satisfaction
of having won, which has no negative effect on your
own life. Ignoring their behavior, while allowing them to
expose their own weakness, exposes bullies for who they
are this is often more effective than physical
confrontation. I prefer this because I have no want for the
respect of a person who I dont respect.
The Self-Righteous Personality This is one of my
favorites. The self righteous believe that everything they
do is for the betterment of society. They often live in their
own little bubble, with little contact among those who
dont think the way they do. This type has convinced
himself that he is always right, even when the facts say
otherwise.
This is my favorite personality type is because these folks
rarely become criminals, but are definitely amusing to
watch. These are the drivers who cut you off in traffic,
cross four lanes at 20 mph over the speed limit, hit a
small dog, and then blame it on someone else. These
folks can do no wrong in their own mind.
Again, although watching this type of person meander
through life in the fog of his/her own superiority can be
entertaining, it can also be destructive. Self righteous

people can be very difficult to persuade, and even harder

to reason with. When dealing with this type at work, I
make my statement or request, repeat it, and demand
compliance. Often, this type will submit despite believing
they are right; they have simply do so to prevent being
harmed socially or physically.
The Sheep Personality We all know this type. Sheep
will do anything to be part of a group. This is probably
one of the most dangerous personalities we see in
corrections. Sheep believe that if they adopt their friends
goals and desires, and help to realize them no matter
what the consequence they will be loved.
The Sheep feel unwanted and unloved. Not to get too
wishy-washy here, but these folks need guidance and a
reality check. These are the kids who throw rocks at cars
because their friends say it would be fun. This person will
face a lifetime of criminal conduct if they do not get
corrected early in life. I know far too many inmates who
are in prison for murder because they felt it was what the
gang wanted them to do. This person will follow the
leader straight down a cliff. Even if caught or exposed,
they will feel a sense of closeness to the people they
follow, even if those people deserted them.
The sheep can be a handful. For them, the only way out is
self realization. This often doesnt happen until very late,
when these people realize that their entire life was spent
pleasing people without personal or professional reward.
Once they realize their folly, sheep may either lash out
violently or own up, finally, to their life of wrongdoing and

become a champion of reform. Unfortunately their lives

are often destroyed before they can be turned around.
Using the Types Some people incorporate the
negatives of each personality type to create a truly
heartless criminal. Those who use the best of all of these
personality types for good are often corrections officers.
If you are aware of these basic personalities, you can
incorporate your knowledge to accomplish your goals of
safety and security. It takes many years for new officers
to develop the skills necessary to redirect these
personality types, but it can, and has, been done many
times.
From the simple thief to the cunning sociopath, it is
critical that officers identify what makes inmates tick.
What is the goal of the inmate when he becomes
confrontational? Is he scared, angry or just carrying out
orders? In most cases you will have mere seconds, if you
are lucky, to figure this out. It is imperative to rely on past
experiences, and the advice of senior officers, to make
your decisions. They may save your life.
Obviously I cant cover every personality type in one
article, so I ask that you submit your own characters in
the comments section of this article. The goal of these
articles is discussion, so make sure you bring this subject
up at your next briefing or BS session at work.

Personality Questionnaire Given

to Inmates of a State Prison

John G. Jr. Marchand