James "Spanky" Haas treated everyone from the superintendents he worked under to the inmates he guarded with respect and dignity. He believes that no matter your station in life, everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and everyone should be given an opportunity to right their wrongs and earn a second chance in life.
After a 34-year career working as a correctional officer, Jim shares his behind-the-scenes viewpoint of life inside the prison walls. Stressful encounters, hard-nosed discipline and prison breaks were all part of the job, but what lies at the heart of these tales is the hope he inspired through compassion, love, softball and humor.
As manager of the commissary, Jim had inmates he dubbed "His Gang" that worked for him, and he always tried to set a good example. He got to know inmates' stories and rooted for them to improve themselves after their release. He even made "Spanky Bags" and handed them out to reward inmates that overachieved at work.
By following Jim's lead, we can all strive to treat each other better. Just as he helped inmates find a better path forward, these stories will inspire you to live with more compassion in your heart.