Has anyone ever worked in a jail or a prision?

Nightrider

It would really depend on the level of security that you are working in. I am in a max prison and we deal with the worst. Fights are not that common, but they are short and often deadly. You don't get "cooperation" from the inmates. They hate law and order, being told what to do, being caught doing their things behind the wire and mostly they will hate you. It is a constant mind game from both sides. You learn to develop a seperation between the job and your home life, but it will still affect you in your daily life. You will automatically sit in a restaurant with your back to the wall and preferably in a corner so you can see everyone entering. You automatically scan crowds and read people's eyes and body language. You believe very little of what you hear and only what you can see and confirm. Even every day issues will become "black and white" with little grey mixed in. I like to use the expression " Can a person be a little pregnant?". Following rules and laws is the same mindset. On the plus side, it gives you a fully appreciation of the law and staying on the right side.

Now, if you get a job in a medium facility, you will see a different side of life. More fights and mind games. The fights are generally lighter in nature with less damage done. Stress levels are just as high as max, but of a different nature.

Working in a level 1 camp has the least stress. These inmates have far too much to lose and tend to behave themselves far better.

The greatest enemy of corrections is complacency. You will tend to forget why the inmates are there and see them as people. Dont do it. There isnt a single one of them that wouldnt like to shank you in the back if they thought they could get away with it. After a few years on the job, you learn not to become complacent. It does tend to give you a somewhat "shorter fuse" as my wife says. Just a little less tolerant of general stupidity, which you will deal with on a daily basis. It is easy for the inmates to play mind games by pretending they dont understand your orders or say they forgot. They are simply trying to wear you down so you will become complacent and just sit back. I play the same mind games back with disciplinary procedures.

The pay is very good , benefits are decent by today's industry standards. Stress levels are high and if you check the actuarial tables, you will find the average life span of the correctional officer is 54 years. ( that is 3 years after retirement figuring going in at 21 and working 30 years).

Would I change it? Not at this point of my life and career. I have 5 years to retirement now. I know what I am doing and am comfortable in it. With today's job market being what it is, I would recommend it as a good profession, but just be aware that it is different from anything else you might have done.

Best of luck and I hope this is useful to you

Bill G

Well Nightrider covered it very well. The one thing I disagree with is that the pay is very good. That varies from state to state. I was a correctional officer and sergeant at three different facilities in Texas during 4 1/2 years of my life. I worked at a state jail facility (minimum security, dorm style), worked ad-seg at the state's largest maximum security unit, and as a sergeant at a third unit.
Some states pay pretty well, but other states, such as Texas, don't pay very well at all. I was making about 1/2 to 2/3 as much, with all of the responsibilities of a sergeant here in Texas, than some states start brand new officers at from day one. Here, they will hire anyone who is not disqualified by law (felonies or family violence). They have such a high turnover rate, that they will hire pretty much anyone who wants a job.
You are in a very dangerous environment, and a lot of times you cannot even trust your coworkers. You learn to trust the very few coworkers who do take the job seriously, and watch your back every single second. Working in a prison does change you. You learn to look for the worst in every situation, because if you don't do so in the prisons it could cost you your life.

Anthony D

I worked at a max prison is mass. I personally hated working for a prison. You get spit on and peed on. You get crap(literally and figuratively) thrown at you all day. I am a paramedic now and even after seeing dead body after dead body the prison turned my stomach more. What it would take to work there is patience, respect for even the hardest criminal and their family. A hard stomach and a will to learn. When i say i hated this job its in the sense of all the things i listed. But i would work there in a heartbeat again. Also if you want to be a cop this would help you get a feel of the job.

**By the way i was a prison guard**

Chell

It is a horrible place but what about the young people that get placed there for car accidents. Not drunk not speeding just an accident. When the system fails them and they end up living in the nightmare of the place guards get to leave at the end of the day. They are all numbers and all treated the same like even if they wouldn't hurt a soul or even steel. It's sad for all I think the changes need to come from the people at the top whom have no idea with their big pays and untouchable lives. The system is what it is but displays no common sense, from the pen pushers at their desk. I know after going to these places that there are horrible people and yes they should be there. But like any still some innocent fall through the gaps and the system just dosent care, unless you have money.

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