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

U said to send a letter to corrections if I don't have an oral appointment in 60 days, but how if were not suppose to contact them?

Asked by Beautydiamond47@gmail.com over 9 years ago

I'm sorry, when you wrote and said you weren't supposed to CALL I thought you meant you were not suppose to CALL.  If what you really meant is you are not supposed to contact them in any fashion then probably you should not contact them.  

My fiance was sentenced to eight years they which really becomes 4 after his 7 months he served in county. His projected release date was 1/23/2021 but her just got a 2f5 job so whats his actual release date

Asked by Skyechick30@yahoo.com over 8 years ago

Sorry, but I am unfamiliar with that term.  Therefore I can't help you.  His counselor should be able to tell you what is going on, or at least tell him and he can tell you.  Sorry.

if my boyfriend is a convicted felon and right now hes currently locked up at the jail that i want to work at .. would it be an issue ?

Asked by nish almost 9 years ago

That would be up to your employer.  If he were in the state prison system it would be highly problematic.  They do not allow immediate family to work at a facility where a family member is housed without a waiver from the Secretary of the Dept. of Corrections.  You would have to check with your agency about their policy.  Of course, if they don't know about the relationship now your inquiry will let them know about it and they might transfer him, or you.  As far as I know they can't prevent you from marrying him, but they can prevent you from working at a facility where he is housed.  Short answer is yes, it would probably be an issue.

Do you know much about the school to prison pipeline? Have you worked with functionally illiterate inmates? What is communication like between inmates?

Asked by Rebel about 9 years ago

A significant percentage of inmates are either totally illiterate or functionally illiterate.  Possibly as much as 25%, certainly at least half that.  Inmates manage to communicate between one another without that much difficulty, mostly verbally or even non-verbal "body language" communication.  There is also a significant number of non-English speaking inmates in the system. The phrase "school to prison pipeline" generally refers to people dropping out of school and ending up in prison.  There is also a "books not bars" undercurrent, at least in CA, that assumes (incorrectly) that making school more available to people will mean less people in prison.  There is MANDATORY k-12 education in California and most other states as far as I know.  You have to work REAL HARD to be kicked out of the system.  You don't have to work that hard to stay in and at least TRY to get an education.  In my experience most people in prison have CHOSEN to be there.  They have deliberately adopted a criminal lifestyle for whatever reason.  That reason does not, generally speaking, include lack of educational opportunity (IMHO). I admit it is something of a chicken and egg thing, but I believe that the criminal mindset and lifestyle pushes the education problem, not the other way around..   

Hi..I received a call from my investigator saying that she submitted my folder for an oral..I still haven't received a call and I took the written October 15th..we are not allowed to call and inquire about the oral psych..I'm just wondering.

Asked by Beautydiamond47@gmail.com over 9 years ago

When I hired on all the background, etc. was handled locally for each hiring authority and was not even slightly centralized.  I think personally that, after 60 days (Dec 15) I would send them a polite note to inquire about your status.  If they say DO NOT CALL I would be inclined to not call.

I have been trying to get information on the structured living program for inmates can you give me any info on what it is and how it benefits the inmate

Asked by Mrs.Thompson over 9 years ago

Sorry but no, I can't. I have been out of the system for 12 years now and I have zero information on it.  I am GUESSING that it is a halfway-house type environment for prisoners who are nearly at their release date or who are in fact out on some form of supervised conditional release, but that is only an educated guess. 

Advice for a 19 year old male going in to corrections? I don't see most people my age doing this, will this effect my chance of employment? I have a clean criminal history and background check never have done drugs

Asked by Adam H almost 9 years ago

As far as I now you can not be hired as a peace officer until you are 20 1/2 and can not begin work until you are 21.  Some jurisdictions also hire "jailers" (various titles in various areas) that are not peace officers and which you could possibly be hired for at age 18.  You could also look into non=peace officer employment with an agency until you get the age in.  Also many community colleges have correctional science programs which might give you a leg up.  I would stay away from privately operated training systems.  IMHO they are of dubious value.  Good luck.