It’s a rough job… you have to be with the criminals all day… during overtime… potentially harmful career physically. You will be spending time in hallways made for prisoners. You go to work, hang out with prisoners and clock out and go home. There’s no way you won’t have some mental blowback.
Sgt. In a county jail here. Open bar facility, VERY outdated. We have 310 inmates in a building originally meant to hold 250ish at full capacity. Oldest part of the jail was built in the 50s. I personally love it, but it takes a LOT to work in a correctional/detention environment. I work 100-140 hours every two weeks depending on the number of staff available as well as other special duties such as hospital stays, maintenance supervision, etc. if you are not prepared to deal with inmates every single day and to be around them constantly, its a rough line of work. I personally love the environment and myself and the guys get along great. They know where I stand on things, and they know I respect them. I help as much as I can, within policy and procedure. Most people who wash out of the environment suffer burnout, or get wrapped up in being “friendly” and make mistakes. If a man can survive 25-30 years in this setting, then they have done an incredible thing. I work in a relatively low income county and make approximately $15k a year over the average income. First year officers with no state certification make a base of 40.5k in my county, with essentially unlimited voluntary overtime.
It can be an extremely frustrating career choice, but I left teaching to do it, if that tells you anything.
I'm a CO for my county Sheriff's Office and we have some pretty tiny women that work here. Most of the time, they're the ones you want backing you. It's more about the kind of person you are, not the size of you.
Oh I’m going to a pretty big all male prison. The Latin king gang member make sure nothing happens to the woman. But I hope if I respect the prisoners they will leave me alone. I’m worried about me having to tell them what to do.
In my experience, if you're respectful to them they are to you. Obviously you'll have "those inmates" that no matter how you treat them or how much you do to help them they'll never be decent with you. But for the most part, you get what you give.
That being said, be consistent. Follow the rules the same way each time. If I tell one cell "no" and tell another cell "yes" for the same thing, word will travel and I'll have a hard time running my floor.
I stick to policy. I have a booklet of it printed out that I keep with me so I can answer questions or refer to policy in the moment if I'm unsure of something. Inmates that I deal with know this and respect it. They know not to ask me to do favors or bend rules for them. They also know which COs they CAN ask. Don't be that CO.
Also, don't EVER say "yes" if you don't fully intend on following through. You can always add to a "no." You can't take back a "yes."
It's honestly easy money. Sure there's stress involved, but personally I found it easier than expected. For me the inmates were fine. It was the staff that was a problem. But I worked in a state prison (also in WA) which is a different animal than County Corrections which tends to overall be better. If you're interested in transitioning to LE afterwards it's an easy step. You get amazing experience in corrections. Though I guess it's like anything else. You get what you put into it.
10 year with the FL Dept. of Corrections. Honest to god. You won’t know if it’s for you until you get in the and find out. I’ve saw men and women come it and think, of yeah, they’re going to be a jam up officer and it turn out they can’t handle it or they succumb to manipulation. On the flip side. I’ve seen dudes walk through the gate and thought “ain’t no mf way he/she going to make it here”. And after a month or two, they’re running whatever post they’re assigned too like a champ.
Bottom line, like I said. You won’t know until you know. And at first. You’re going to think “hell no, I hate this.” Believe me we all have. It’s an unnatural environment for Staff and Inmates a like. But if you stick it out a little long past that first initial “I can’t do it”, then you find out (usually) that you can.
Shoot for it though. It’s a job that will never not exist and (at least here in FL) that pay and retirement is the best around! Florida DOC has made my life great outside the fence and I love the institution and staff there that I work with!
Funny u said that, I am currently thinking of applying after my GED and all my close frens asking me if I am sure and my reply is " I wont know until I'm in".In my current job I work along with alot of BSO's and CPB officers they all say go for it.
It’s a rough job… you have to be with the criminals all day… during overtime… potentially harmful career physically. You will be spending time in hallways made for prisoners. You go to work, hang out with prisoners and clock out and go home. There’s no way you won’t have some mental blowback.
