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

BUNCH OF TRUMPERS ON JOBSTR. EVERYONE ON HERE IS TRUMPERS YAY

Asked by YAY about 3 years ago

Not exactly a question, and not on topic.

What are the right and wrong reasons for becoming a correctional officer?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

The wrong reason is because you want to punish bad people. Right reasons, ,maybe to help protect society.

I know someone has been a correctional officer for 15 years. If they failed a drug test is there a way they wont be fired if they have never been in trouble

Asked by Anonymous about 3 years ago

It depends on the jurisdiction and the exact circumstances I expect. My GUESS is that one bad test for weed would get you a nasty note in your personnel file. One bad test for coke or heroin might get you fired. Of course the tests are not 100% reliable and, if the person being tested protested his innocence they might very well put him/her on the mandatory test list for a few months. Unless the agency has a hard and fast policy there is a lot of wiggle room and good, long term employees are too valuable to be discarded lightly.

Is working for a public or private prison better? Or is there other types of prisons?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

Public (government) and private is about it. Public is "better" in that it pays better, you have more authority, more legal protection and as far as I know always better benefits and retirement.

4. Is a degree required? Would it help? What would be the best degree(s) to have? What about military experience?

Asked by Peyton over 3 years ago

I don't know that any system requires a degree for Correctional Officer. A criminal justice degree might help. A degree in Organizational Behavior might help. Military experience is often helpful and military people are used to the command structure which some people have trouble with.

Would you ever be a street cop?

Asked by 845 about 3 years ago

No. Never interested in it.

What is the diffrence between a judge and a comissionar

Asked by Tommy almost 4 years ago

My GUESS is that a judge is a judge who presides over a court while a commissioner is an Administrative Law Judge who presides over an administrative hearing, such as an inmate disciplinary hearing or a parolee revocation hearing. It would, however, depending on what arena and what jurisdiction you are operating in. Not exactly my field of expertise.