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 is the BOP and what does it do

Asked by Terri over 5 years ago

BOP is the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I believe it works under the Attorney General's Office. Assuming I remember correct the federal system is a dual arrangement. They have PRISONS and CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. The prisons are essentially people warehouses for prisons doing long confinements, life or condemned prisoners. They are security oriented. The Correctional Institutions pretend to offer rehabilitative services and programs.

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.

How do you make prison chips?

Asked by Miya over 5 years ago

since i have no idea what that is, i have no idea. (sounds like the beginning line of a joke in all honesty)

Do you ever watch Officer 401 on YouTube

Asked by Hot dog eater over 5 years ago

Nope. Never. Never even heard of it until now.

Do weighted vests really work to help calm someone down? I seen it before on inmates. How effective are they?

Asked by Marty over 5 years ago

I have heard they are effective, but I have never used one nor even seen one used. Can't help you much. Sorry.

How do you contain prisoners at times when they might get out of hand. Say a fight you have people fighting and then you have opportunists who might try to d something while the guards are distracted. How do you manage mayhem?

Asked by Sammy over 5 years ago

Physical containment is actually fairly effective. You only have so many people in a given area and eventually you will be able to find out who they are. If bodies start dropping you know who was there, or at least who could have been there. Poured in place cement walls, detention quality doors and very good fences do that job fairly well. If push comes to shove we thump on people, use chemical agents or them, or shoot them to make them stop. Eventually they stop.

Would you ever be a street cop?

Asked by 845 over 4 years ago

No. Never interested in it.