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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455 Questions

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Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

What (if anything?) can prison management, and Correctional officers, do to reduce the incidence of inmate-on-inmate rape / sexual assault? (Obviously, segregating vulnerable prisoners, such as sex offenders, is one tool, but are there others?)

Asked by Elvis over 6 years ago

Obviously staff must just BE AWARE of things going on around them. One of the things is being alert to coerced cell change requests and of course doing regular patrols into relatively isolated areas where inmates might have a reasonable reason to be, like warehouse and work areas. Especially if you see an inmate who APPEARS to be acting as a lookout. With a little time and experience you get used to spotting such things.

What is the scariest situation you have ever been in?

Asked by Donald about 6 years ago

I have been in the middle of a couple of full-fledged riots. That is very scary. Even if you are not a specific target it is completely possible to get hurt. I was't, but it was still scary.

Have you ever asked someone a question on here? If so do you mind saying what it was?

Asked by QUESTION TO ALL about 6 years ago

Not so as I remember. In this forum my job is to respond to questions, not ask them.

Hi what do you think the average IQ of a criminal is?

Asked by I DON’T KNOW WHAT Y’ALL ARE DOING about 6 years ago

I don't know. There average educational level is substantially less than the general public, that doesn't mean they are stupid. Since I am fairly well socialized and in the age bracket that I am I tend to equate good education and normative behavior with intelligence. Therefore my opinion is likely to be biased.

I have always wonderd why people make so many excuses. Oh they grew up with the wrong people, got with the wrong people (how did they get with them in the first place), etc when many people have the same issues and are great people?

Asked by Diane about 6 years ago

Very few humans are willing to blame their own problems, or the problems of their family, on themselves. Therefore they blame others, or forces beyond their control, to avoid taking responsibility for their own actions. It is human nature. Humans are funny critters.

What all did you carry on your bat belt?

Asked by Danica about 6 years ago

Depends. When I was a C/O I carried a radio (usually) and alarm (usually), handcuffs, glove pouch, and a baton of one sort of other. Also normally a double key pouch (usually a semi-auto magazine holder) for holding keys. When I was a Sgt. and Lt. the radio became normal, the alarm less so (the alarms are area specific and supervisors usually moved around more). Often the baton went away too, depending on what assignment I was on. When I was the patrol sgt. on very rare occasions I carried a .38 revolver.

Have you ever had to kill someone?

Asked by ;jfalds about 6 years ago

The only person in the Department that HAS to kill someone is the executioner at San Quentin. For all the rest of us it is merely a perq of the job.