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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

454 Questions

Share:

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 over 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.

Maybe my wording wasnt right. My question. Is it legal or would it be construed for the captin at the jail to come to medical where my wife is and shove my mugshot in her face asking personal questions ie why this loser what gang is he in ect that ok

Asked by Outlaw1211 about 5 years ago

As far as I am aware there is no law against it. She is, however, under no obligation to answer. Also, depending on the exact circumstances there might be some HIPPA situation going on. Prisoners have almost the same level of MEDICAL INFORMATION privacy as does a free citizen and if the captain was inserting himself/herself into a medical situation or medical interview it is likely there would be some legit privacy issues to address. If all he was doing was entering medical housing or a medical clinic area to pursue legit custody inquiries, that is probably kosher. Basically the cops can ask pretty much anybody pretty much anything. You don't have to answer them. I should also think that if your wife has some legit mental health issues whoever is in charge of medical might have some problems with custody jumping into the middle of their program. That, however, is more of an internal procedural issue than a legal one.

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 5 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.

Why would a prison play country music at all hours?

Asked by Brad almost 5 years ago

Because they are too stupid to play Rock and Roll.

Hey dude why do so many cops sound the same?

Asked by Gene almost 5 years ago

We have to take a class in that.

What do you think of SHOCK treatment and victim impacts panels? Do you think they help people change or just throwing tax dollars at people who are unwilling to change

Asked by Robery almost 5 years ago

A shock treatment is a medical procedure. I have no expertise in that area, though as a moderately well informed non-medical person I think they are of dubious benefit and, as far as I know, are no longer used anywhere. (Unless you mean something else I am unfamiliar with.)

I have no practical experience with Victim Impact Panels. I suspect the bad guys don't give a diddly damn about victims, if they did they wouldn't be bad guys.

Is it true that their letting some really bad people out of prison because of the virus? What do you think about this it made me really mad when I saw a child rapist went free because of it.

Asked by ASDF almost 5 years ago

Depends who you ask. If you were to ask Governor Newsom the people being let out early are all wonderful human beings who are only in prison for singing too loud in church. If you ask anybody else they would say something different. CA judges offenders for their most recent conviction offense. So a person can be a multiple convicted child molester, a murderer and a rapist and if his most recent conviction was for shoplifting they consider that person to be a low risk, non-violent offender. CA is strange.