Prison time is hard time. This is true for everypony in Frostback prison, and not just for the inmates.
Gentle Guide tries to put some pride into the uniform, reminds himself every day that his position as a correctional officer means something: that he is more than just a guard, he is a guardian and an arbiter, keeping order in the little community that is the prison. But when he spends every day surrounded by fear, predators, and hopelessness, it can be difficult to keep up his own spirits.
This is the day to day reality for Officer Guide. This is a day in Frostback.
Part of the Noireverse.
Sometimes you get to be a hero of your own story. Sometimes you're just a piece of someone else's worldbuilding. But that's not a bad thing.
Getting major Shawshank Redemption vibes from this (minus the asshole guards, of course.)
What leaves me puzzled is the pony legal system - how the sentenes correlate to the crimes.
9551958
You say that like the American sentencing system makes any damn sense.