cjjack
06-10-2004, 10:17 PM
Students given picture of prison life
By Kelly Hurley / Special To The Mariner
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Officer Potolicchio's goal is to "give (students) a general knowledge of the institution and open their eyes."
CHS grad works in corrections
For the seventh year, Cohasset High School alumni Officer Bradley Potolicchio visited CHS to inform students of the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Beginning in 1997, Officer Potolicchio fulfilled his passion for public speaking after being invited to speak to Mr. Newkirk's social studies class. After two years he invited fellow good friend and Officer Jason Nogz, graduate of Blue Hills High School Class of 1994, to speak to the class alongside him. Together they have presented the reality of prison life at both Cohasset and Scituate High Schools and hope to soon begin in Canton.
On their off days, the officers receive permission from their supervisors to sign out materials and publicly represent the bureau. During the officers' presentations the students were shown homemade tools, weapons and tattoo guns made of everything from fence pieces, beard trimmers to toothbrushes. Officer Potolicchio's goal is to "give (students) a general knowledge of the institution and open their eyes." He hopes to prove to students that prison "is not a good place...it's the type of place where you don't want to be" by informing them of the truth rather than scaring them into submission.
As pioneers in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the officers share their knowledge of the facilities through their passion for public speaking. Being the only ones from their department to take on such a task, Officer Nogz explained his project as being "pretty much unheard of" and that they hope to expand it to "gain a part-time position enlightening students."
Both officers began working for the all male Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Devens, Mass. last spring as correctional officers. Employed alongside 50 other officers, Nogz and Potolicchio work to protect the inmates and facilities, while defending the public from escapees. Never in the FMC's history has an inmate escaped, but this does not stop attempts and the level of protection from the officers. Being a medical center, the FMC houses 1,500 inmates who are mentally and physically ill and is fully equipped with a hospital wing. The facility also houses inmates of all levels of security from the age of 18 to 80. In order to maintain an eye over every inmate, each shift of 50 officers requires a random search of five cells or common areas, known as "shakedowns."
In order to work for the government law enforcement, the officers explained their eight-week training process in Brunswick, Ga. For eight weeks, more than 75 different organizations learned every possible scenario within the confines of the old Naval Base on which it resides. There individuals become fully prepared to continue at any level of law enforcement because of the camp's basic training.
Currently residing in Hull, Officer Potolicchio plans to continue his involvement in the government law enforcement. After working as a harbormaster, correctional officer at Norfolk Sheriff's Department, an environmental police officer and as an animal control officer, Potolicchio has found his niche in the government's justice position. After working at the FMC for the past year, Officer Nogz will also continue in the government law enforcement.
Through the officers' presentations, students were made knowledgeable of the truth in prisons, the lack of privacy and the limitations of visitors or mail. By avoiding scare tactics, students were able to see a nonviolent approach to fighting crime, rather than the abuse they are exposed to daily. With support, Potolicchio and Nogz hope to expand their presentation and to educate more students on their knowledge of government law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Kelly Hurley is a senior at Cohasset High School.
By Kelly Hurley / Special To The Mariner
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Officer Potolicchio's goal is to "give (students) a general knowledge of the institution and open their eyes."
CHS grad works in corrections
For the seventh year, Cohasset High School alumni Officer Bradley Potolicchio visited CHS to inform students of the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Beginning in 1997, Officer Potolicchio fulfilled his passion for public speaking after being invited to speak to Mr. Newkirk's social studies class. After two years he invited fellow good friend and Officer Jason Nogz, graduate of Blue Hills High School Class of 1994, to speak to the class alongside him. Together they have presented the reality of prison life at both Cohasset and Scituate High Schools and hope to soon begin in Canton.
On their off days, the officers receive permission from their supervisors to sign out materials and publicly represent the bureau. During the officers' presentations the students were shown homemade tools, weapons and tattoo guns made of everything from fence pieces, beard trimmers to toothbrushes. Officer Potolicchio's goal is to "give (students) a general knowledge of the institution and open their eyes." He hopes to prove to students that prison "is not a good place...it's the type of place where you don't want to be" by informing them of the truth rather than scaring them into submission.
As pioneers in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the officers share their knowledge of the facilities through their passion for public speaking. Being the only ones from their department to take on such a task, Officer Nogz explained his project as being "pretty much unheard of" and that they hope to expand it to "gain a part-time position enlightening students."
Both officers began working for the all male Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Devens, Mass. last spring as correctional officers. Employed alongside 50 other officers, Nogz and Potolicchio work to protect the inmates and facilities, while defending the public from escapees. Never in the FMC's history has an inmate escaped, but this does not stop attempts and the level of protection from the officers. Being a medical center, the FMC houses 1,500 inmates who are mentally and physically ill and is fully equipped with a hospital wing. The facility also houses inmates of all levels of security from the age of 18 to 80. In order to maintain an eye over every inmate, each shift of 50 officers requires a random search of five cells or common areas, known as "shakedowns."
In order to work for the government law enforcement, the officers explained their eight-week training process in Brunswick, Ga. For eight weeks, more than 75 different organizations learned every possible scenario within the confines of the old Naval Base on which it resides. There individuals become fully prepared to continue at any level of law enforcement because of the camp's basic training.
Currently residing in Hull, Officer Potolicchio plans to continue his involvement in the government law enforcement. After working as a harbormaster, correctional officer at Norfolk Sheriff's Department, an environmental police officer and as an animal control officer, Potolicchio has found his niche in the government's justice position. After working at the FMC for the past year, Officer Nogz will also continue in the government law enforcement.
Through the officers' presentations, students were made knowledgeable of the truth in prisons, the lack of privacy and the limitations of visitors or mail. By avoiding scare tactics, students were able to see a nonviolent approach to fighting crime, rather than the abuse they are exposed to daily. With support, Potolicchio and Nogz hope to expand their presentation and to educate more students on their knowledge of government law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Kelly Hurley is a senior at Cohasset High School.