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

They crawl out from under the bridges to the public libraries and find sites like this to use for a few hours until the libraries close. Looks like the libraries are open again maybe

Asked by Jess over 5 years ago

There is always the mission downtown, but I don't think their WiFi is as good as the library.

Have you ever seen high level or well known people. Such as cases that made national or international news, a celebrity, a famous person, or someone else who was well known?

Asked by Martian over 5 years ago

A few. Ronald Regan once (when he was Governor of CA). Jerry Brown a couple of times, when he was Governor and I was on the Board of Directors of the Correctional Officer's union. Father Kelly, a well-known child molester who was a prisoner at the prison I worked at. A couple of members of the Bechtel family (the construction people). A few higher ups within the DOC in CA. Several other famous (notorious) prisoners a time or two.

What do you think of Folsom prison Blues by Johnny Cash?

Asked by Jessie over 5 years ago

I am not a huge fan of C&W but I do like his voice. Kind of like smooth whiskey.

What is the worst thing about working in a prison?

Asked by Mason over 5 years ago

That is very hard to say as it is quite subjective. Some people just hated the feeling of being locked in. The noise could be bad. The constant undercurrent of hostility was bad for some people. Dealing with idiot staff, some of who were your boss, or dealing with really irritating inmates who didn't give a shit could also be bad. Its kind of all in how you look at it.

Keep a eye out I think there is a troll asking questions. Watch for the same writing styles, outrageous stories, asking the same questions over and over again, posting links, asking dumb and irrelevant questions, among other non sense.

Asked by Jessica over 5 years ago

Sometimes Trolls can be fun.

Have prisoners ever taught you anything?

Asked by Dan over 5 years ago

Not that I specifically recall, no. I am sure it happened, but just wasn't very noteworthy.

Have you ever had a IA or HR investigation against you? What where complaints usually about? Was it prisoners usually bitter they where locked up so they took it out on you? Possibly other co workers?

Asked by Cole over 5 years ago

Actually NO. Inmates complain Constantly about Everything. Most of those complaints take the form of inmate grievances, filed on a 602 form. This can be anything from I AM NOT GETTING MY LAUNDRY BACK to THE COPS ARE MESSING WITH MY MAIL to THE FOOD SUCKS. I have only had one of these directed go me personally, over a mail issue from when I was working in the mail room. Some guy was writing to a girl on the streets and had her convinced he was a fighter pilot and the prison was actually an Air Force base. She tried to mail him a package, which was sent back as it was unauthorized. She made a beef to the post office who forwarded her beef to the prison. I happened to be the person who responded to the beef, which resulted in her finding out that he was a prisoner and NOT a fighter pilot at an air force base. He was pissed and filed a 602.