Any Correctional Officer's Here.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any Correctional Officer's Here.

Posted: 9/9/2005 7:26:11 PM EDT

As title states.

21 years with TDCJ. Shift LT in Huntsville area.

Posted: 9/9/2005 8:21:56 PM EDT

[#1]

Yes, Louisville Metro, 7 years. Two years with the state prior to that.

Posted: 9/9/2005 10:40:10 PM EDT

[#2]

Yep, 3 years with a County Agency in Arizona. Currently a Sergeant in Charge of Intell/Investigations Unit, DT instructor.

Posted: 9/9/2005 10:57:56 PM EDT

[#3]

Yup

Bexar County TX 92-94 ( dual certified )
Oregon State Pen 95-98
MCSO 98-present

Posted: 9/10/2005 4:43:43 AM EDT

[#4]

8 years Corrections Canada..same rank as when I started. Less bullshit and less routine.

Posted: 9/10/2005 12:50:05 PM EDT

[#5]

(soon to be) 1 year Detention Operations, Baghdad Central Correctional Facility, Iraq

5 months Shift Leader, Special Housing Unit
4 months Visitation ECP
Now assigned to the Immediate Reaction Force

Done a bunch of convoy escorts, too. Prisoner transport takes on a whole new meaning in Baghdad. It ain't a simple jail run!

Posted: 9/10/2005 12:53:01 PM EDT

[#6]

9 years with the Indiana Dept. of Corrections. I've been a Sgt. since '99.

Posted: 9/10/2005 5:16:08 PM EDT

[#7]

4 1/2 years as a detention officer at a medium sized PD in Texas.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:54:01 AM EDT

[#8]

15+ w Feds; running a work crew inside the fence of "anything" they assign me. Armed transport for extra/OT duty. Still "like" it, still good at it, still as crazy as ever. Treat everybody from the warden to the thugs like a human being, but seldom turn your back on anyone. Try to have a sharp eye and a thick skin. Stay safe
BTW Why the post? Are you curious or considering a career? If the latter...believe that there will be many similarities and many differences in any experiences/advice you hear about ... not right or wrong ... just different. I imagine I speak for the others here if you want to eMail other ?s directly

Posted: 9/12/2005 8:25:30 AM EDT

[#9]

8 yrs with Delaware DOC and 1 week left. Got a office job and going to work normal people hours and loose the polyester. It couldnt be a moment to soon. We have been working on a contract for 6 yrs and we just got the finished product it sucks bad. Full staffing for our state doc is 1800, minimum staffing is 1300, right now we are 340 positions below minimum staffing.

Posted: 9/12/2005 9:42:30 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
. We have been working on a contract for 6 yrs and we just got the finished product it sucks bad. Full staffing for our state doc is 1800, minimum staffing is 1300, right now we are 340 positions below minimum staffing.

You sure you don't work for Corrections Canada?

Posted: 9/12/2005 9:49:54 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
8 years Corrections Canada..same rank as when I started. Less bullshit and less routine.

You failed your Beaver Inspector board?

Posted: 9/12/2005 10:47:53 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
8 years Corrections Canada..same rank as when I started. Less bullshit and less routine.

You failed your Beaver Inspector board?

www.atlpolice.ca/images/b700.jpg

I didn't fail it..the question was ambiguous..shaved and trimmed are not the same thing...

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:27:49 AM EDT

[#13]

Here, In recognition of your service to all northern aquatic rodents, I'll make you an honorary (and end the hijack of this topic

):

NorCal

Posted: 9/12/2005 1:26:32 PM EDT

[#14]

Thanks NorCal..that is friggen hilarious.

Posted: 9/12/2005 8:43:29 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote: 15+ w Feds; running a work crew inside the fence of "anything" they assign me. Armed transport for extra/OT duty. Still "like" it, still good at it, still as crazy as ever. Treat everybody from the warden to the thugs like a human being, but seldom turn your back on anyone. Try to have a sharp eye and a thick skin. Stay safe
BTW Why the post? Are you curious or considering a career? If the latter...believe that there will be many similarities and many differences in any experiences/advice you hear about ... not right or wrong ... just different. I imagine I speak for the others here if you want to eMail other ?s directly
________________________________________________________________________________

Nope, To old for Feds standards. Was just looking for a place to hang out on the forum with others of like occupation.

