When Marci Smith started working part-time in Illinois prisons in 1997, the dental hygienist had a second job working in private practice. She says that she found the private practice work a little boring, whereas working in a prison brought new challenges every day.
So, when she had the chance to take on a full-time position with Wexford Health Sources, an AFSCME-represented private contractor that serves Illinois prisons, she made the leap. While it may seem strange to some, one of the things Smith says she likes about working in a prison is that “every day is different. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Always on her toes, she works on complex cases that require all of her training.
“Some patients haven’t had their teeth cleaned in 10, 20, even 30 years or more,” says Smith, a member of AFSCME Local 2856 (Council 31).
Smith currently works at Graham Correction Center, a medium-security intake facility in southern Illinois, but she has worked at prisons throughout the state, including maximum security prisons. There is no full-time dentist on staff — she and her fellow hygienists are the only ones who provide dental care to inmates.
Her relationship with her patients is, of course, unique. No one loves going to the dentist, so she has to make them comfortable while always being aware of the constant threat to her safety. Typical dentist-office banter about family and vacations is out of the question.
Smith views her role as that of a health care provider and believes in the work she does. At the same time, she says that unless you work inside a prison, you can never really understand what it’s like.
“People don’t know what you go through every day. You become hyper-vigilant. You have to keep your head on a swivel,” says Smith. “It’s a really hard job.”
As challenging as her job is now, it was even more difficult when she first started at Robinson Correctional Center, near the Indiana border; before she and her co-workers had formed a union.
“We worked hard getting the things we have,” Smith recalls. “We kept pushing and pushing. A lot of the newer people have no idea how hard we fought for that.”
Some of the things they fought for include a grievance procedure, better time off, and more. Their union voice made a world of difference between how things were when she started and today.
With close to 30 years under her belt, Smith knows that she can never get complacent. Yet, despite the rigors she faces, she’s still committed to serving others and finds her job rewarding.
“I really do enjoy my job,” she says.
Public safety professionals are increasingly turning to AFSCME to build power at work, advocate for safety, secure better wages, improve health care benefits and ensure a stable retirement. AFSCME members in corrections, law enforcement and emergency response defend our freedoms and those of the communities we serve.
Visit the AFSCME Public Safety website to get involved and learn more.