Those are not only wonderful, but necessary, for preventing folks who suddenly thought better of what they just committed to paper from being able to make changes to something more politically correct or socially acceptable. Log-books mostly, but some are ruled appropriately for inventory control or even fund accounting.
I carried one around and entered info on who & where & when I saw someone in any of the prison facilities - in addition to the work reports I was required to submit. It was a private record and protected from review unless they wanted to acuse me of something like being an accessory to some crime or crime conspiracy. Took it to court a few times to prove I had/had not seen some inmate at a certain time on a certain day when that inmate ended up being charged with doing somethibf nefarious. Helped convict a few, helped keep a few who were not guilty from being railroaded. Kept me from being fired a few times, and was the final nail in the coffins of a few utterly dispicable folks who should have been fried a long time before it finally happened.
stay safe.