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 do you think of Folsom prison Blues by Johnny Cash?

Asked by Jessie almost 6 years ago

I am not a huge fan of C&W but I do like his voice. Kind of like smooth whiskey.

how often do you have to have physical, mental, and firearms proficiency testing?

Asked by blue tiger almost 6 years ago

Never, as I am long retired. Firearms qualifications were either once per year or four times per year depending on job assignment. (I DO have to qualify to maintain my retired carry status.) When I retired, 15+ years ago, there was no specified ongoing physical or mental testing.

I mean it would not surprise me that they would be hated but I hear it all the time. I would think that CO’s would intervene in instances but sometimes I would think things would happen to quickly. Are they ever in separate hosing or protective custody?

Asked by Kyle almost 6 years ago

Sometimes sex offenders are placed in specialized housing where pretty much everybody there is a sex offender. I think they call it "special needs" now rather than "protective custody." The department tries real hard not to load up on special needs housing because the administration of such housing is a pain in the ass.

So with the 50 genders and counting how many new units and prisons will we need because we have men’s and women’s prisons but we need gender neutral, non binary And all the other genders and sexes housing.

Asked by Karli about 6 years ago

Fortunately I retired before this started. Under the "old" rules if you had a penis, and your birth certificate said MALE you were a male. Anything else was open for discussion. The new rules are still being worked on. I do know that in one prison (NOT in CA) the prison system is being sued because a "real" female prisoner was allegedly raped by a trans-female prisoner who had been housed in a women's prison.

Have you ever seen high level or well known people. Such as cases that made national or international news, a celebrity, a famous person, or someone else who was well known?

Asked by Martian about 6 years ago

A few. Ronald Regan once (when he was Governor of CA). Jerry Brown a couple of times, when he was Governor and I was on the Board of Directors of the Correctional Officer's union. Father Kelly, a well-known child molester who was a prisoner at the prison I worked at. A couple of members of the Bechtel family (the construction people). A few higher ups within the DOC in CA. Several other famous (notorious) prisoners a time or two.

If you had to do it over again would you have been a Correctional Officer?

Asked by Neal Bracken about 5 years ago

Now, maybe not. Back then (1980) yes. The politics have changed the job to the point I am not sure I would like the job today.

What kinds of drama did you have among co workers, inmates, and other people who had to deal with?

Asked by Amy about 6 years ago

All kinds. Most of the on-going drama was person as opposed to job related. Sick family, dying family, dead family, personal relationships turning to crap, that sort of thing. Work getting in the way of family. Family getting in the way of work. Usual stuff.