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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455 Questions

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Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

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.

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 almost 6 years ago

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

Has someone ever tried to Go hands on with you? If so what happens?

Asked by Samantha over 5 years ago

It happened on occasion. I never got hurt. They sometimes did.

Have you ever had bodily fluids on you?

Asked by Tina about 6 years ago

If you go to the right parties it happens all the time...Oh, you mean at work. That particular form of battery is colloquially referred to as "gassing" in the California system. I have to missed that fun experience during my employment. It is gross and disgusting and has many possible health risks attached to it. .

When you where around a really horrible person convicted of the worse crimes there are. Could you feel something really bad about them or sicking?

Asked by Merry about 6 years ago

After a while you sort of get numb to the gross and disgusting things people are capable of doing to each other. Sad, but true.

If someone broke out do you think they would try and chase the person down and tackle them or do you think they would just shoot them

Asked by 3498 almost 6 years ago

I have been out of the job for 15 years, but when I was there, if somebody ran you shot them. That's what the guns or for.

What do you do in the case of fire, tornados, earthquakes, etc? What about different units or departments?

Asked by COVID-19 over 5 years ago

We don't get tornadoes here. During the World Series Earthquake we did another count just to make sure nobody was injured and checked for damages to the fence, etc. not too worried about fire, you have to work real hard to burn reinforced concrete. a cell fire might get the two guys in the cell but is unlikely to spread significantly.