Correctional Officer

[wtexasfam]

Don’t know if this is the right board to post this … but here it goes: does anybody here work as a correctional officer? Specifically here in Texas (TDCJ)? Talked to the recruiter last week (and recruiters being what they are I was in the military before) I have an interview next month but sure would like to know what’s really like behind them walls.

[big rockpile]

Boring.

big rockpile

[cc-rider]

Funny you should ask. I just spoke to a friend of mine because I'm *hoping* that I'll get called for a job interview at a pretty large correctional facility around here. He is a guard already and he told me that during the several week orientation, they were taught that "the guards are only there because the inmates allow them to be" and to be on their guard (no pun intended) at all times. I've only applied as an administrative assistant, so I hope that position isn't in contact with inmates, but it's still a scary thing to think about.

[JMx4]

My experience, with a spouse, as a corrections officer was miserable. He had the job for 2 years and couldn't wait to get out. Said he felt like the prisoner, the inmates had so many rights. Inmates have nothing but free time to think of ways to make others miserable and to bring suit on whoever they think may have wronged them in the system. Most new hires in a shift work situation will get the least desirable shifts and unless you have a really good family situation it is very hard to deal with the lost time from your family. I always felt like my husband was looking over his shoulder no matter where we were. Sorry for the rant. Just a sore subject for me.

[Jenni979]

I have several close relatives who work in correction in Texas... Huntsville & Brownwood... They are all ex-military, too. 8-)

All they say is that after the Marines, being a CO is cake. They actually get more irritated with the other CO's (ie, not giving their 100%) than they usually do with the inmates.

That being said, 1 of my friends is a gaurd in a Federal facility in Indiana and he has been shanked on one occasion and stabbed in the ear with a pencil on another occasion. Both times he was lucky that the wounds were just superficial. After all that, he still loves his job.

GL!!!

[springvalley]

Think about it, your in behind bars, with hundreds of bad guys. You have no weapon other than your wits and a radio. My wife worked in one , only in the office. But I didn`t like it much at all. I think selling pencils on the corner would be a better occupation Thanks Marc.

[Old Vet]

I have worked with several of the correctional guards. The one that I work with are self centered and are prone to do bad things. Don't know about Texas but In Arkansas some are not better than the ones that are locked up. There are a few good ones to be sure but watch for the ones that need to be look at. Thievery is one thing but dope is another and I have caught both. Many of them are mean even away from work. If you go to work for them watch out for that and keep your self clean.

[glazed]

I used to work in the Middleton Unit (minimum) and the French Robertson Unit (maximum) ... they are right next door to each other ... outside of Abilene in Hamby ... and my cousin is a recruiter.

Where do you live out here in West Texas?

[ChristieAcres]

One of my relatives works for a max security prison as a CO. He has only been attacked a couple of times (those inmates went to the hospital, he wasn't harmed at all). Not only can he physically defend himself against guys even bigger than he (6'4"), but is armed with other weapons. He has had advanced self-defense training and due to his size, strength, training, and speed, he is front/center of riot patrol (whenever warranted). When outside patrolling, armed with a gun, of course. This guy is obvious a real tough one, but self-control is his middle name. He chooses not to "fight" whenever possible. From what he has told me, most days are uneventful, and yes, a bit boring. That is better than the alternative.

On the job itself? If directly dealing with inmates, especially maximum security, my take is that you have to have great self-control and be incredibly tough (for the rare times it is needed). There is a lot lower risk of violence at minimum security prisons.

[Big Dave]

My Brother worked in Huntsville at Walls unit. His first week was when Fred Corasco shot it out and took hostages. It is a tough row to hoe at times. It can be rewarding if you are horse back out in the fields or in the warehouse. Lots of different jobs beside pickett or gaurd.

[rancher1913]

i think i'm finally ready to be a little more open around here now that i've got to know the boards. i farm and ranch full time but what pays my bills are that i work at the largest prison in the state of colorado. we have almost 3000 inmates and around 700 staff. like all jobs we have good and bad staff. some are just doing a job( they are the best), some want to make a name for themselfs( they burn out quickly), and some like the power trip( the worst). the inmates are not so much a problem, most just want to do their time. if they so much as bump into staff its considered an assult on a police officer and they get street charges that extend their time. this is not to say you don't need to watch your back and be on your guard, but honestly you are at more of a risk of being attacked at 7 eleven the in a prison. we run drills all the time so that if something happens we don't panic we just respond, we do not carry wepons but everyone has to be wepons qualified. the one thing that helps me walking the yard is that if something happens, my coworkers can be on the roofs fully armed in less than 1 minute. if you treat the inmates with respect they treat you with respect. the biggest problem is that the inmates like to play games--tell lies about staff to get them in trouble and try to compromise them to supply contraband. this job can and does destroy families if you let it. a lot of the staffs spouses also work in the prison so at least both can feel empathy for the other. admins (secratarys) at our facility do have inmate contact but never get left alone with an inmate. if you have a specific question i'll try and answer as best as i can. we house all levels from honor inmates to death row and insane (they can be extremly funny but are also the most dangerous)

