A Whole Other World "Life in the Shadows of Prison"

This is the story of Carter, a young Vietnam Veteran who moves to a small town in south Florida where he takes a job as a prison guard at a Florida state prison that houses over one thousand violent inmates.
He soon discovers he has taken a job where the prison guards are redneck, country boys who all grew up in the same small area and do not like outsiders. He starts lifting weights and his personal life becomes more complicated as he deals with the drama, stress and violence working in the prison environment.
Carter’s career as a correctional officer takes one turn after another as he learns the routines, uncovers the deceptions, and takes on the challenges of everyday prison life. He quickly discovers that inmates lie, cheat, steal, gamble, and commit assault and rape—all daily occurrences faced by the correctional staff. Carter also learns to deal with his fellow employees as well; tough men, good ol’ Southern boys, who don’t necessarily welcome his presence. Carter must prove himself to both the inmate population and the other correctional officers before he’ll earn their respect and be taken seriously.
The job itself changes his personality, and slowly eats away at him every day he steps onto the prison compound. It is not long before he has difficulty leaving his job at the prison behind at the end of the day. He gradually becomes numb, suspicious, untrusting, critical, aggressive, and callous to all people in general to survive working in this whole other world. He subconsciously evolves into a tough country boy who learns to master the supervising techniques and skills required to handle and discipline the hardcore, violent inmates as well as his fellow prison guards, who at times can also be treacherous.
As his life at the prison rolls on through the years, Carter doesn’t realize the toll his work is taking on his home life. With a son, and a daughter he adores, he is now in danger of losing it all.
Should he leave and take the job that’s offered to him with the sheriff’s department? Should he turn down his superior officer at the prison, who is pushing him to apply for a sergeant’s position? Carter knows himself well enough to realize he’s happiest just doing his daily duties as a correctional officer.
Through all the bizarre situations the prison environment and inmates throw at him, every aspect of his life revolves around his personal life and loved ones. Suicide, murder and chaos are always right around the corner in his work environment. Home is always the best therapy in his life with his little princess and his little prince.
But no one can stay in the same place forever, and soon Carter finds this truth applies to balancing his personal and professional life.