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

Question! How has the prison system changed to your knolage since you retired

Asked by SMart cookie over 3 years ago

Yes. Quite a bit. The population has gone down very considerably due to "realignment" and changes in sentencing laws. Inmates are serving shorter sentences and the Covid infection has impacted things considerably towards staff and prisoners both. The death penalty is suspended (not that it has really been operational for almost 20 years anyway) and the politics of the system has swung very much towards the "warm and fuzzy" model of corrections.

What is life like for a prisoner who has alot of money? Can they own video games and buy McDonald's?

Asked by Garm almost 4 years ago

Not unless they can get to somebody with some juice who will "approve" non-standard property. Such things have happened in the past. Somebody gets pissed, somebody snitches, somebody gets fired and maybe prosecuted. prisoner gets transferred to someplace a lot less fun. This only works long term if nobody finds out it is happening and obviously that doesn't work so well in that environment.

What’s your opinion on auditors?

Asked by Cale about 4 years ago

An auditor is someone who borrows your watch to tell you what time it is and then charges you for the service. OK, that is an oversimplification. If you have a proper admin. set-up where people are doing their job your need for audits should be small and seldom. That being said an occasional audit does serve to keep the people who should be on their toes actually on their toes. They are a pain but an occasionally necessary pain.

Why did you choose this career?

Asked by Beanie over 4 years ago

I had a friend whose husband worked there. I worked for the state for another agency at the time (not peace officer) when I saw a newspaper ad. I answered it. It appealed to my sense of structure, I thought it was worthwhile from a social benefit perspective and the pay, benefits and promotional opportunities were very good.

What do you think of these prisons? https://www.therichest.com/rich-list/12-of-the-cushiest-prisons-in-the-world/

Asked by Malcom over 4 years ago

I haven't seen the list and do not intend to activate the link. Sorry to be so unhelpful, but my anti-virus software doesn't like it.

my wife is in jail shes mental health scared and in medical the captin came to her with my mugshot asking why why why him and started asking what gang im in and all this is that legal

Asked by cory jackson over 4 years ago

From what I can tell (your writing leaves something to be desired) the Captain at the jail asked your wife what gang you are in. As far as I know it is perfectly legal for him to ask. It is also perfectly legal for her to tell him to pound sand.

What do you think of females in this job? I don't see a problem with it but some people seem to

Asked by Mia almost 4 years ago

Some females do very well. Most do OK. Some are total loses. Rather like male employees. When I started (1986) women working in men's prisons were unusual but not prohibited. some of the dinosaurs had trouble with it, but not too many. I don't see a problem with it either.