Ask a Correctional Officer anything

454 Questions

Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Hello, why do people say something was a mistake when it was not. Maybe a bad CHOICE but not a mistake. Say, having sex with someone under age if they did not know he/she was under age that was a mistake. if they did not know that was a poor choice. but i dont understand why sometimes their like when.it was sometning that was just something that was blaintly a bad and dumb CHOICE they say "IT WAS A MISTAKE" do you know why? bad choice of wording maybe? also, why do people buy it?

Asked by Mike over 4 years ago

It is normal for people (even bad or stupid people) to not want to think they made a bad choice. So, instead, they made a MISTAKE in their minds. Accidentally grabbing unsalted butter out of the case when you actually wanted salted butter is a mistake. A 20-year old guy having sex with a 12-year old girl is not a mistake, it is a crime. However they think they can avoid responsibility by calling it a mistake, an honest error. It is human nature, and some people will buy into it. Another analogy would be when you are pulled over for doing 65 in a 55 zone. You might have honestly thought it was a 65 zone and you were doing 65 on purpose. You also might have thought you were doing 55 and just were not paying attention. Those could both be honest mistakes. Doing 80 in a school zone is not a mistake. It is a crime and is also dangerous and stupid. Few people want to admit they did something dangerous and stupid. Especially if they get caught at it.

342 Votes

What do you think about house arrest?

Asked by Karen almost 5 years ago

For some people it is completely appropriate. Non-violent non-repeat offenders with an actual home and with some sort of support structure are good risks. Especially with some sort of electronic monitoring.

342 Votes

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What is the BOP and what does it do

Asked by Terri over 4 years ago

BOP is the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I believe it works under the Attorney General's Office. Assuming I remember correct the federal system is a dual arrangement. They have PRISONS and CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. The prisons are essentially people warehouses for prisons doing long confinements, life or condemned prisoners. They are security oriented. The Correctional Institutions pretend to offer rehabilitative services and programs.

341 Votes

How did you treat inmates in general?

Asked by Kim almost 5 years ago

I was always somewhat formal. It worked for me, that was my personality. Some people were more towards the friendly side, others more hostile. The inmates can handle pretty much anything but vacillation If you are an asshole, be an asshole all the time. If you are officer friendly, be officer friendly all the time. MOST inmates want to do their time with a minimum of drama. They react reasonably well to being treating like human beings in awkward circumstances. That is reality, they can relate to it.

338 Votes

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You sound like a Trump voter is this true?

Asked by Beto over 4 years ago

I am capable of critical thinking and independent thought, so I expect that makes me sound like a Trump voter, especially to people who are not Trump voters. Of course, that doesn't mean I VOTED for Trump, just that it is true that I sound like a Trump voter.

336 Votes

What where some pet peeves other Correctional Officer's would do?

Asked by Queen over 4 years ago

I have been retired for over 15 years but I suspect it is about the same as it has been for 60 years. Lame supervisors. Incompetent administrators. Irritating politicians. Prisoners who think they are being picked on just because you want them to follow the rules everybody else has to follow. The usual suspects.

333 Votes