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

Hello, I’m wondering if inmates can still purchase items from commissary while on C status? I’ve read they can, but only $35 for the month, and I have also read 1/4 the usual maximum can be spent with authorization. Not sure what that all means.

Asked by DL87 almost 5 years ago

It has been a LONG time since I have worked in the system but..... Back in the day inmates on A status could spend a full monthly draw assuming they had the money on the books. The more of a screw-up you were, the less money you were allowed to spend. An inmate on C status could spend just enough to buy some things like tooth paste, deoderant, shaving cream, etc. Of course they COULD still spend in on fig newtons and soda. It was, and presumably still is, a flawed system. Like many privileges it gave staff a handle, something to take away if the inmate screwed up. A very modest carrot-stick approach.

What do you think the situation was with that cop killing the black man?

Asked by Caleb over 4 years ago

It is really hard to say. There are about 800,000 cops in this country. A few of them will be dumptrucks. You might remember Officer Mohammed Noor was also from Minneapolis and is currently doing time for the same charge they have nailed this White guy with. He was carried by the system because their moron mayor desperately wanted a Somali Islmaic cop on the force, even though he should have been dumped during training. I understand the current guy has a substantial number of complaints against him that were MAYBE-PROBABLY not handled correctly. My GUESS is that the dead guy said or did something that tweaked the cop and he decided he was going to show his prisoner what for. Completely unjustified morally, ethically and legally. The cop KNEW or SHOULD HAVE KNOWN that what he was doing was very dangerous to his prisoner, who was clearly not resisting. I am not familiar with Minnesota law that much but it is distinctly possible that the other three cops who were there and who did not intervene will face some criminal charges as well. I do think that burning down an Auto Zone or a Target because you are pissed at the cops is kind of stupid and not even remotely helpful.

Was there ever COs that would do things for inmates that would not be okay? What?

Asked by John over 4 years ago

Happens all the time. Staff, including C/Os, are jacked up or fired for all sorts of things. Smugglng things in or messages out is not wildly uncommon, IN appropriate relationships, including sexual relationships, are not unknown. Passing confidential information to inmates is not unknown.

Why do you think so many people on this site want people to give them the answer they wanna hear instead of the truth or your (or whomever their asking) opinion? I mean they already told them selves so whats the point?

Asked by Walker asks people over 4 years ago

I strongly suspect that is part of the basic human condition. You want to believe you are right and you want validation.

What kinds of gangs are there in prison?

Asked by CO fan over 4 years ago

Pretty much all kinds. Many of them are strictly prison gangs, many of them are street gangs that have migrated into prisons. Also some street gangs started in prisons. Most are racial. A small number are geographic, like the Texas Syndicate. Biker gangs are also active in the prison setting. Some are racial-political like the old BGF. Like I said, all kinds.

I can’t that’s the point. I can’t ask any questions it says he’s away. You try it.

Asked by UH OH UH OH UH OH almost 5 years ago

Damned if I know.

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 over 4 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.