Ask a Correctional Officer anything

455 Questions

Last Answer on February 10, 2022

What all did you carry on your bat belt?

Asked by Danica almost 6 years ago

Depends. When I was a C/O I carried a radio (usually) and alarm (usually), handcuffs, glove pouch, and a baton of one sort of other. Also normally a double key pouch (usually a semi-auto magazine holder) for holding keys. When I was a Sgt. and Lt. the radio became normal, the alarm less so (the alarms are area specific and supervisors usually moved around more). Often the baton went away too, depending on what assignment I was on. When I was the patrol sgt. on very rare occasions I carried a .38 revolver.

623 Votes

Is that a photo of you pointing the gun?

Asked by Tmore over 6 years ago

Yes. Colt 1917 cut down to round butt and 3" barrel.

621 Votes

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Do inmates do nasty things to the food when they work behind the counter serving food?

Asked by Martian over 6 years ago

Not usually. Inmates have to eat the food. Somebody would snitch. Somebody would get thumped.

621 Votes

How did you control people who where defiant and would put up a fight?

Asked by Reed over 6 years ago

If pushes comes to shove you push and shove. Or beat with a club. Or shoot. Use of force is not normally response #1, it causes way too much paperwork to do without good cause. But, if it comes down to it that's what we do.

620 Votes

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Were there a lot of suicides in your prison, and what's the most common way prisoners do it?

Was there anyone you did not like?

Asked by Hu? over 6 years ago

There are a great many people in the world I do not like. Since it is illegal to shoot them for being unlikable I just have to avoid them as much as I can.

619 Votes

Why do people think these are chat rooms?

Asked by Donaldsoneeson about 6 years ago

Beats the crap out of me.

615 Votes

Is there really any "correcting" in prison for the most part? I mean how do we get people justice and also get people the help they need so they wont do it again as soon as they get out of prison or later down the road even?

Asked by Diane almost 6 years ago

For the most part NO. We can not enforce correction on unwilling participants. Most criminals are criminals deliberately, they didn't accidentally fall in with a bad crowd or other crap. They made a conscious decision to adopt a criminal lifestyle. Once they get too old, or too tired, or get tired of the madness the system may be able to provide some useful tools for them to stay out of the slammer. They have to be interested in doing so on their own or it doesn't work.

615 Votes