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

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 5 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.

Is the average IQ of a criminal really 85?

Asked by Starfish Peppersocks over 4 years ago

That is pretty close. What used to be called DULL NORMAL or slightly below. Also as a group they are severely undereducated. About 10% total illiterate and about another 15% functionally illiterate, plus a fair number of monolingual non-English speakers.

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 4 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.

What is your personal opinion of females being CO’s?

Asked by Peyton over 4 years ago

Some are very good. Some are hopeless idiots. Most are in the middle. Just like males.

What are types on inmates you will deal with?

Asked by Peyton over 4 years ago

All kinds.

Do you need to go through any kind of academy?

Asked by Peyton over 4 years ago

In Ca yes. I think it is 13 weeks right now. I suspect there is some sort of legally mandatory minimum training in all states for peace officers.

I am writing a book and need some help. If two inmates start fighting in thier cell, what is the right procedure taken by the guards? how do other cell mates, from the same cell or others, react?

Asked by mirzokhid over 4 years ago

The system I worked for had almost zero cells that held more than two people. The procedure is pretty much the same. Sound an alarm. WAIT FOR BACKUP. (Inmates sometimes stage fights to draw officers into an area in order to attack them, steal keys, etc.) Often chemical agents are deployed before the cell is entered. When it seems appropriate you go in, separate and restrain (usually handcuff) the combatants and haul them to medical before throwing them into ad. seg.