Just wondering if anybody else on here works for the Department Of Corrections? If so whats your position/rank and what facility do you work at?

 

No, but a top dog Corrections Officer rear ended me one night in my Escape, and got 2 tickets, even though he had his supposed "Get out of traffic tickets" card... I guess the officer didn't care or it made him more ticked off, one or the other, or both.

But I work for the State of NY.. I would never pass up a government full time job...

 

I would never try to use my state ID to try and get out of a ticket......thats just asking for one. and for my first goverment job I cant complain....pay is good for my age and cant beat how much I pay for health insurance.

 

Yeah, I can't complain about the benefits either. Sure, the pay isn't like working for a company... but health, 401k, and the other benefits are insane. Plus my job is like a walk in the park. Well, most of the time...

 

Department of Corrections NC, almost 4 years. Currently eligiable for promotion to Sgt. But im thinking of moving more towards the case management side of things in a few years. I do not like how you dont get a time in grade raise with NC DOC. I mean when I was new there were guys with 10 years making what I made in 1 year, that sucks! Not to mention lawyers and grievance's run our prison at the moment.

 

Oh I forgot work for Western Youth Inst. We deal with 13-22 year old's all of them. From future death row inmates all the way down to a misd. charge for 10 days. Mostly gang youth, no one to raise them honestly. Really hard to get along with at times but it's not always that bad. I get burnt out on it pretty quick when the CO is never right. We have a 39 man team filled with 24 people, were desperatly low on help and NC has got a hiring freeze on. The prison is a high rise so the only transportation threw it is elevators, 90 of the time 1 of which is down for repair. I think there is 29 cases pending law suits from officers who felt response to a incident was delayed because of the building setup lol. Damn things go no A/C in the summer, I hate dropin a deuce and slippin off the toliet from all the sweat lol. Im pretty sure they will close my prison within the next 5 years.

 

I forgot to put where I work at.....Im an C/O right now just about to finish my 1 year and have get my double stripes......hope to move up the chain soon to Sgt....I work at Fluvanna Correctional Center for women in Troy,va.....its virginias only maximum sec. womens prison....it serves as a local jail and has inmates from level 1 to level 3...currently house 1 inmate on death row.

They just closed quite a few places up here........not sure where all these people will go if they continue to close em down.

 

Who knows, really the way they protect rights of inmates who cares. Id assume let them all go and just defend yourself and your property. We had a inmate and officer who were hit by lighting back in the summer. The inmate suffered minor injuries and was showered with gifts from the prison and groups who "support" inmates for better lifes. The officer laid up in the hospital for 2 weeks with all his 50% of his brain tissue burnt. He didn't get a single thing other than a call from our Assistant Warden wanting him to write a statement. We tried to rally up for him and bring some heat on the "gifts" seemed to me inmate unduefamiliaritie but it did no good. I know the economy sucks but when I find me something im out of there man. I started there were 20 or 30 5+ year vets most of them were GREAT at what they did. Now I only have 4 years and im within the top 6 senior officers, if I could get my degree and just move away from custody id be okay work on retirement.

 

While I am no longer employed with the DOC, having to resign to open up the position for an "able bodied" person, I was with the KS DOC for many years, and was up to the rank of CS1, or Staff Sergaent or Master Sergaent, whichever. I ran the Seg Unit at the ElDorado Correctional Facility, which is the "Super Max", if you want to call it that, facility in KS. I am getting disability from the State of KS, and I believe at age 53, I will be able to retire. It was a job that I enjoyed, and wish I was still doing. It takes a special type of person to work in the prison system, one who is able to live two lives...home life and work life, and they CANNOT be combined at all!
If you treat the inmates with respect, they will do the same to you. I'm not saying you have to give in to them at all, but, they pick up on your actions or inactions very quickly! You did not put them in the position that they are in, you are just doing your job, and as long as you can do that while being, "Firm, Fair and Consistent", you will be fine.
I worked at three different prisons in KS, and usually had more trouble, and problems with staff than the inmates. There is ALOT of "Politics" in any government job, but more so in the DOC. Everyone thinks they are more qualified, and can do your job, better than you can. And some will do almost anything to set you up to fail, so they can have a crack at your position.

Good luck to everyone looking for a career in the DOC! It's "Job Security"!!!

 

[QUOTE]There is ALOT of "Politics" in any gevernment job, but more so in the DOC. Everyone thinks they are more qualified, and can do your job, better than you can. And some will do almost anything to set you up to fail, so they can have a crack at your position./QUOTE]

Amen.

 

I believe as well you have to have 2 lives 1 for work and 1 for home......even as a new officer I find that I cant bring even the littlest bit of work home with me and its been hard at times but ive gotten better. I try to treat all inmates with respect and stay firm fair and consistent....I see the politics terribly, but politics is everywhere you go....But thats why I try and cover my ***..but im the type of person that'll help anybody that needs it.

 

You can't take it home with you, because nobody would understand or relate to what happens, ESPECIALLY in SEG! I could tell some stories that would straighten out a certain set of hairs! If you take home to work with you, the inmates can use it against you...in a heartbeat. Seen it happen many times. You have a good motto, CYA, as there's only a few others that will help when doodoo hits the fan.
There is also the race issue there. In KS, the inmates all wear jeans and chambray shirts, (blues). If you only see blue, you'll be OK.
What's really amazing in the last 15 years or so, is the number of young "Gang Bangers" that unfortunately, have not had a family life. The only life they know is street life, and going to "The Big House" is a badge of honor to some of them. They've finally accomplished something in their lives. I've had a few of them crying their eyes out to me when I would stop while making rounds, and talk with them. They become the little kids that they really are. I used to have a couple 16 - 17 year old gang bangers that were doing Multiple Life sentences for murders they committed before the death penalty was reactivated in KS. They will spend the rest of their lives in there. Probably at El Dorado. For those of you that don't know what "Seg" is, that is "Segregation". These guys came out of their cells in full belly chains, (handcuffs with a chain that wraps around the body), and leg irons. It didn't matter if they were going to the shower across the run, or down to court for another charge or hearing. They would just as soon assault or kill you or anybody else for that matter, so they are "segregated" from the general population.
FI10Fires, maintain that attitude, and good luck if you decide to continue this as a career. Just remember, "If in doubt, write it out". That's what I used to live by. If you think you should write someone, or something up...you've already answered your question. By all means do what you have to do, everybody else is.

 

I just heard that there gonna cut close 7 prisons here in NC. To save money, lol hell I tell ya I might as well sit back and just let it go. I hate 16-21 year olds, I worked seg for a year. Cut a few kids down hanging in there cells one didnt make it, been on at least 15 cell extraction teams and had stupidly countless uses of forces. I wish you the best FI10fires with your corrections career buddy if you ever need any advice man just get with me I am a trainer at my Instiution.