Besides have to many years invested in Texas Department of Corrections.

Posted: 9/12/2005 8:55:29 PM EDT

[#16]

Just curious what agencies around the country are paying these days. Mine goes from about $18-28/hr for a deputy +6% retirement and full benefits. When I was in TX I only made about $10-12/hr or so IIRC. Not the best paying job in the world but the bills aint too late I guess

Posted: 9/13/2005 10:20:47 AM EDT

[#17]

Up until this April when our facility was shut down I had four and a half years in Indiana D.O.C. as a Juvenile Services Officer.
Three years I.D.O.C./E.R.O. S.E.R.T. member and two plus years as a S.E.R.T. Special Weapons Team member.

Been off work since the shut down and I don't intend to go back if I can help it.
Loved being on the S.E.R.T. team,hated working for the liberal inmate/offender lovers who ran and/or worked in the normal D.O.C. system.
Made my job many times harder and dangerous than it should have been.

As many of you already know and have witnessed and I don't care what system you work for the D.O.C. system in this country needs to be overhauled. The powers that be need to be more worried about our safety and the safety of the public and less about being sued by the A.C.L.U. or an INMATE!

P.S. I made about $13.10 after 4 1/2 years.

Posted: 9/13/2005 12:57:19 PM EDT

[#18]

Make $15 and change an hour, the recent merger of the city and the county killed the raises in our last contract. On the brightside I am due a raise next month, I get a uniform/equipment allowance yearly and we are fully sworn full-time peace officers so I make an extra $100-$200 a week in off-duty work.

Posted: 9/13/2005 1:27:34 PM EDT

[#19]

A CO level 1 starts out at $17.52 an hour at tops out at $25.59.
It takes 9 friggen years to get there though. Our contract expired May 31 /2002 and despite our union's best efforts to negotiate a contract..our employer hasn't made any effort at all.

Posted: 9/13/2005 6:24:42 PM EDT

[#20]

Four years with the CT DOC Working at the largest prison in the state around 1900 now. We have just about everything there MHU,SRG,Unsentenced,Sentenced and Death Row.Yea and $20.44hr but getting three raises next year,went two without one.Not bad pay but the highest taxed state in the country.

Posted: 9/13/2005 6:24:58 PM EDT

[#21]

Btw guys, we're hiring

Most liberal county in the state but fortunately we can still handle the crooks and deal with them like you should. ( to a point anyhow) Our current sheriff recently got us tasers and OC inside the facilities and reversed the stupid policy they used to have about hospitals and some transports being unarmed. Hell we even do simunitions training and range 3000 these days. Things are looking up if not for the mandatory OT and of course the crooks. Our top OT guy made about $140K last year. I dont do OT if I can avoid it and still managed a bit over $60K.

Posted: 9/13/2005 6:52:49 PM EDT

[#22]

Correctional Captain, Indiana Dept of Correction. 24 years, Firearms Instructor 85' to 95, K-9 handler-Bloodhound Jed, Emergency squad commander 87' to 92', Pistol Team Captain 85' to 95' Lead Capt. 2001-2005. At 3100 average offender population, Indiana's largest facilty. Just two more and I'm outta here!

Posted: 9/13/2005 7:46:33 PM EDT

[#23]

former Corrections Officer, Massachusetts Department of Corrections for 5 years.Worked minimum,medium,and maximum security facilities.Served on the Tactical Response Team. and as
a Drill Instructor for the "Boot Camp'' program. I made the jump to a Nevada police department recently.

Posted: 9/13/2005 8:03:58 PM EDT

[#24]

I give you DOC guys a lot of credit. I could never do it. Going in there for ambulance calls is enough to make me feel like i need a shower after I get out.

Posted: 9/14/2005 8:04:44 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Correctional Captain, Indiana Dept of Correction. 24 years, Firearms Instructor 85' to 95, K-9 handler-Bloodhound Jed, Emergency squad commander 87' to 92', Pistol Team Captain 85' to 95' Lead Capt. 2001-2005. At 3100 average offender population, Indiana's largest facilty. Just two more and I'm outta here!

originally from IN. What facility you at? Had to find work else where, ended up in TX. Currently a shift LT. at a facility in Huntsville. Firearms ,Chemical agents instructor, most Supervisors are here. 21 years and counting.

