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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Last Answer on February 10, 2022

Best Rated

Im a student studying criminal justice, i have a assignment which is interviewing a correctional officer is it okay if i interview you? And if so may i jave your contact information

Asked by Isabel.velazquezloza about 7 years ago



I have been retired for over 13 years and due to some parent care issues am pretty much impossible to contact at any sort of reasonably predictable time.  Sorry, but I don't think I can help you much on this project.

Have you ever seen a co-worker help prisoners sneak contraband or something else? If so what happend? Where they paid and do you know how much?

Asked by 2893472389 almost 7 years ago

I have not personally seen it, but it does happen. People get fired and sometimes prosecuted for it. At one time tobacco was popular and since it was not technically ILLEGAL to smuggle it some people thought it was OK. Then cell phones. Drugs have always been popular but also always illegal. I don't have any fine details on the profit margins of such things, and since I have been out 14 years now any info I might have had would be stale.

Are there other alternatives for wrong doers other than imprisonment?

Asked by sofibour almost 7 years ago

Obviously there are.  They could be executed.  They could be ignored and allowed to continue to offend.  They could be maimed (like taking the hand off a thief or castrating a rapist.)  Whether these alternatives are effective, legal or human is a completely different question.

What are the biggest emotional hurdles inmates face when preparing to re-enter society?

Asked by sofibour almost 7 years ago

That depends almost entirely on the inmate, the period of time he was in prison and what sort of support system will be available to him on the outside.  No easy answer there.

Bob, I enjoy your remarks. Here's my question. What happens to felons convicted of bunko, money laundering, other white collar crimes? What types of prisons, what are their living conditions?

Asked by Neal Bracken over 6 years ago

Such people would tend to land in either minimum or medium custody, depending on the length of their sentence, medical needs and other factors (including available housing). Right now, in CA, many of these people would be placed in county jails rather than state prisons, even though they are serving a felony sentence, under "realignment.".

In prison what would be the best way to avoid being some inmate's kid? Go for protective custody?

Asked by Neal Bracken over 6 years ago

Best way is to avoid prison. After that it becomes dicey. It depends a lot on which "group" you are in. You can join a gang that does not approve of such things and get some protection in exchange for your soul. You can go the "crazy" route and you MAY be left alone. You can request protective custody, but generally you can not STAY in PC because you are afraid somebody MIGHT rape you. Prisons are unpleasant places and contain many unpleasant people. Also, if you are big, mean and a proficient fighter that helps. Very few people can go that route successfully, but it does happen.

Have you ever had an escapee?

I have watched the show I (Almost) got away with it, which is why I am asking

Asked by Al almost 7 years ago

Yes.  During my 24 years we had one "inside escape" (escape from within the main security perimeter) and a fair number of "outside escapes" (minimum security walkaways).  The inside escapee was recaptured before the emergency count cleared.  (In fact I and one other officer were the ones who caught him.  He went out hidden in a bail of crushed cardboard.)  That is common in CA.  One of the things we are good at is keeping inmates in.  Escapes from inside the security perimeter are rare.  Walk-aways from fire camps, etc. are common.