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

I was arrested and taken to county jail at around 5 pm one day. I wss in holding, not yet "booked in". A bail bondsman was already there for me. As I was getting booked in and out simultaneously, an officer came to escort a prisoner from holding

Asked by V3ngeance over 9 years ago

Sorry, but I don't see a question there.  Hard to respond without a question to respond to.

Hello, I am applying to be a correctional officer in AZ. This will be my first interview and I am trying to get as much information as possible. What advice would you give someone applying & what are key points of being a CO. I want to do this right.

Asked by Anna about 9 years ago

As an entry level employee they will be much more interested in your general background than in your specific knowledge of the job.  It is very likely they have a web site and it is possible they have a new employee orientation packet or even a prison rule book on line.  Being familiar with this sort of thing is not necessary, but it certainly doesn't hurt.  IN addition being able to speak standard English coherently and write a decent report are both very desirable skills.  In some places they want you to write a brief narrative at the interview site, bring it in with you and read it out load to the panel.  Good luck.

1. What did you like/dislike about your job?
2. Did you consider your job to be dangerous?
3. Would you recommend a career in corrections to a new criminal justice university graduate?
4. How would you say that your job "mattered" in the CJ process?

Asked by Tony about 9 years ago

I felt like I was preforming a valuable service for society at large, and I was fairly well compensated for it.  Yes, the job was dangerous.  Not ridiculously so, but you could not go thru the day with your brain on auto-pilot.  Even if you were careful you would, from time to time, find yourself in situations that got physical.  That's part of the job.  Yes, I would still recommend a job in that field.  It is much more "political" now than it was in my day, but I would still recommend it, just not as highly as I might have 15 years ago.  The job is definitely important in the whole process.  Assuming you allow that locking up bad guys is part of the process there must be somebody to both keep an eye on them and provide them with needed services.  Without that aspect the system would come apart fairly quickly.

What if I'm going to prison in a steel chastity device w internal lock sealed shut w steel... Will I be wearing it prison or will it get cut off

Asked by Guy in chastity over 8 years ago

My first guess is that this is a lame joke.  Assuming it is not. it will be removed unless it is somehow certified as a medical device.  Have fun dude. 

Yes , correct it would be a state correctional officer and yes he is in prison. I think I will be working at a jail. Thanks for the answer it was very helpful.

Asked by Shanellica over 8 years ago

Generally speaking state correctional officers work in PRISONS, not JAILS, though there are exceptions to this.  Generally speaking State correctional officers work for the state, jail officers work for cities or counties.  That is certainly true in CA, though there is a bit of spillover in certain re-entry facilities.  You are unlikely to be assigned to one of those as a newbie.  Good luck.  I hope it works for you.

Is it legal for a prison staff member to marry a prison inmate in the state of California?

Asked by Mean Joe Green over 9 years ago

As far as I know it is not ILLEGAL but it is highly questionable.  The staff member would be looked at very closely from a security standpoint, and the prisoner would be moved to anther prison due to security concerns.

My bf has been locked up since june he gets out this month n has a sudden new charge for possesion of a substance but he says its fir an old case what does this mean?

Asked by Curious over 8 years ago

Hard to do this sort of thing by delayed-action remote control, but I will hazard a guess.  He has an old case for possession which they chose to not prosecute for at the time but now, for some reason, they are prosecuting it.  Maybe they have better info now and think it will stick.  Maybe they want to keep him in custody for something totally unrelated to the charges and it is just a stalling tactic.  It is completely kosher as long s they are within the statute of limitations.  You and he are gonna have to roll with it unless you have a good lawyer.