Working in a correctional system is a tough, thankless job.

“Everyone just thinks you just throw away the key and people just sit here, but we deal with (inmates serving their sentences) on a daily basis,” said corrections officer Joseph Kiraly, who has been employed at the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning for nearly six years. “Usually we don’t get the recognition for everything we do.”

Kiraly said it’s about “care, custody and control” when it comes to his job.

“Some days are easy. Others are more hectic. It varies where you are at for the day. A lot of people don’t understand what goes on here.”

To recognize those who work in the correctional system, both the state and Carbon County Commissioners recently passed proclamations designating May 5-11 as Corrections Employee Week.

“Sometimes the prison gets the name of the black sheep of the county because of the money that is spent here, that leaves taxpayers with a bitter taste in their mouths,” said Warden Timothy Fritz. “But these officers see the inmates at their worst when they come into the facility because some are strung out on drugs or drunk. We clean them up, get them ready for court. They’re no different than the police officers or emergency responders where everyday when they come in here, they don’t know if they’re going home at night.

“They do a good job with the resources they have and they deserve more credit than they are given.”

But the prison isn’t just made up of corrections officers, Fritz said, noting that to be able to staff the prison 24 hours a day, there are 43 full-time and 13 part-time corrections officers, as well as five sergeants, a deputy warden, work release director, nursing staff, maintenance staff, administrative employees and kitchen employees.

“Even those who aren’t on the front lines like the corrections officers, they still are an integral part of the daily operations,” Fritz said. “It’s basically its own city inside a city.”

The proclamation adopted by the commissioners says, “The effectiveness of Carbon County’s correctional system is dependent upon trained, skilled and professional personnel, including its administration, corrections officers, sergeants and other staff members, who provide a necessary and dependable services in providing a reliable system of penology.

“Correctional facility employees face daily challenging and, at times, stressful environments. They are brave, courageous and tenacious individuals who put their lives and health at risk every day to keep the public safe and provide a multitude of services to the county’s offenders.”