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

Have you ever had an escapee?

I have watched the show I (Almost) got away with it, which is why I am asking

Asked by Al almost 6 years ago

Yes.  During my 24 years we had one "inside escape" (escape from within the main security perimeter) and a fair number of "outside escapes" (minimum security walkaways).  The inside escapee was recaptured before the emergency count cleared.  (In fact I and one other officer were the ones who caught him.  He went out hidden in a bail of crushed cardboard.)  That is common in CA.  One of the things we are good at is keeping inmates in.  Escapes from inside the security perimeter are rare.  Walk-aways from fire camps, etc. are common.

Can I request a single cell or solitary confinement and would I be guaranteed a cell? I wouldn’t want to be pissed on or killed in my sleep.

Asked by Yuy about 5 years ago

You can request anything you want. In CA even some death row inmates are double-celled. Your housing situation is determined (in most states) by a check-list type criteria. How long is your sentence. Do you have a history of violence or fire-setting? Are you more likely than others to be the victim of violence? What is your personal preference. (That last one is way down the list.) What is available. Long term or even medium term your personal preferences mean almost nothing. The best way to sleep where you want is to stay out of prison.

Do you think that the prison system rehabilitates or only punishes?

Asked by sofibour almost 6 years ago

The "system" does not, and can not, rehabilitate.  Rehabilitation comes from within and can not be imposed from the outside.  The offender must WANT to change and be willing to do so.

Has working with inmates affected how you view perpetrators of crime, and the prison system in general?

Asked by sofibour almost 6 years ago

NO, not really.

How effective do you feel probation/parole is?

Asked by Jade over 5 years ago

If it is funded and administratively supported properly with properly trained agents who spend at least as much time in the field as they do in the office, it can be very effective. As it is currently operated in many jurisdicitons it is a farce.

Have you ever seen a co-worker help prisoners sneak contraband or something else? If so what happend? Where they paid and do you know how much?

Asked by 2893472389 almost 6 years ago

I have not personally seen it, but it does happen. People get fired and sometimes prosecuted for it. At one time tobacco was popular and since it was not technically ILLEGAL to smuggle it some people thought it was OK. Then cell phones. Drugs have always been popular but also always illegal. I don't have any fine details on the profit margins of such things, and since I have been out 14 years now any info I might have had would be stale.

What are the biggest emotional hurdles inmates face when preparing to re-enter society?

Asked by sofibour almost 6 years ago

That depends almost entirely on the inmate, the period of time he was in prison and what sort of support system will be available to him on the outside.  No easy answer there.