Posted: 9/14/2005 8:22:16 PM EDT

[#26]

WCC

Posted: 9/15/2005 4:39:56 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
Correctional Captain, Indiana Dept of Correction. 24 years, Firearms Instructor 85' to 95, K-9 handler-Bloodhound Jed, Emergency squad commander 87' to 92', Pistol Team Captain 85' to 95' Lead Capt. 2001-2005. At 3100 average offender population, Indiana's largest facilty. Just two more and I'm outta here!

Congrats on just two more years!
Been to WCC a couple of times dropping off some offenders.
I was(still am in my heart) a 13B (2/150 BTRY B Spencer,In.)
You meet and become friends with a lot of guys from many different walks of life when you join a local unit. I think that's what I enjoyed the most about it,the great people. I really miss being with my old unit sometimes.

Posted: 9/15/2005 5:37:49 PM EDT

[#28]

yep 13B

33 Div 2bn 2/122FA 1966 to 1971 105mm

3/333FA A btry North Judson IN 1982 to 1990 155mm

love those big guns and all those fun times with my old friends in the unit. sure do miss them!

Posted: 9/17/2005 6:41:46 PM EDT

[#29]

Got this at work today.

This is from an online law enforcement magazine,
<http://www.njlawman.com> www.njlawman.com.

We recently did an article on professional courtesy in which we
mentioned corrections officers. In response, we received several emails
from corrections officers thanking us for including them. Why they felt
the need to send such emails is a problem.

Corrections officers are law enforcement officers, no more, no less. To
exclude them is no different than excluding FBI agents, Sheriffs
Officers, or State Troopers. While our jobs may differ, we all deal with
the same bad guys and are all part of the same culture. They are part
of us.

Imagine the worst street in your town (if you even have a worst street).
You know, the street that you avoid when there is ten minutes left in
your shift. Now, multiply that street times ten. That's what corrections
officers deal with every day. How these guys deal with these (people) on
a yearly, monthly and hourly basis is beyond me.

I've had times where we're bringing a guy to the jail who is going
bananas. We call ahead to see if a CO or two can meet us outside and
help. When we arrive there is a friggin mob of them waiting for us. They
all have two things in common. They're all wearing a uniform, and
they're all wearing black gloves. When we pull in and the bad guy sees
his fate, most of the time he will turn into the most cooperative person
you've ever handled with the manners of an British Prince. On the few
rare occasions where he keeps fighting, he disappears into a blue cloud.
All you see is this cloud moving back into the jail with a pair of
ankles as a tail. It's actually kind of funny to see.

CO's are also the guys that pull up to you on that 2 a.m. stop when
you're alone and the car has four occupants. "You okay Bro?" I happen to
work in a town where the county jail is located, and I can't even count
how many times that has happened.

Corrections Officer is also the one law enforcement job that people quit
from out of fear. They have had such a problem with new hires leaving
half way through the first shift or after their first day because they
couldn't handle the inmates, that DOC had to change their hiring
procedures. Now, in most facilities, you have to actually work in the
facility with the bad guys before you can go to the academy to ensure
that you can handle it. And, this is not criticism of those who left
there. It's a very tough job. Bottom line, you have to have courage to
work there.

Imagine the ten worst bad guys you ever dealt with throughout your
career. Now imagine having to deal with hundreds of them at one time.
It's dealing with the All-Star team of (jerks). That job takes balls,
man, raw balls. Many facilities have gone to this new prisoner
management style called Direct Supervision. Under this style one or two
CO's monitor an entire meal hall with as many as a hundred prisoners.
These two guys are alone and locked in there with the bad guys.

Many of us, even those who are skilled in other law enforcement jobs,
could not necessarily handle the job of a corrections officer. To me,
the guys and girls who work there hold a badge of honor being a
corrections officer. If you doubt this, ask any cop on the street who
began his career in with a corrections agency.

Posted: 9/17/2005 7:17:28 PM EDT

[#30]

Awesome read Striker!

It still amazes me when talking with others of the Law Enforcement Field as to just how lowly we are looked upon at times.

Stay Safe.