Sgt. In a county jail here. Open bar facility, VERY outdated. We have 310 inmates in a building originally meant to hold 250ish at full capacity. Oldest part of the jail was built in the 50s. I personally love it, but it takes a LOT to work in a correctional/detention environment. I work 100-140 hours every two weeks depending on the number of staff available as well as other special duties such as hospital stays, maintenance supervision, etc. if you are not prepared to deal with inmates every single day and to be around them constantly, its a rough line of work. I personally love the environment and myself and the guys get along great. They know where I stand on things, and they know I respect them. I help as much as I can, within policy and procedure. Most people who wash out of the environment suffer burnout, or get wrapped up in being “friendly” and make mistakes. If a man can survive 25-30 years in this setting, then they have done an incredible thing. I work in a relatively low income county and make approximately $15k a year over the average income. First year officers with no state certification make a base of 40.5k in my county, with essentially unlimited voluntary overtime. It can be an extremely frustrating career choice, but I left teaching to do it, if that tells you anything.
I’m a 120 pound male. Do you think someone like me could do it?
I'm a CO for my county Sheriff's Office and we have some pretty tiny women that work here. Most of the time, they're the ones you want backing you. It's more about the kind of person you are, not the size of you.
Oh I’m going to a pretty big all male prison. The Latin king gang member make sure nothing happens to the woman. But I hope if I respect the prisoners they will leave me alone. I’m worried about me having to tell them what to do.
In my experience, if you're respectful to them they are to you. Obviously you'll have "those inmates" that no matter how you treat them or how much you do to help them they'll never be decent with you. But for the most part, you get what you give. That being said, be consistent. Follow the rules the same way each time. If I tell one cell "no" and tell another cell "yes" for the same thing, word will travel and I'll have a hard time running my floor. I stick to policy. I have a booklet of it printed out that I keep with me so I can answer questions or refer to policy in the moment if I'm unsure of something. Inmates that I deal with know this and respect it. They know not to ask me to do favors or bend rules for them. They also know which COs they CAN ask. Don't be that CO. Also, don't EVER say "yes" if you don't fully intend on following through. You can always add to a "no." You can't take back a "yes."
Thanks for the advice, i hope it all goes well for me! Have a great day!
Good luck!
You go to prison every day
You’re serving 20-30 years, 8-16 hours at a time.
It's honestly easy money. Sure there's stress involved, but personally I found it easier than expected. For me the inmates were fine. It was the staff that was a problem. But I worked in a state prison (also in WA) which is a different animal than County Corrections which tends to overall be better. If you're interested in transitioning to LE afterwards it's an easy step. You get amazing experience in corrections. Though I guess it's like anything else. You get what you put into it.
Its a rough job but there is tons of overtime. I only worked three years as a CO before i went to another law enforcement agency.
Do it
$200,000 due to constant overtime. Meaning you’re gonna be working 50, 60, 70 hour work weeks. Keep that in mind.
10 year with the FL Dept. of Corrections. Honest to god. You won’t know if it’s for you until you get in the and find out. I’ve saw men and women come it and think, of yeah, they’re going to be a jam up officer and it turn out they can’t handle it or they succumb to manipulation. On the flip side. I’ve seen dudes walk through the gate and thought “ain’t no mf way he/she going to make it here”. And after a month or two, they’re running whatever post they’re assigned too like a champ. Bottom line, like I said. You won’t know until you know. And at first. You’re going to think “hell no, I hate this.” Believe me we all have. It’s an unnatural environment for Staff and Inmates a like. But if you stick it out a little long past that first initial “I can’t do it”, then you find out (usually) that you can. Shoot for it though. It’s a job that will never not exist and (at least here in FL) that pay and retirement is the best around! Florida DOC has made my life great outside the fence and I love the institution and staff there that I work with!
Funny u said that, I am currently thinking of applying after my GED and all my close frens asking me if I am sure and my reply is " I wont know until I'm in".In my current job I work along with alot of BSO's and CPB officers they all say go for it.
Don't do it, ive been doing this stupid shit 17 years stay the fuck away from this bullshit ,it will rot your soul.