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.

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Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

What's academy like? I'm a 32 year old military veteran. Is it going to be anything like BMT (bootcamp)? Because I feel like I'm a bit too old to have some chinstrap screaming/spitting in my face trying to break me down to 'mold' me.

Asked by StalwartHero almost 10 years ago

It depends where.  Some jurisdictions use a very bootcamp-like training operation.  Some a very classroom oriented with a minimal physical component and necessary chemical agents and firearms training. 

As a former CO, what advice would you give someone interested in claiming allowances with w4? Have you ever done it, and was it worth it? I was thinking about claiming 2 or 3 a year.

Asked by Newbie CO almost 11 years ago

I am sorry but I have no idea what you are asking about.  Is this income taxes?

Hi Bob-
I paroled 26 yrs ago after invol vehic mansl. case. Recently met a retiring lt. correctional officer from Folsom Prison. What are the rules as far as him and I dating? Even if we can date, what about visiting his friends who haven't retire

Asked by kerry almost 11 years ago

Assuming you are no longer on probation or parole it is not an issue having normal social interactions with working peace officers.  it is no problem at all with retired peace officers either.  as a convicted felon you do, however, have issues with being on prison grounds (you can't go onto prison grounds without the expressed permission of the warden) so if some of them live on grounds that might be an issue.  you also want to avoid being in personal possession of firearms or ammunition.  good luck. 

How would cognitive therapy help in counseling inmates?

Asked by Neal Bracken over 10 years ago

My opinion, for what that may be worth is, generally speaking, no.

Can a correctional officer get in trouble for dating a felon? The felon was never incarcerated while the CO was therefore no relationship was established previously.

Asked by Thatbuckeyedude about 9 years ago

If the felon is still under the jurisdiction of the department (i.e. on parole, probation or other sort of supervised release) then the short answer is YES.  In most jurisdictions it is actually a crime for a staff member, especially a peace officer, to engage in a sexual relationship with a person under the jurisdiction of their department due to the power imbalance.  It is legally considered rape and is likely to get the officer fired and prosecuted.  If the relationship is merely social and not sexual (which might be hard to prove) it would still get the officer fired.  Even if the person is no longer on parole, probation or whatever there are still POSSIBLE problems relating to access to firearms and ammunition.  This is one of those questions you might want to run by a lawyer in your state for hard facts.

As a Correctional Officer you wrote a thorough carefully documented report. It was rejected without a reason given. Your superior made it very plain that s/he did not want to discuss it. How would you handle this situation?

Asked by Neal Bracken almost 10 years ago

Without knowing a little more about the situation it is hard to say.  If this is an incident report, something you were directly involved in and are required to submit a report on, it would be an odd thing for a supervisor to just "reject" the report without saying what is wrong or unacceptable about it.  At some point someone will notice your report isn't part of the package and want to know why.  I am guessing this is something else entirely.  You definitely want to keep a copy of the report and note that your boss "rejected" it without comment or discussion.  depending on what it is exactly you might want to go around your supervisor, and run it up a parallel chain, like maybe a business manager or personnel manager depending on the exact nature of the report.  You might want to jump the chain and go to your bosses boss (not to be done lightly and sure to cause trouble even if you are right).  You might want to lateral it, to a union if you are represented by one and let them carry the load and attract at least some of the heat.  That's what they are there for.  You might want to go completely outside your agency and work at picking up whistle-blower status to give you some protection.  Or you might want to let it go.  Without knowing more about what is going on it is really hard to give any serious recommendation.  Good luck. 

As a new CO I understand we are going to be tested by inmates to know our limits however how should we react? When is a write up appropriate? As a woman should I write up inmates for each sexual remark or rudest? As a new CO will inmates fight me to

Asked by Daniela almost 9 years ago

We seem to have lost part of your question.  You have to find your own comfort zone which takes a while.  You clearly can't write up every minor infraction.  However, if you let sexual or rude personal remarks slide they may come to believe you enjoy the attention, or at least don't mind it.  My inclination would be to be fairly strict along those lines.