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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455 Questions

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Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

What advice would you give someone considering corrections as a career?

Asked by K Roar almost 7 years ago

It isn't as good a gig as it used to be due to politics, but it is still pretty decent, at least in CA.

What are the biggest emotional hurdles inmates face when preparing to re-enter society?

Asked by sofibour about 7 years ago

That depends almost entirely on the inmate, the period of time he was in prison and what sort of support system will be available to him on the outside.  No easy answer there.

What should someone expect when applying to become a prison guard? I heard they have thorough background checks, they may also have lie detector tests.

Asked by Al over 6 years ago

I do not know of any agencies that do a poly any more. Doesn't mean there are not any. CA does a decent basic background check. Obviously they do a criminal records check and public record financial check. DMV. I believe they also mail out questionaires to people you indicate as references. I don't know if they do many personal contact interviews. Drug screen also of course. Psych eval.

Have you ever seen a co-worker help prisoners sneak contraband or something else? If so what happend? Where they paid and do you know how much?

Asked by 2893472389 almost 7 years ago

I have not personally seen it, but it does happen. People get fired and sometimes prosecuted for it. At one time tobacco was popular and since it was not technically ILLEGAL to smuggle it some people thought it was OK. Then cell phones. Drugs have always been popular but also always illegal. I don't have any fine details on the profit margins of such things, and since I have been out 14 years now any info I might have had would be stale.

Can someone sue a police department or a courthouse for false imprisonment?

Asked by They over 6 years ago

It is possible to sue almost anybody for almost anything. Winning is a lot harder. That being said people sue police departments all the time for False Arrest and are sometimes successful. Suing a judge or district attorney for malicious prosecution or outright illegal activity in obtaining a false conviction is almost impossible. Remember a "wrong" outcome does not mean that the officials involved necessarily did anything wrong.

Do you think that the prison system rehabilitates or only punishes?

Asked by sofibour about 7 years ago

The "system" does not, and can not, rehabilitate.  Rehabilitation comes from within and can not be imposed from the outside.  The offender must WANT to change and be willing to do so.

Has working with inmates affected how you view perpetrators of crime, and the prison system in general?

Asked by sofibour about 7 years ago

NO, not really.