Anybody here ever been a Correctional Officer ?

[Eddy Current]

I heard there's alot of corruption in the job. I passed my physical exam and i have a interview lined up but I don't wanna walk into a nightmare. I guess it depends on the jail , location and co workers like any other job.

Of course imates throwing feces in your face when you write them up.

I'm not a CO but for some reason was in this Facebook group called "Correctional Officer Life" that looked like it would be a good resource if you're going into that profession.

People would use the group to do anything from venting and blowing off steam, to asking for advice regarding tough predicaments.

[Removed Now]

I'm not a CO but for some reason was in this Facebook group called "Correctional Officer Life" that looked like it would be a good resource if you're going into that profession.

People would use the group to do anything from venting and blowing off steam, to asking for advice regarding tough predicaments.

Thank you !

[.!WAR MIKEY!.]

Ima tell you this from a prisoners perspective. Mainline GP this advice only applies to these type of yards.

As a C.O. in this unit just be a legit C.O., dont be disrespectful, think you better than the prisoners and just do your job legit and you will be safe. Prisoners dont wake up thinking they gonna kill a C.O. that happens when a few things happens the C.O. is no longer a legit C.O. he working for someone in prison and that relationship goes sideways, or you a piece of shit C.O. and the prisoners who you constantly disrespect had enough of it so they gonna attack you. in fact attacking of C.O. is frown upon for the most part but it does happen.

Now this only applies to General population, mainline type of yards. and just general guidelines. people have bad days etc etc so you must know how to adjust.

You might get sent into a Medical unit, PC yard, SN Yard, etc etc and them dudes range from crazy to pussy and everything inbetween so you will most likely get gassed in this yards etc etc, getting gass is when they throw shit and piss on you.

[flipbjefrox]

There’s that reality TV called behind bars that take a look at the CO’s jobs in their first year. Sounds stressing. Seems like you’re better off in high security area than low securities area since you gotta baby sit a lot in low securities areas

[KING MEAT]

its supervising 30-80 inmates every day. i passed to be one over 10 years ago, interview, physicals, lie detector test. then i realized... fk that ****.

[WarVeteranO01]

its supervising 30-80 inmates every day. i passed to be one over 10 years ago, interview, physicals, lie detector test. then i realized... fk that ****.

Try 132 High Security inmates at a time not 30-40, well at least in the feds.

[-Kev-]

I'm a CO in Ohio. I read through the thread before replying. Some things I agree with and disagree with. Other CO's may disagree with what i'm about to say but this is only from my experience.

First and foremost: Yes, prison is dangerous. Don't ever get complacent just because every day, day in and day out, is boring. A boring day in prison, is a good day. But it's still dangerous. Is it also easy? Yes, it's a very easy job. It's both easy and dangerous.

Juveniles are easier: No, stay away from Juvenile Detention Centers/Youth Services. They are not easier, they are harder. Read into the use of force policies in juvenile facilities in your state. It's a nightmare, juveniles can get away with a lot more than adult inmates. Adults are easier to deal with than kids. Think about it, it's common sense. Also there's no such thing, yet, as a CO transferring to youth services (juvenile), but there are many CO's in my institution that came from juvie and had a nightmare use of force story to tell. It's not that they are "tougher", it's that your use of force options are limited.

Inmates, when released, will find you and kill you: LOL. They can find you on social media, but whether or not they will want to kill you or injure you is up to the way you treated them in prison. You had to be a real piece of crap for an inmate to want to come after you. If you were respectful and just did your job, what's required of you by policy, you have nothing to worry about. The only encounter I had outside of prison with an inmate was I had an ex-inmate find me and contact me on Facebook message to tell me thank you for not being an a-hole CO and making his time easier to serve. I was the permanent dorm officer in the block he was in. I can tell you with 100% confidence, I do not look over my shoulder for former inmates out to get me. Whether they're bloodz, cripz, Aryan brotherhood (the guy who contacted me was AB), GD, whatever, I got nothing to worry about. But i'm respectful, I don't treat anybody like crap, whether it's inmates or new CO's. I can run into any former inmate/convict without a care in the world for my life, I mean that honestly.

