Ask a Correctional Officer anything

455 Questions

Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Do inmates celebrate Christmas?

Asked by Andy about 6 years ago

The Christian ones do. The Muslims and Jews, not so much. Pagans celebrate the Winter Solstice which happens near Christmas, but not right on Christmas.

597 Votes

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.

596 Votes

So you wanna be a Correctional Officer??

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!!

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.

596 Votes

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)

594 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

CBP Officer

What are the telltale signs you look to indicate someone's lying?

Federal Lobbyist

What was the strangest lobbying request you've ever received?

School Teacher

Are teachers underpaid?

Did you have to go through the police academy and do you have to be a post certified peace officer?

Asked by Haylee almost 6 years ago

In CA there is a C-POST for correctional officers. The academy runs about 14 weeks right now. Many street cops have an academy that runs six months. Correctional Officers don't need to know a lot of what street cops need, like search and seizure. You have to pass the academy to be sworn in to legally do the job. Correctional Officers fall under a different section of the penal code than do street cops and our police authority exists only within the course of our employment. Typically this is persons and property under the jurisdiction of the department, though there are exceptions to this, such as escape pursuits.

592 Votes

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.

591 Votes

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.

591 Votes