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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

454 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

What kinds of gangs are there in prison?

Asked by CO fan over 5 years ago

Pretty much all kinds. Many of them are strictly prison gangs, many of them are street gangs that have migrated into prisons. Also some street gangs started in prisons. Most are racial. A small number are geographic, like the Texas Syndicate. Biker gangs are also active in the prison setting. Some are racial-political like the old BGF. Like I said, all kinds.

Was there ever COs that would do things for inmates that would not be okay? What?

Asked by John over 5 years ago

Happens all the time. Staff, including C/Os, are jacked up or fired for all sorts of things. Smugglng things in or messages out is not wildly uncommon, IN appropriate relationships, including sexual relationships, are not unknown. Passing confidential information to inmates is not unknown.

What do prisons do if there where to be a Corona virus case in one of the prisons?

Asked by Nndndnd almost 6 years ago

I have been retired now for many years so I am not up on the current communicable disease response scenario. Since there are almost no vacant beds anywhere in the system the normal response would be to quarantine in place and isolate those infected as best they can.

Have you ever watched After Prison Show on YouTube?

Asked by 91919191991 over 5 years ago

No. Not once.

Do you have to be 21’or can you be 18? Also is there a old age limit?

Asked by Mike about 5 years ago

In Ca you can be HIRED to be a peace officer at 20 1/2 but can not actually start work until age 21. When I started there was a maximum age limit of 35 to begin training. There was no mandatory retirement age. The max age limit to start went away while I was working but MAY have since been reinstated. There is still no max age that I am aware of, but few stay beyond 55 or 60 as there is little or no financial benefit from doing so and the job is somewhat physical.

Hey dude why do so many cops sound the same?

Asked by Gene over 5 years ago

We have to take a class in that.

Did you have the same, less, or more power then a regular police officer? Where you a sworn peace/police/law enforcement officer? Could you arrest someone out side of the system? Thanks!

Asked by Francis over 5 years ago

We are peace officers under a different section of the penal code than "street cops." Our authority is limited to the course of our employment, which is, generally speaking, persons and locations under control of the department. We could arrest a person who interfered with, say for instance, the transport or medical treatment of a prisoner off grounds.