Hi everyone.

I am 32, female, and looking for a career change. I have been considering becoming a corrections officer. It's hard to describe the reasons, just that the more that I learn about it the more I feel that it's right for me.

What do I need to know to be good at this job? What would inmates, visitors and administration expect from me? What are the downsides to this job?

Alright, so I noticed that nobody has responded, so maybe I should explain myself a little better.

I have heard that corrections officers are now considered to be more than just "guards", which is the very reason that the job appeals to me. I have always believed that most often it is the simplest things that you do for somebody that can help make their life a little easier that day. I'm pretty sensitive, and I think that may be an asset in this job. So I guess my question really is, from your perspective, what other qualities does a good CO have?

Hi there!
Well, I am definitely not an expert or anything on the subject of CO's- however, I do have opinions on what I personally would like to see in a CO.
But then again, I don't know everything that goes on behind the scenes, what is expected by the state- and to say what I want seems a bit...well- selfish I guess- but oh well here it goes! :)
Of course any person would tell you that as family of an inmate, we would like to be treated with respect- like normal human beings.
I would like to know that my loved one isn't being abused by guards or other inmates, I would like to know that if they have a problem, whether it be medical, physical, emotional, etc- that there are good people that he/she can go to.
I would like to know that that guards see my loved one as a person and not just another "dirty convict"-
I would like to see CO's make enough money in their jobs so that they like going to work and don't hate what they do- of course that is the case in every job right?
Is this kind of what you are looking for?
I wish I could be of more help, but I don't think I can. However, there are CO's on this site, so hopefully one will come along that can help you out!
If you have any questions- feel free to pm me! :)
Oh, and you might want to introduce yourself in the introductions forum so people can meet you!
http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=38
Welcome to PTO!

In the States there are career courses you can take to become a Corrections Officer.
I am currently taking a Criminal Justice course that offers a class just for Corrections. My focus will be in Criminology.

A suggestion would be to talk to former CO's. One of my classes is taught by a retired Sheriffs Captian, and he spent many years as a CO. He has all kinds of stories!!

Good luck on your search.

JJT

If I were you I would go to policeone.com and ask them too; that way you'll get a real spectrum of views. I second everything Jeni said. I would like to believe that your sensitivity would be a real asset. I wonder what the CO members would say. You could PM Anakin or Sgt Anonymous or Willsgirl, those are 3 that come to mind

What do I need to know to be good at this job? What would inmates, visitors and administration expect from me? What are the downsides to this job?
Nothing really, common sense helps. The majority of what you need to know they will give you during the Corrections Academy or you will learn quickly once thrown into the fire.

Inmates expect you be professional, it's been my experience if you show a softer/kind side to them you get labeled as a "Lollypop Cop" and are quickly taken advantage of. I try to treat everyone the same.. cops and offenders.. until they make me treat them differently.

Visitors expect you to be professional but also to be nice & sometimes to let things slide. I don't think they understand if I let "little things" slide it's MY ass in the wringer.

Administration, most of the time they are so out of touch with what really goes on in a prison, they are number crunchers and polititians, they want you to show up everyday, do your work, not have any incidents that they have to be disturbed at home about. And they give themselves pay raises every year, even though we haven't had a raise in 5 years. :rolleyes: But I'm not bitter... no really.:angry:

It sounds like you're a nice person, perhaps you should be a "Caseworker" instead of a "C.O.". As a Caseworker you're supposed to interact with the Offenders on a more personal level, you're not supposed to do that as an Officer.

Case in point, about 5 years ago I was speaking friendly with an Inmate who was in for drug possession, well it turned out we had common aquaintence, a friend of mine in High School was a drug transporter for this guy, we continued chatting for several months about nothing in particular but on a friendly note and wouldn't ya know it, I was hauled into the Investigations Division for questioning because this guy, for some reason, decided to tell them I had expressed interest in bringing in cocaine. :eek: If you knew me you would be laughing your ass off, because there is no way in hell I would EVER do anything of the sort.
The investigator concluded by saying "Your job is to HOUSE inmates, do NOT talk with them, do NOT try to help them."

So if you're getting into this field to "help" people, just take a couple of psychology classes and go in as a caseworker, you will only get burned one way or another if you try it as a "Cop".

I'm a people person so I have a real hard time not being nice to people, now I basicly look at my job as a Hotel Bellhop with really violent/manipulative guests staying in our rooms. :thumbsup:

Find Tigger, I'm agreeing w/ NISL at the moment. But not for the reasons you may think. My sweetheart and I are dealing w/ some things where he is in Nevada, and one of the main problems is the lack of caseworkers who A. Are trained in their jobs, B. care enough to be straight up and honest about the way things are or may be and have enough integrity to not string "us" along, and C. actually help the people they are assigned to!
It has become my experience, unfortunately, that the State of Nevada has a serious lack of good caseworkers. They could sure use some help out there!

I agree...you seem too "nice" to be a CO...and too darn smart too! I'd look into being a caseworker although I think you may need a bachelors degree for that.

Alright, so I noticed that nobody has responded, so maybe I should explain myself a little better.

I have heard that corrections officers are now considered to be more than just "guards", which is the very reason that the job appeals to me. I have always believed that most often it is the simplest things that you do for somebody that can help make their life a little easier that day. I'm pretty sensitive, and I think that may be an asset in this job. So I guess my question really is, from your perspective, what other qualities does a good CO have?

A good CO should be able to joke around with an inmate one day and shoot him in the back the next day. I recommend applying for a job as a walmart greeter...much nicer.

I think that we all agree that being a CO is not an easy job. It has got to be difficult to be in the position a CO is in and be a human being too. That being said, I think we all need to be little more careful in how we choose our words. There are many CO's on this site who are here to help and give us information. And, the info they can and have given has helped more then one of us I am sure.
So, please, lets remember that when we decide to post about something that we have strong feelings about.

Jeni,

Thank you for your last post.
Respectfully,
Imaillusion

First off let me say that being a c/o is hard. If you have a heart and a concience it's hard to keep your fellow officers on your side. If you get cought up in a power trip. All inmates and family will hate you. It is pretty well a no win job. Even if you are fair and polite someone, somewhere will get a bug up their butt because you are following the rules and it will all be you. Being a women c/o is even worse. whether you are or are not involved with an inmate you will be on the back wall having sex with all inmates. Plus you will be accused of bringing things in. Pay not good. lots of bs. Truely find another career. NOT WORTH IT. yes I was a cop and a c/o also. Good luck, God bless

Now there's a testimonial! whatta life!

Hi! Im a co in Arizona and the job is not all that bad. I work in displainary and all new arrivals. On the yard I have on a daily base 400 inmates, 200 inmates I take care of by myself. I give them the respect and thay give me respect. I help them out in anyway that I can for them,even calling their love ones for them. I don't call them inmates,I call them people,because thats what thay are. Thay treat me right and I treat them right. It gives me a nice feeling when I come through the gate and the inmates ask me where Im working,because thay know that thay will get the respect that thay deserve.

I'm closing this thread as the originating member has not be online in six months.