Correctional Officer

Correctional Officer

Bob Walsh

Stockton, CA

Male, 60

I worked for the California state system, starting as a Correctional Officer and retiring as a Lieutenant in 2005. I now write for the PacoVilla blog which is concerned with what could broadly be called The Correctional System.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

455 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

hi, what are the laws regarding correctional officers remaining in the room with an inmate in labor?

Asked by sylvia about 12 years ago

I have no idea.  I have never worked a women's prison.  Unless there was a serious security issue I expect it would not be necessarily or desirable, but for all I know there is some specific regulation about it.  The only thing I know for sure (and it may have changed since I retired) was that, even if the birth takes place at the prison, the birth certificate does NOT say State Prison as place of birth. 

I don't know if you can answer this but I called a local police department about a noise complaint and the noise complaint went away. Will the police come and arrest me because the complaint went away?

Asked by Mason almost 11 years ago

The chances that the police even responded to your noise complaint are almost zero in most towns, so they don't care one way or the other.  If you make a LOT of complaints and they mostly turn out to be bogus the cops might be irritated but under the circumstances I am completely competent that the local cops couldn't care less.  (My expertise here comes from being the guy making the complaints and not the guy responding to them.)

what Experience, education, and training required, the
Desirable personality traits, and
General working conditions.

Asked by ashlee over 10 years ago

Only a high school diploma or GED is required for entrance.  There is significant training at the academy, currently 12 weeks, and regular required In-Service Training.  Work conditions can be difficult.  There is shift work involved, especially when you have little seniority.  Most areas of the prisons are not air conditioned and during the summer they can be unpleasant.  Sometimes people try to kill  you, though that does not happen often.  You have to be willing to listen, willing to learn, willing to take orders and be willing to interact tactfully with people who don't particularly want to listen to you.  It is an entry level position so there is no actual EXPERIENCE required beyond a satisfactory history as a law-abiding citizen, though a stable work or school history before application is highly desirable and looks good.

What are your duties or responsibilities or your position? and skill and abilities required of a successful applicant

Asked by Ashlee over 10 years ago

Correctional Officer is an entry level position.  The principle skills you must have to GET the job are an adequate educational level, the ability to read and write decently and a satisfactory background.  Other skills you will be taught and develop as you go.  The general duties are to supervise and supply security / custody for prisoners. 

In the show jail, I am appalled by the way excessive force is used on the prisoners for no reason. The women are the worst! How the hell do these officers get away with this sick misconduct!?

Asked by Infantry blue almost 12 years ago

I do not agree with your basic premise, so it is difficult for me to make a meaningful response to your question.

Once a inmate goes to the hole is the inmate allowed too still take their classes that are required in under to make parole??

Asked by jasmine over 11 years ago

I have never heard of a case when that was permitted.  Segregation is segregation.  There is some minimal programming within most Ad Seg units but this is normally restricted to things like yard and other court ordered programs.

So i have an interview. And its for a correctional officer position tomorrow. What questions should be expected that they might ask me. And what are some good answers to tell them?

Asked by Jeorge over 11 years ago

Assuming it is an entry level position (it is in CA where I worked) they will not expect you to know much about the actual job.  That is what they have training academies for.  They will be interested in your general notions about the prison system, use of force and that sort of thing.  They may want some basic info about your writing skills (way back when a short written presentation was part of the oral exam.  I don't know if it still is or not).  They may wonder about how you feel about shift work.  The truth is always a good response in such things.  Thoughtful responses but not off-the-cuff are also good.  Flippant is bad.  They will want to know about any potential blips in your history, like drug use, recent minor criminal activity, even a history of minor traffic infractions is often a red flag as it can indicate a lack of respect for authority or "the system."  DUI, especially moderately recent, is also a bad thing.  It is good if you have an honest and sincere interest in a CAREER as opposed to just a job.  Flexibility is good.  If you go in telling them you can't work nights or weekend because of this or that or the other thing they are likely to think you are not truly interested in the gig, or you will be as problem child if you get the gig.