Feb. 9, 2024
By Jessica Cerrito
Staff Writer
In an effort to learn more about careers within law enforcement, 40 members of the Law Enforcement Club took a trip to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack on Jan. 26.
During their visit, the students, all of whom are seniors, received a tour of the facility, which holds approximately 900 inmates and is operated by about 320 sheriff officers. They also listened to a presentation by two sheriff officers and interacted with an inmate who spoke to them about his life experiences.
School Resource Officer Sgt. Steve Passamano, who advises the Law Enforcement Club, said the field trip helped prepare the students for the real world after high school.
“Every inmate inside the jail is there because of a decision they made,” Passamano said. “This is a great life lesson for anyone, and being able to see this firsthand is very impactful.”
Passamano said his favorite part of the field trip was observing the students’ interactions with the inmate, Billy, who did not give his last name.
Billy told the students about his poor decisions regarding drugs and partying. He has been in the Bergen County Jail for over a year awaiting trial and said he will likely serve at least five additional years after his sentencing.
“It is important for students to understand that their actions and decision-making have serious consequences when they become adults.”
“It is important for students to understand that their actions and decision-making have serious consequences when they become adults,” Passamano said. “This trip is real life [with] no script, and the students are given an experience that most don’t get at their age.”
Senior Isabella Guzman, who is a member of the Law Enforcement Club, said visiting the jail was a surreal experience.
“It was [surprising] to see the inmates walking [around] freely, but it was also nice to see them have opportunities to work within the jail,” Guzman said.
Some inmates choose to take on the responsibilities of cleaning, cooking, serving food and doing laundry at the jail. They can also work towards earning their GED diploma, which certifies academic knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma.
Guzman, who hopes to become a lawyer, said the trip helped her rule out criminal law as a career.
“I learned more about where I never want to end up,” Guzman said. “Getting an inside perspective is completely different from using your imagination to create a picture in your mind. It makes it so much more real.”
Senior Kayla Turano said she decided to go on the field trip because she wanted to see how a real-life jail compares to depictions on TV and in movies.
“It was cool to see what a day in the life of a prisoner looks like as well as what it is like for officers to actually work in a jail,” Turano said.
She said the tour and presentation were informative and taught her about the intricacies of a jail.
“I was surprised that inmates cook food for the officers as well as for their fellow inmates. There [are] also a lot of different levels of security based on the type of inmate,” Turano said.
Based on their crime and behavior, the inmates have varying physical constraints, levels of surveillance by sheriff officers and recreation privileges.
Senior Mike Rizzo said he was excited to attend the field trip because he had never been to a jail.
“I was surprised to learn that the range of criminals in the jail is very significant. It ranges all the way from murder to driving under the influence,” Rizzo said.
Even though he does not plan on going into law enforcement, Rizzo said he is grateful to be part of a club that exposes him to the inner workings of law enforcement.
Rizzo said his favorite part of the field trip was talking to an inmate face to face.
“[Billy] was a soft-spoken gentleman who explained to us his life story and told us to be grateful for the life we were given,” Rizzo said. “I was fascinated by his experiences, and he made me realize how important making responsible decisions is.”
