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

Did you ever have a problem with your hand held radios. Ronald spotted some BS suspicious activity, Dave saw something you would never believe, Marlene is going to tell everyone what she is having for lunch today, Darrel is taking a bathroom break, Bobbi Sue is having her nails done, Bob saw something you would never believe it oh my gosh come check it out, Dan is just talking to hear himself talk and it goes on and on meanwhile you have a fight or something and you can’t get on the air. I mean there is a priority or emergency button but sometimes there are not emergencies but when you want to get on but people are just talking to hear themselves talk. Did you ever have that?

Asked by Lol about 4 years ago

The radios we had when I left were 80 mghtz radios but did not have a priority circuit on them. There is, of course, not supposed to be a lot of BS traffic on the radios, they are supposed to be official business and not idle chitchat. Whoever is in charge should have something to say about obvious misuse of the system. .

What do you think about house arrest?

Asked by Karen over 4 years ago

For some people it is completely appropriate. Non-violent non-repeat offenders with an actual home and with some sort of support structure are good risks. Especially with some sort of electronic monitoring.

How did you treat inmates in general?

Asked by Kim over 4 years ago

I was always somewhat formal. It worked for me, that was my personality. Some people were more towards the friendly side, others more hostile. The inmates can handle pretty much anything but vacillation If you are an asshole, be an asshole all the time. If you are officer friendly, be officer friendly all the time. MOST inmates want to do their time with a minimum of drama. They react reasonably well to being treating like human beings in awkward circumstances. That is reality, they can relate to it.

Do weighted vests really work to help calm someone down? I seen it before on inmates. How effective are they?

Asked by Marty over 3 years ago

I have heard they are effective, but I have never used one nor even seen one used. Can't help you much. Sorry.

How to know if an inmate smuggled a phone tk talk to me ? He never said who he was. Just asked am I okay and said how u know its nto me. I called aagin few times. Voicemaik came phoen was dead after he said gotta go. Think its him idk

Asked by Deanna de almost 4 years ago

Hard to say. Prison calls come from monitored phones and are collect. A recording say something like "Will you accept a collect call from an inmate at San Quentin State Prison" (or whatever). I don't know if jails do the same thing, but as far as I know jail calls are collect too. If it was not a collect call it was probably made on a smuggled cell phone, or possibly as three way connection from somebody else on the outside making the link-up.

You sound like a Trump voter is this true?

Asked by Beto about 4 years ago

I am capable of critical thinking and independent thought, so I expect that makes me sound like a Trump voter, especially to people who are not Trump voters. Of course, that doesn't mean I VOTED for Trump, just that it is true that I sound like a Trump voter.

What where some pet peeves other Correctional Officer's would do?

Asked by Queen about 4 years ago

I have been retired for over 15 years but I suspect it is about the same as it has been for 60 years. Lame supervisors. Incompetent administrators. Irritating politicians. Prisoners who think they are being picked on just because you want them to follow the rules everybody else has to follow. The usual suspects.