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

What are the right and wrong reasons for becoming a correctional officer?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

The wrong reason is because you want to punish bad people. Right reasons, ,maybe to help protect society.

BUNCH OF TRUMPERS ON JOBSTR. EVERYONE ON HERE IS TRUMPERS YAY

Asked by YAY about 3 years ago

Not exactly a question, and not on topic.

4. Is a degree required? Would it help? What would be the best degree(s) to have? What about military experience?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

I don't know that any system requires a degree for Correctional Officer. A criminal justice degree might help. A degree in Organizational Behavior might help. Military experience is often helpful and military people are used to the command structure which some people have trouble with.

Is working for a public or private prison better? Or is there other types of prisons?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

Public (government) and private is about it. Public is "better" in that it pays better, you have more authority, more legal protection and as far as I know always better benefits and retirement.

I know someone has been a correctional officer for 15 years. If they failed a drug test is there a way they wont be fired if they have never been in trouble

Asked by Anonymous over 3 years ago

It depends on the jurisdiction and the exact circumstances I expect. My GUESS is that one bad test for weed would get you a nasty note in your personnel file. One bad test for coke or heroin might get you fired. Of course the tests are not 100% reliable and, if the person being tested protested his innocence they might very well put him/her on the mandatory test list for a few months. Unless the agency has a hard and fast policy there is a lot of wiggle room and good, long term employees are too valuable to be discarded lightly.

My son seen parole last week. Said the PROBABLY won't make decision till September. Following week is when they moved him. Could that have anything to do with being moved prisons.

Asked by Amber andrade almost 4 years ago

Yes. Generally speaking, at least in CA, inmates are paroled to their address of record. It is not uncommon to move inmates closer to where they will be released. If, on the other hand they moved him further away, that MIGHT tend to indicate he will not be paroled. Or not. In CA parole is pretty much automatic for everybody but lifers, Other states work differently. It could mean nothing at all.

I am writing a book and need some help. If two inmates start fighting in thier cell, what is the right procedure taken by the guards? how do other cell mates, from the same cell or others, react?

Asked by mirzokhid over 3 years ago

The system I worked for had almost zero cells that held more than two people. The procedure is pretty much the same. Sound an alarm. WAIT FOR BACKUP. (Inmates sometimes stage fights to draw officers into an area in order to attack them, steal keys, etc.) Often chemical agents are deployed before the cell is entered. When it seems appropriate you go in, separate and restrain (usually handcuff) the combatants and haul them to medical before throwing them into ad. seg.