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

In some fictional depictions of prison, the main character has expertise and so he helps out the other prisoners (say filing appeals by a character with legal expertise) and in exchange for his expertise he's given favors, etc. does that ever happen

Asked by AndyDufresne over 12 years ago

That is not uncommon actually.  I have known a couple of people who did that.  Some jail-house lawyers get pretty good at it.  They have the time, and it is kind of a niche market.

My son-in-law is a CA CO w/ 6 children to provide for. He has been encouraged to apply for sergeant & move up in rank but refuses: "too much responsibility and no more money" True?

Asked by MeddlingMotherInLaw over 12 years ago

Depends on how you look at it. Sergeants get paid more than officers. However, they may not get as much opportunity to work overtime. In additon your seniority resets when you promote so you end up starting over with bad shifts and crap jobs until you get some seniority built up. I know several people who promoted to Sergeant then voluntarily busted back. They found being a relatively senior Officer better than being a relatively junior Sergeant. There is significantly more responsibity and much more paperwork. Some people just don't like the tradeoff. It is a legitimate consideration.

How does life at a minimum security prison compare to a maximum. Is minimum more comfortable? Or just less secure? Can someone get moved from a max to a min if they don't cause trouble?

Asked by Name over 11 years ago

Generally speaking minimum custody is a realtively good gig.  It is pretty much always dorm housing and some guys don't like that but most do. You can wander around and congregate with few restrictions, you can shower pretty much anytime you wan, you can usually get outside most of the time.  There is (usually) a lot less drama and quite often the food is better.  It takes a while to get into minimum for most people.  Many jurisdicitons have tight rules about minimum cusotdy, i.e. no sex offenders, no arsonists, no active gang members and a pretty solid release date within a specific time, i. e. 4 years, etc. 

What is the psychological test like?

Asked by Laurel about 12 years ago

Don't know.  They didn't have one when I started beyond the general interview and observation by supervisors during probation.  There is a formal psych test now I am told, but I have no idea what it  is like.

Are most prison employees for or against the death penalty? How did working in prison affect your opinion on the matter?

Asked by Ol' Sparky over 12 years ago

Most are for it. In my case working at a prison made no differnce, I was, and am still, in favor of capital punishment.

What type of life does a Ca CO live? I know salary is good but is it a career I can raise a family and live comfortably? Is it a career that I can be set for life. I need a job That can support my family.

Asked by Sam over 11 years ago

The salary is good, the retirement is good, the benefits are excellent and continue through retirement.  Most locations have overtime available, some whether you want it or not.  If your primary interst is a stable career that will enable you to support a family this is an outstanding choice.  The shift work can be a pain, at least until you develop some seniority. 

I want to be a co but heard the job isn't as dangerous as everyone says. I hear its more like baby sitting. How dangerous is the job? Whats the likelihood of getting hurt?

Asked by esheen over 11 years ago

Depends on what you call "hurt."  CDCr has something like seven or eight times the number of officers as does the CHP.  The CHP rarely goes a year without an officer being murdered on the job, and there are usually more than one per year.  CDCr often goes a year, or two, or three without an officer being murdered on the job.  However, there is a lot of lower level violence either directed at staff or which staff get involved in responded to incidents.  Some of it is just crazies going off.  Your chances of being hurt during your career are very good.  Your chances of being seriously hurt are relatively small, but it is certainly there.  Just this month there have been two serious attempts to murder officers inside prisons, leaving the officers with serious injuries.  If you work in a gun tower your chances of being hurt are small.  If you work in a housing unit with GP borderlline nutters, the chances are much larger.