personal versus personable

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I have a new teaching job. (YAY!) It's at the prison.....(Um, what?) I am teaching the ABC's to felons. Being an aspie, I am finding myself having difficulties being mellow. Mellow is the term given to prison employees that aren't too easy going or too strict. I have to be personable, but not personal. I have to be friendly, but not share any of my likes or dislikes. I have to relate to the inmates, but not tell them if I have so much as a dog. I was hoping that I might have finally found a job where I wouldn't have to be so bloody careful, but found that I have to be more careful now then ever if I hope for them to learn and not get myself shanked in the process. I teach master manipulators and as an aspie I tend to have problems seeing the trip wire unless drawn a map of where it's at. My mentor is trying to help and is doing a good job, but I don't feel like I could tell him about my aspie status so that he might see where I am coming from.
Suggestions?

prisoners will suss you out, feel you out and explain their inability to connect and manipulate you in their own lingo....
you will probably relax and find your feet if you were aware that there are probably more people in prison with an AS or similar issue than not.

An interesting viewpoint. Thank you for that. It is not only me having to learn to deal with them, but them learning to deal with me.
They are constantly testing me at this point. Today one gentleman flexed his bicep in an obvious attempt to flirt. I ignored him and got advice from my mentor on what to do if he tries to flirt again. He said just to tell him to, "Save the gun show for the gym."