[Ravenlost]

My ex husband was a CO at Angola (Louisiana) when we were married. He didn't seem to mind the job, but didn't like being dropped in the middle of nowhere at night with a shotgun when there was an escape. He did like having kitchen duty though cause he got to eat all day! His language got worse and worse while he worked there. He saw a guy get stabbed to death one time too.

[chrissum]

I worked before for the MO Dept of Corrections, I thought it was a good job, average pay, and was treated good by inmates and staff alike. It is like any other job, it is what you make of it and if you like it, I choose to move on to a better paying job.

[haypoint]

I worked in 4 different Michigan prisons, 10 years as an Officer and 17 as a Supervisor. Michigan has a low staff to prisoner ratio. We received more training and better pay than most states, but had more convicts to manage. 1200 prisoners in a prison designed for 600. Everyone denies the stress levels, but give a guy a few weeks away from the place and they look 5 years younger. Leave your ego at home, watch your back, don't get complacent and learn how to tell when a felon is lying.
Big difference from Minimum security and Maximum. Working nights for years, working weekends and holidays, mandatory double shifts strains a relationship. Alcohol abuse and divorce are common.
But all I know is Michigan.

[Ken Scharabok]

I have a friend who's brother was a CO at a minimum security prison for 25 years. The first five were OK, he tolerated the next 15 and endured the final five. Although I will note he had various health problems. He said even there every con had some sort of scam going. He praised their banning tobacco as it was the inmate medium of exchange. Created fewer problems with fights over tobacco debts and such. However, the inmates still have 24/7 to think about how to get around the system.

(On this, read where someplace built an 'escape proof city or county jail'. An inmate escaped within the first two weeks by going through a utility tunnel.)

Another friend's daughter inquired at the same facility. State benefits and retirement in 25. They would provide tuition assistance for certain LE courses. I don't recall what the starting pay was but am pretty sure it was above minimum wage.

[haypoint]

When prisons issued prison tokens, inmates gambled with them, so they are gone. Inmates gambled with cigarettes and the prisons got tired of trying to match up smokers and keep them from non-smokers, so tobacco is gone. So, they use small pebbles while playing cards, Their inmate scorekeeper keeps a tally and after Yard is over, there is an exchange of bars of hand soap.

Do you know how prisoners girlfriends smuggle in drugs?

[Shrek]

rascaldaisy was a CO for TDC.

[Ken Scharabok]

"Do you know how prisoners girlfriends smuggle in drugs?"

Yes, and how inmates do the transfer and carry them back to their cells.

[Ken Scharabok]

Friend's brother said they used the prisoners for grounds maintenance. Someone would throw a 'package' over the fence to be found by the prisoner. I'm told it happens at the local county jail also.

Locally we have a county jail roadside trash pick up crew out of it. For each day of pick up they get one day off their sentence. Low risk prisoners only. They never know where they will be working to try to prevent someone from stashing something for them.

When I lived in the Dayton, OH area I remember readiing to where inmates would tie strings of dental floss together, put a wad of chewing gum on the end and lower it through the window mesh down to the street to where someone would tie on a package for them.

As noted, inmates have 24/7 to think of ways around the system.

[Whisperwindkat]

My husband is a CO and loves it. He is ex military also (Army Airborne). It suits his personality and I think that is the biggest key is that the job suit your personality. The inmates don't bother him. It is like he says he knows what to expect from them. However, his biggest complaint is with other COs. He says that they have quite a few officers that are wearing the wrong uniform and that is aggravating to him. That seems to be the biggest issue throughout the system. They have had officers leave his prison and go to others for promotions and more pay and many come back giving up the pay and promotions because of the way the officers behave. The shift work is tough, more on me than him. It means that I usually have to take on more work here at the farm, so that he can sleep and spend time with the children. Fortunately we homeschool so they are here when he is. Pretty much everything that rancher1913 said is what I hear from my husband. It is just like any other job, it suits some and not others. God bless and take care.