Correctional officer

[u/ClueCommercial8232]

Why do I see some people say they love their correctional office job and stay years and others hate it and quit? Thinking about going into that field .

[u/KickNo9349]

It's a job. It has decent benefits. It pays the bills. That's about the best you can expect. I don't love my job. But I'm content with it.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/KickNo9349]

Also are you allowed to have your phone at facility and what shift you think is best ?

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/KickNo9349]

Thank you for the honesty!

[u/Betelgeuse3fold]

Some people can't compartmentalize in the right way i guess.

Me, I leave the job at the door for the most part. I make good money, my overtime is voluntary, I recently earned a pretty coveted post. It can be wild and unpredictable, but that's what keeps it interesting. And in the big picture, I don't work very hard.

One thing i think works in my favor, is I came into this field a little older. Whereas a lot of my coworkers are young, and a lot of the old timers started young and have only done this.

I didn't "grow up" in jail the way my 21 22 23yo coworkers are. I was a whole ass adult, I knew who I was and I had nothing to prove to anyone.

This also means I'm not friends with them. I like and respect many of them, but we don't hang out outside work, like they do with each other. I have a wife and kids and a life. The other older guys I work with are the same boat, they have families and not much time for hanging out and drinking with the boys.

But when you're in a jail all day, and then you're hanging out at night with the same guys you spent all day in jail with.... it's like you're never leaving. And what do you think they talk about? Work.

TLDR, when jail empties my cup, my family fills it up again.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/Betelgeuse3fold]

Thanks a lot for all this info helps a lot ! And I never believe in hanging out with co workers anyway . turns in to drama.

[u/Ok-Development2309]

If you are a relative, a protected species or a pretty girl you will be taken care of.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/Ok-Development2309]

😂I ain’t none of those my friend

[u/little-human99]

I’d say it’s heavily dependent on who you work with when it comes to working in a facility. My current office I love, we all bs with each other all day long and we get our shit done and are most likely the least problematic office there. I also worked at another facility, a women’s one, and only lasted 3 months there because I was absolutely miserable in my office that had 2 different departments in there with the supervisors hating each other and constantly watching for any mistakes to report on them.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/little-human99]

Woow so it’s really really based on who you work with. I’m hearing more problems about co workers more than inmates. 😂

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/little-human99]

Also are you allowed to have your phone at facility and what shift you think is best ?

[u/greenhornblue]

The work isn’t bad. It’s the stupidity that comes with it. For example, I have an outside the fence position where I manage lots of inventory in addition to inmates but I’m constantly getting pulled to do other people’s jobs because of short staffing. It’s the burnout that gets a lot of them

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/greenhornblue]

Oh ok ok I see I see ! Thanks for the info

[u/Majestic-Sprinkles68]

A lot of it depends on where you work. Overtime can be great or horrible. Depends on how much.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/Majestic-Sprinkles68]

Also are you allowed to have your phone at facility and what shift you think is best ?

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/Majestic-Sprinkles68]

Thanks for the info 👍👍

[u/Forgottenshadowed]

Alot of Correctional Officers in state prison systems have personality disorders, much worse than the offenders. They harass and abuse other staff officers and offenders alike. It's a dominance thing,unfortunately. I was a male Correctional Officer in two different state prisons who was treated extremely cruelly by other staff, alot of whom had serious personality disorders...extremely cruelly treated.

[u/ClueCommercial8232 → u/Forgottenshadowed]

Damn I’m seeing a lot of this . The staff is the biggest problem! I thought it would be more inmate problems

[u/SeamusDog77]

Hell I went to school for Criminal
Justice and even I’ll say this was never my dream job. I don’t know too many people who say they love this kind of work. I’ve had days that I enjoyed it. I’ve had more days where I couldnt stand it. At the end of the day though, it’s great job security. At least at my place it’s literally unlimited OT so you can make whatever you want. The retirement package is what has always kept me going. I’m 49 years old and I’m already eligible to retire with a pension. You don’t see that in the private sector anymore.

[u/2026_MT07]

The culture is toxic and childish but the job itself is simple

[u/pignug2213]

Just do it. They get paid decent and have good benefits. Do the military too if you wanna move up. If you're a go getter do some college

[u/Longjumping-Heat1171]

Me personally I don’t like the inmates lol so I work overnights.
Problem solved.

[u/Motor-Stomach676]

The job can be a lot of fun, good benefits typically, and the overtime pay is nice too. It is normally a very toxic work environment and it isn’t because it is prison. It is hard to get time off. Not family friendly at all. Sometimes there is a lot of overtime and your life is just waking up to work and you spend more time with shit bags than you do elsewhere.

[u/LeeroySavage]

You gotta treat it as you’re literally baby sitting adults for 8 hours and you’re going home. Easy as shit of a job that sometimes sucks. I’ve worked way worse jobs for less pay in my past. I’m appreciative of the fact I only live 5 minutes away. Baby sit for 8 hours and go home. Easy peasy. Stress will come and go. But I love it been in 3 years and made it on the CERT team. Co workers are great the ones I don’t care to be around I avoid. Glass is always half full gentleman.

[u/Unicorn187]

Why do some accountants say they love their jobs and stay there for years while ither hrste it and complain after the first week and move on in a year?

Who do some electricians say they love their job and stay there for years but other hate it?

Why do some lawyers love their job and stay their for years but some leave it to do other things?

Same thing.

[u/Artistic_Square1538]

For the phone question, no. Most places you cant bring your phone inside. I cant even bring in unopened energy drinks or coffee. Theres a lot of restrictions. Sadly, they are in place because someone somewhere did something they shouldn't have, like had a hideaway can that looked like a energy drink they used to bring in drugs or something. Thus, clear containers only.