Education and Learning

Self-Help

The Set-Up

How Inmates Manipulate Staff in CorrectionsCarey Randall

Listen with Michael Caine™ and 800 other voices

Length4h 11m

About this audiobook

The Set-Up is a powerful breakdown of inmate manipulation in corrections and how easily small tests can grow into serious compromise. In this audiobook, correctional officer Carey Randall explains how inmates study staff, build leverage, exploit weakness, and use routine interactions to slowly move officers off professional ground. Through practical examples, clear lessons, and real-world corrections insight, this book shows how manipulation begins, why it works, what warning signs staff miss, and how officers and supervisors can stop it before it turns into a safety, career, or integrity issue. Written for correctional officers, supervisors, recruits, and anyone serious about staff safety behind the walls, The Set-Up is both a training tool and a wake-up call. It is a direct, no-nonsense guide to recognizing the setup early, protecting professional boundaries, and staying sharp in one of the toughest environments in public service.

Audiobook details

GenreEducation and Learning, Self-Help

Length4 hrs 11 mins

Narrated bySelect Your Own

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateApr 3, 2026

LanguageEnglish

1Title

20Chapter 17: How Male Staff and Female Staff May Be Targeted Differently

2Dedication

21Chapter 18: Leadership Failures That Help Manipulation Grow

3Introduction

22Chapter 19: Manipulation During Transport, Medical Runs, and Outside Movement

4Chapter 1: What Inmate Manipulation Really Is

23Chapter 20: Manipulation Through Grievances, Complaints, and Policy Games

5Chapter 2: Why Manipulation Works

24Chapter 21: When Burnout at Home Becomes Vulnerability at Work

Show all chapters

6Chapter 3: The First Test

25Chapter 22: Staff Warning Stories - How Careers Start Falling Apart

7Chapter 4: Building the Hook

26Chapter 23: Lessons for Academy Trainers and Field Training Officers

8Chapter 5: Divide and Conquer

27Chapter 24: How Inmates Manipulate Entire Teams, Not Just Individuals

9Chapter 6: Common Types of Inmate Manipulation

28Chapter 25: How Manipulation Changes in Dorms, Close Custody, and Segregation

10Chapter 7: When Staff Start Sliding

29Chapter 26: Rebuilding Trust After Compromise or Drift

11Chapter 8: The Cost of Compromise

30Chapter 27: Case Studies of How Small Mistakes Become Major Incidents

12Chapter 9: Warning Signs Staff Must Never Ignore

31Chapter 28: Manipulation in Intake, Classification, and Early Housing Placement

13Chapter 10: Professional Boundaries That Protect You

32Chapter 29: Red Flags in Staff Culture That Invite Manipulation

14Chapter 11: What Supervisors Must Watch For

33Chapter 30: Manipulation During Use of Force, Cell Extractions, and High-Stress Incidents

15Chapter 12: Training New Officers to Survive the Set-Up

34Chapter 31: How Inmates Test New Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Command Staff

16Chapter 13: Real-World Scenarios and Lessons

35Chapter 32: Manipulation Through Phones, Mail, and Communication Channels

17Chapter 14: Staying Sharp Over a Career

36Chapter 33: When Officers Ignore Their Own Gut Feeling

18Chapter 15: Recovering After a Boundary Slip

37Chapter 34: Advanced Staff-Compromise Case Studies

19Chapter 16: Manipulation and Contraband Pathways

38Chapter 35: Building a Manipulation-Resistant Culture

About the author

Carey Randall

My background is deeply rooted in corrections. I have firsthand experience as a correctional officer, supported by intensive training at a correctional officer training academy. This foundation gave me a strong understanding of daily operations, challenges, and responsibilities inside facilities. I’m knowledgeable about entering the profession, training pathways, leadership development, and career progression. I also address the ethical demands of the job and the consequences when standards fail. My work reflects the real-world realities of corrections. View all by Carey Randall