What War Mikey said: He is correct. Refer to the above post.

TV series and documentaries: One thing to understand about these things on tv is that you are going to watch what the producer and director wants you to watch. They will film for 6 months and show the worst that happens in the worst prisons they can find, in the span of those 6 months-1 year. Also the bada$$es they show in these shows and docu's are not really the bada$$es of the prison, there is no prison that will show you their baddest inmate. In fact these guys that get interviewed and shown huffing and puffing, calling themselves the "apex" and the "alpha male" of the prison will now have to watch their back in prison once the show gets aired.

It's depressing: Yes, it can be. Corrections has a high depression rate, suicide rate, divorce rate, alcoholism, and substance use rate. Also, CO's and inmates get PTSD at the same rate as US military. Have any of these things happened to me? No, actually I stopped drinking a long time ago and only drink socially, 4-5 times a year and have no desire to take my own life away. And i've never used drugs, and once I leave the parking lot, anything that happened that day, I just forget it, don't dwell on it. Make sure you have something to do. I go to the gym with two other co-workers, 5 days a week. I also play video games and I keep myself busy by studying and thinking of a career change, and watching sports. I think the negatives of corrections will hit you only if you're predisposed to those things. I have not experienced any of these things, so all I can say is that it depends on your personality and your genes. Probably the same as in military, PTSD can happen but you have to be predisposed to it.

OT, OT, and more OT: Yes, there is lots of overtime. Last year I made an extra $20k in OT. And I could've made more if I wanted, I just didn't want to burn myself out. There are CO's that do so much OT that they make Lieutenant money. The salaries are public record and I saw it with my own eyes lol.

My take: Out of 365 days, there will be 364 mostly boring days, with inmate fights and assaults on a weekly basis, every other day, (depending on the prison, probably every day) being the most common "action" you'll have. There will maybe be that 1 day out of the whole year where something "big" happens. This of course all depends on the prison you choose. Also, don't be dirty. You lose all respect from everyone, staff and inmates and they would not care to throw you under the bus during investigations. So don't bring sh/t in for inmates, no matter what it is. Cheeseburger, tobacco, weed, whatever, say no and tell them to F off. They will respect that more than you being dirty. Mind your own business when it comes to other staff, don't get involved in gossip. I get along with everyone because I mind my own business and I don't partake in gossip. If you talk crap to me about another CO, I will just nod or smh, chuckle and change the subject. If you're a dirty CO though, you will get no respect and everyone will talk about you.

That's enough from me for now. If you got any other questions just PM me.

[-Kev-]

Try 132 High Security inmates at a time not 30-40, well at least in the feds.

Yea, in my block I have 272.

Sh/t 30-80 would be a piece of cake.

[WarVeteranO01]

I am just trying to get more insight on this job.

Ima tell it to u straight, its not for every1. I was a Federal C.O. in a High Security Penitentiary. If you r young and want action, go to a Pen. But to be honest, at least in the Feds, why risk your life with ruthless savages for the same pay u make at a low or minimum security?

Perks of the job is pay incentives, extra$ for working mornings/ evenings/Sundays, tons of OT, 20yr retirements, & in most states full peace officer status meaning a great Union.

One thing i will say is u learn a lot in prison. Being a C.O. if u make it a career definitely will change u but u really need to check yourself from time to time so its not for the worst. & if u later decide to go into another form of Law Enforcement, itll definitely give u a full perspective of the justice system.

Lastly, i know u had a thread about joining the reserves the other day. There were a group of C.O.s i worked with that were Military Police officers in the reserves, they loved getting away from the prison & wives for the weekend & doing other law enforcement occasionally, they said it helped with sanity lol

[WarVeteranO01]

Yea, in my block I have 272.

Sh/t 30-80 would be a piece of cake.

Damn! Passing chow during lockdown must suck! Haha! I remember walking thru the sallyport on days hoping for lockdown. Then after about a week of passing out chow & shower escorts it got old as F.