The Art of the Con: Avoiding Offender Manipulation

By Gary F. Cornelius

"This book empowers the reader with a factual and riveting analysis of manipulative behaviors of the modern day offender and provides useful and effective techniques to safeguard against these... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569911479
• ISBN13: 9781569911471
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Amer Correctional Assn
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Educational Book

Approx. 200 pages long, the book starts with the basic foundations of offender manipulation. It covers the psychological thinking of the offender, how offenders do time ("don't do the time, let the time do you!"), and why they do things differently. It gives a number of real life examples of inmate-on-staff manipulation and how you can avoid being manipulated. The author gives examples of officers being pulled into more unethical behavior because they made one small mistake for the offender and were blackmailed into committing more serious offenses. It also covers inappropriate relations with inmates and examples of COs who crossed the line and lost everything for inmates who showed no remorse. However, most of the stories and examples given are told in a way that's reminiscent of the way urban legends are told or gossip. That's my only qualm with the book, but it's understandable because the author had to keep inmates, officers, and locations anonymous. I only found 2 grammatical errors in the book (forgivable). I am about to embark on a career in corrections and would recommend this book to people who are on the same path as I, as well as new COs and veteran COs.

A must-read for new or veteran corrections officers

A great book giving you a perspective from the criminal mind. This book should be standard reading in officer training.

A Must

This book really helped me realize how NOT to be a victim of manipulation. I'm usually very trusting and want to believe in the best of people. This book helped me to remember that I am in the criminal's environment when I am there. They are not in mine.

Good reading for anyone interested in Corrections

I really enjoyed the book it is very informative into what kinds of games inmates will use on correction officers and staff to try to manipulate their way and make their time while incarcerated more pleasant. Very good book for anyone seriously considering working in corrections.

Necessary Reading for the corrections officer

There are very few pertinent, to the point publications regarding the cons and games inmates will try to pull off on corrections officers. The veteran officer learns by trial and error, and over the course of years comes to know when a 'con' is being played on him/her. The rookie CO knows it will happen but not the lengths that an inmate will go to to work the con. As a new CO this book provided me with invaluable insight into the games that inmates will play and the cons they will try to use on a CO. I've only been in corrections a few months but have already been able to catch the prisoners trying to work me and get personal information. If I had not read this book, I may have given out too much personal info, thinking the inmates were just making conversation, or being friendly. My eyes have been opened and I'm much more careful with the info I divulge. I feel this book should be a must read for all CO's, new, veteran and those considering going into this field! It's very easy to read, does not weigh down with too much psychobabble, but is intersting and to the point. I highly recommend this book!