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

I'm a small 5' women and I was wondering if It would be appropriate for me to become a CO

Asked by Rose about 6 years ago

Don't see why not. There were several small women where I worked. There are issues. One is that most of the prisons are designed for someone about 5-7 or taller. being able to shoot out of a tower can be a challenge (not that you do much of that). Also, doing something like count can be challenging because the cell windows are designed for someone taller. I know one small woman who had a milk crate on a dog leash. At count time she pulled it around with her like a foot stool. Stop. Step up on crate. Count the cell. step down. go to next cell. repeat 132 times. it worked. GO FOR IT.

Did your views of corrections change during your time employed?

Asked by K Roar over 6 years ago

Not really.

I was interested in doing this sort of job at a juvi detention center. What kind of emotional mind frame do you go to work with? How do you set the boundaries between being stern yet compassionate?

Asked by Becky almost 6 years ago

It used to be easier to answer when people in juvenile deterntion were actually young, minor offenders. Now they are mostly violent, serious criminals who happened to have been under age when they committed their crimes. The helpful-rehabilitative model is dead and stinking.

How effective do you feel probation/parole is?

Asked by Jade over 6 years ago

If it is funded and administratively supported properly with properly trained agents who spend at least as much time in the field as they do in the office, it can be very effective. As it is currently operated in many jurisdicitons it is a farce.

Do you think that felons and especially sexual offenders and murders should be able to vote?

Asked by Uncle Sam over 5 years ago

Not while they are in custody, no. Once they are out of the slammer and off of parole, yes.

How do you break out of the Bob Walsh prison?

Asked by SDAFKJ over 5 years ago

It is escape proof.

What (if anything?) can prison management, and Correctional officers, do to reduce the incidence of inmate-on-inmate rape / sexual assault? (Obviously, segregating vulnerable prisoners, such as sex offenders, is one tool, but are there others?)

Asked by Elvis over 5 years ago

Obviously staff must just BE AWARE of things going on around them. One of the things is being alert to coerced cell change requests and of course doing regular patrols into relatively isolated areas where inmates might have a reasonable reason to be, like warehouse and work areas. Especially if you see an inmate who APPEARS to be acting as a lookout. With a little time and experience you get used to spotting such things.