Corrections_Today_Fall_2025_Vol.87_No.3

VIEW FROM THE LINE

by the challenge, and sense of ac complishment as soon as we solve the mystery. Years ago, what took me days or even weeks now only takes me a matter of minutes. In wanting to share this interest and skill with other officers and sup port staff, I put together a proposal for our warden and deputy wardens. I wanted to explain and teach this to others. I thought, with hundreds of employees at our facility, there had to be more than three of us who could do this. Turns out, I was right. The Training Division, warden, and deputy wardens approved my training proposal, and to date, I’ve presented a “Coded Messages” training to over 200 staff members, including here at CUCF, at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, and also to a local sher iff’s office. Combining handouts, images, and slides, the class has grown from one ninety-minute pre sentation to two presentations: Part 1 and Part 2. I’m very proud of being able to decode these attempts and share them with those who are interested in them. Here are some strategies to help you solve these puzzles if you come across one: – Don’t be intimidated. Try it. – Look for anything that may indicate breaks between the words. – Try to find small one-letter words (I, a, maybe “u”). – Seek out patterns. – Search for objects or characters that repeat. – Think along the lines of an inmate. He or she is giving instructions in these messages.

Words like “go,” “get,” “do,” “take,” “bring,” “send,” “buy.” – Spelling will be bad. – Grammar will be off. – Particular letters of the al phabet will be omitted to demonstrate gang loyalty. For example, members of the Crip gang stay loyal to the “c” and will not use the letter “k” in their messages. Find what you are good at In closing, I encourage anyone, civilian or certified correctional staff, male or female, seasoned veteran or novice, to at least try to solve a coded message if you see one. If one can help prevent the introduction of contraband into their facility, it affects the safety of both staff and offenders. Of the six coded letters intercepted in the five years of work ing in the mailroom, each was an attempt to get drugs into the facility. Being a veteran of the U.S. Army, I never think of myself as weaker or different, or that I need special ac commodations, simply because I’m a woman. For seven years, I served. I wasn’t viewed or categorized as anything different. I participated in the same physical training as the male soldiers. I wore the same uniform. I fired the same weapon. I stood before the same promotion boards. I received the same med als. I wore the same boots. I was a soldier. I was a sergeant. I was a teammate. I was an equal. Here at CUCF, I don’t worry about not being a certified cor rectional officer. I’m not viewed or categorized as weaker or differ ent simply because I’m a civilian

support staff. I have the same chain of command as if I were a correc tional officer. I work in the same prison. I answer to the same Utah Department of Corrections mission statement, vision and values as the certified officers. I stand alongside officers who are my teammates, and we support each other and learn from each other. I contribute. We’re all equal here — certified, civilian, male, female … and even canine. For this 2025 Women’s History Month, I challenge everyone, both male and female, to contribute. Find what you’re good at and find your unique talent or ability. To help commemorate and remember the vital contributions at Bletchley House, which helped end the hor rors of World War II, share your skills where they are needed. Don’t be afraid to step up and participate. Don’t be afraid to try something new. We’re all good at something. What are you good at? CT END NOTES 1 https://jgandrews.com/posts/the-enigma machine 3 https://www.corrections1.com/prison-gangs/ articles/gang-codes-cracking-an-inmates-secret diary-HS9ZP3koSSm0l5Td 4 https://corrections.utah.gov/central-utah correctional-facility 5 https://corrections.utah.gov/2024/12/02/new incarcerated-persons-mail-delivery-system-at utah-department-of-corrections-facilities Sherry Frasier has been employed at Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah, since 2018, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Management, and she recently published a book which is available on Amazon. 2 https://bletchleypark.org.uk/our-story/enigma

Fall 2025 | Corrections Today

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