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.
Assuming it is an entry level position (it is in CA where I worked) they will not expect you to know much about the actual job. That is what they have training academies for. They will be interested in your general notions about the prison system, use of force and that sort of thing. They may want some basic info about your writing skills (way back when a short written presentation was part of the oral exam. I don't know if it still is or not). They may wonder about how you feel about shift work. The truth is always a good response in such things. Thoughtful responses but not off-the-cuff are also good. Flippant is bad. They will want to know about any potential blips in your history, like drug use, recent minor criminal activity, even a history of minor traffic infractions is often a red flag as it can indicate a lack of respect for authority or "the system." DUI, especially moderately recent, is also a bad thing. It is good if you have an honest and sincere interest in a CAREER as opposed to just a job. Flexibility is good. If you go in telling them you can't work nights or weekend because of this or that or the other thing they are likely to think you are not truly interested in the gig, or you will be as problem child if you get the gig.
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it depends a huge amount of the jurisdiction. in California now parole is virtually automatic. they are trying to reduce sentences. in some states they are very snotty about it, especially depending on the offense and record of priors.
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Already answered two notches above.
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Least enjoyable aspect of the job was people on occasion trying to kill me. Most enjoyable was general job satisfaction coming from doing a job that I was good at and that had social relevance and importance. Pay started at about $1,000 per month, but that was 35 years ago.
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Security / Bodyguard
Have you ever had to disarm an attacker?
School Bus Driver
Why don't school buses have seat belts?
Call Center Employee (Retail)
I've heard that a lot of startups are hiring really well-educated college grads and paying them a lot, reasoning that customer service is often a client's most lasting impression of a brand. What do you think, and is it something you see spreading?
I have no idea. However, in most states it is a peace officer position and virtually all peace officers have and need a driver's license. So my educated guess is YES.
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I have no idea what a Correctional Service Technician does or where they work. I am guessing it is an entry level job so they may ask you questions within the field that fit into the MQs (minimum qualifications). They are also likely to ask you questions about your general ideas re: interactions with inmates. They may also be interested in your attendance and/or job preformance at a previous job or school and your communication skills, especially writing skills. Wish I could be more helpful but I am having trouble visualizing the job. It sounds like you will be functionally a supervisor-lead person for a crew of inmate janitors.
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In California there has been some court action and a settlement relating to dental care but I do not have a lot of information on it. I don't even remember the name of the case. The basic notion is that inmates are supposed to be able to get the same level of dental care that a free citizen would at state expense. In the old days bad teeth were just pulled and that was it. The state would kick down for dentures but I am not aware that they will kick down for dental implants and I doubt that the state dentists even do them, though it is possible they do. It is also possible that if they are not considered medically necessary but he (you) were willing and able to pay that they could be done. If it has to be done out of house and the state does not cover it you would be on the hook for the cost and for the security costs involved in the transportation, which would be considerable. You could simply write the medical-dental department at the prison where he is housed and ask. If you don't trust them, you could contact the federal receiver (J. Clark Kelso) who has oversight over the California prison system medical care for inmates, which includes psych and dental.
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