As the ole' saying goes "It takes Balls - To work behind the Walls."

Posted: 9/17/2005 7:20:43 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:

Stay Safe.

"

You too.

Posted: 9/18/2005 4:11:44 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Got this at work today.
This is from an online law enforcement magazine,
<http://www.njlawman.com> www.njlawman.com.

We recently did an article on professional courtesy in which we
mentioned corrections officers. In response, we received several emails
from corrections officers thanking us for including them. Why they felt
the need to send such emails is a problem.

Corrections officers are law enforcement officers, no more, no less. To
exclude them is no different than excluding FBI agents, Sheriffs
Officers, or State Troopers. While our jobs may differ, we all deal with
the same bad guys and are all part of the same culture. They are part
of us.

Imagine the worst street in your town (if you even have a worst street).
You know, the street that you avoid when there is ten minutes left in
your shift. Now, multiply that street times ten. That's what corrections
officers deal with every day. How these guys deal with these (people) on
a yearly, monthly and hourly basis is beyond me.

I've had times where we're bringing a guy to the jail who is going
bananas. We call ahead to see if a CO or two can meet us outside and
help. When we arrive there is a friggin mob of them waiting for us. They
all have two things in common. They're all wearing a uniform, and
they're all wearing black gloves. When we pull in and the bad guy sees
his fate, most of the time he will turn into the most cooperative person
you've ever handled with the manners of an British Prince. On the few
rare occasions where he keeps fighting, he disappears into a blue cloud.
All you see is this cloud moving back into the jail with a pair of
ankles as a tail. It's actually kind of funny to see.

CO's are also the guys that pull up to you on that 2 a.m. stop when
you're alone and the car has four occupants. "You okay Bro?" I happen to
work in a town where the county jail is located, and I can't even count
how many times that has happened.

Corrections Officer is also the one law enforcement job that people quit
from out of fear. They have had such a problem with new hires leaving
half way through the first shift or after their first day because they
couldn't handle the inmates, that DOC had to change their hiring
procedures. Now, in most facilities, you have to actually work in the
facility with the bad guys before you can go to the academy to ensure
that you can handle it. And, this is not criticism of those who left
there. It's a very tough job. Bottom line, you have to have courage to
work there.

Imagine the ten worst bad guys you ever dealt with throughout your
career. Now imagine having to deal with hundreds of them at one time.
It's dealing with the All-Star team of (jerks). That job takes balls,
man, raw balls. Many facilities have gone to this new prisoner
management style called Direct Supervision. Under this style one or two
CO's monitor an entire meal hall with as many as a hundred prisoners.
These two guys are alone and locked in there with the bad guys.

Many of us, even those who are skilled in other law enforcement jobs,
could not necessarily handle the job of a corrections officer. To me,
the guys and girls who work there hold a badge of honor being a
corrections officer. If you doubt this, ask any cop on the street who
began his career in with a corrections agency.

With your permission I would like to print this out and give a copy to my staff. It is the best and most honest assessment that I have ever read.

Posted: 9/18/2005 4:54:36 AM EDT

[#33]

<--- Cook County Sheriff's Deparment CO back when I was first getting my feet wet in law enforcement.

I only have two words to add:

NEVER

AGAIN

Correctional Officers are the red-headed step-children of law enforcement. Absolute horseshit pay, often looked down-upon by others in LE and I don't care how many shootings I have been in....corrections is just dowright fucking dangerous.

All you "Bulls" have my deepest respect.

Sheep

Posted: 9/18/2005 5:40:13 AM EDT

[#34]

SheepDog_556. I didn't write it. A CO at work e-mailed it to me. I checked the website linked in the letter but couldn't find it.
It's been passed around to several hundred CO's up here..a few more won't hurt!

Posted: 9/18/2005 7:29:15 AM EDT

[#35]

18 yrs with DOC for a very large county. Worked booking for many years, now in the Transport Unit. 95% of them are felony, including ALL of the high profile cases. Is it dangerous? Hell yes, but at least I am not locked in the building anymore.

Only reason I still am here is I only have a few more years and we are one of the highest paid Correction Depts. in the nation. When I see other C.O.'s saying they only make $12-15 hr., my heart goes out to them.

Be safe, my brothers.