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

A follow up question to one I asked before about drugs in prison. I was referring to illegal drugs not prescribed drugs. Why would family members supply inmates with drug money? Inmates would not make much in prison .

Asked by Pete over 11 years ago

Inmates are very good at guilt-tripping family members to send them money, or to send money to a third party on some pretext, such as for "protection" or for jailhouse lawyer legal help.  Also inmates can buy stuff from the canteen and they need money for that so it is reasonable for them to ask.  If they can get 3 or 4 people to send them money they can get a fair income, then send that out to third parties to pay for drugs.  It isn't that hard.  Inmates are not, for the most part, stupid and they have lots of time on their hands to come up with ideas.

My wife is applying to be a correctional officer here in California. I am a felon recently off probation from prison. Can she still gain employment there

Asked by anthony over 11 years ago

Yes.  There is no civil service regulation or law that prevents the hiring of the family of ex-felons to be correctional offiers.  If you are, or even were, heavily gang involved that will possibly cause her to be looked at somewhat suspiciously for fear she may be a "mole" but it would not in and of itself prevent her from being hired. 

My relative is on probation for 3 years, served about 2. He is driving on suspended or revoked CA. Lic. And crossed into Texas. His P.O. knows .what is likely to happen now. Texas police know he's broken probation. Thank you.

Asked by just a mom over 11 years ago

That isn't really my end of the business.  Even if the Texas cops decide to go after him, which they might not, California may not pay to extradite him back to CA.  CA will enter a warrant into the system on him.  If he comes into contact with the cops after that they will arrest him.  What happens depends a lot of what he was actually convicted of.  Sorry I could not help more.  It is completely possible that nothing will happen.  It is also compltely possible they will ship him back to CA as an absconder.

I'm in the deep stages to becoming a CO, I have a speech disorder (slight stutter) which I let them know about in the original application. Will this be an issue later in the process? Will restrictions be applied to the task I'll be able to perform?

Asked by cesar almost 11 years ago

The real problem will be if it slows you down much, especially on the radio.  If it does it could become a serious issue.  Some people their stutter becomes worse when they become nervous, or frightened, or otherwise stressed.  As far as I know there is no such thing as a no-radio position.  I would be much more concerned about that than about a slight stutter in face-to-face confrontations. 

In the state of Calif. can a correctional officer date a ex felon? It has been several years, and i'm not on probation or parole. However I have a past.
Thank you

Asked by K.Helmer over 11 years ago

Yes.  It does not even have to be repoted to the employer (or at least did not when I was working) AS LONG AS THE EX-FELON IS NO LONGER UNDER DEPARTMENT SUPERVISION, I.E. PAROLE OR PROBATION (OR SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION MAYBE TOO, I AM UNSURE OF THAT ONE).  There is still a law against ex-offenders coming on prison grounds without the permission of the warden.  There are also issues about firearms storage and access if the C/O owns personsal weapons.

Greetings, is there a list of approved visitors that is given to the inmate for them to know?

Asked by M Guzman over 11 years ago

I don't quite follow your question.  Visitors must be approved to visit inmates.  Background checks are done on visitors, at least in California.  The visitor obtains a visiting form, usually by mail from the inmate.  The visitor fills it out and returns it and it is processed.  The visitor is approved (or denied).  If I remember correctly if the visitor is approved the prison notifies the inmate and it is up to him to notify the visitor.  If they are denied the prison notifies the visitor directly.

How long does it usually take for a contraband watch

Asked by Jay Jay over 11 years ago

Back when i was working, it usually ran three shifts.  If they were absolutely positive the guy had something it could run as long as nine shifts.  That was unusual, it gets expensive.