I have been looking for a new career and my current local truck driving job will end in a month or two. So I got the bright idea to apply for a Corrections Officer job, took the written test(passed 90%), now just have to go do the physical test which I am not 100% sure I can get it done in the amount of time they give you, but I will try. My question is what are the good and bad points to this kind of job?? I had applied to be a teacher in the prison but they aren't needing any locally so the only other opening was for CO1. thank for any input.

 

My step father worked corrections for Texas. Came home one day with a hole in his gut where an inmate had stabbed him. I work occasionally with a guy that also worked TDC. Got tired of have crap (literally) thrown at him, cursed at, food thrown at him you name it. The inmates run the places. Lay a stick on them and you get sued. Cant carry your weapon when patrolling the cells.

 

I think that every street cop should work the county jail for 6mos to a year before they can go on patrol.
If other people can do it for their careers so can you. County jails and state prisons are different.
I was a CO for only about 7 months before I went to the academy.
Its certainly nothing wrong with it at all. Just remember it's real.

If I can offer any one piece of advice on this career its to never ever even just for a cigarette compromise yourself and your job.

 

Yeah, I know it is not the perfect job but I gotta do what I got to do. We had to watch several videos of situations and it was eye opening! I asked the officer showing the video what I had to do to get a job in the tower? he just laughed and said it would take a while to earn that spot. Bad thing is I know several of the inmates (former students)!

 

You might get help here . http://forums.officer.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20 . There is a forum for correctional officers on that site but you must be a sworn officer to register an post . Try googling correctional officer forums

 

My wife works at Lansing State pen in KS. It isnt as bad as most people would say. The pay definately isnt all that great but it is a state job with great benifits. She says it is pretty boring and NEVER EVER get close to an inmate. She went to college for it and took alot of psyc classes to deal with the mind games these guys play. Do they hit on her all the time? YES but like she says what would a man in prison have to offer anyone. As long as you treat the guys like people and not animals they tend to listen to you and not bother you too much

 

I worked for Calif. DC for nearly 30 years before retiring. It was a pain much of the time, frustrating as hell most of it. I was assulted twice in that time, neither serious. I retired as an upper level supervising counselor knocking down 60% of my gross pay plus medical and dental benefits paid with a small deductable.

Calif. is having problems keeping the positions filled and has put up billboards touting it as the best entry level job in the state. Retirement now can reach 80% or more and starting salary is close to 5K/month.

You need a squeaky clean history and must be at least slightly smarter than a post. The more education the better chance you have at success. Maintaining a professional and not too close relationship with inmates is critical to make it.

Dan

 

BE fair, Firm and Consistent
never lie. If you don't know the answer say i'll check on that and get back to them. very psychologically tough job- you never see anything good. hopefully employees around you are good.

set a routine, never take work home to the family.
stay clean and professional and observe observe oberve- it will get you promoted.

now I can chuckle and say- Good Luck! usually the administeration gives you sleepless nights, not the inmates. pen is pretty powerful but use it sparingly-
your word and how you deal with people is the key to good discipline!

my husband is a lieutenant in charge of a compound and counts his 45 shifts to retirement. he can't wait to get out!

Heidi in NY

 

I am a C/O and have been for a little over 9 years. I like it wish for another state job but not holding my breathe. It depends if you can make a bad situation into a safe one and turn it into a good time. I love going to work just to see some of the staff I work with. You will see some of the dumbest stuff ever and meet the people from COPS tv show. I have meet some interesting criminals and some famous ones. Good luck with a decesion.

 

That's good advice there.

Psycologicaly tough is right, A good day means nothing happened. (No one escaped, No one got hurt , and Everyone on shift went home to there families)

I've been working behind bars for 6 years now and It is a good fit for me. (We get a killer schedule of 7 days on/ 7 days off = lot's of play time) But it isn't for everyone.

There are lot's of differences between facilities. Pre-trial, long term, short term, minimum, max. Also you have the differences between Federal, State, County and even municipal.

It all depends on what you want out of the job. In the end if you take the job, don't let the job define you. It is just a job. Have a life outside.

 

I have been working as a Correctional Officer for 3 years now and it hasnt been a bad job to me. You just have to take a lot of things with a grain of salt. Dont take anything home with you and like someone said before be fair, firm, and consistent. In my state, the state level doesnt pay to well so most people try to go federal if they are young enough. If you are going to make a career out of corrections then federal is the way to go. Its not a bad job at all...its just not for everyone.