I have a oportunity to work at a minimum security private prison, the wages are above average for the area i live in. I have never done this kind of work before, being a minimum security facility would it be a lot safer then most prisons? Also i tend to be a non confrintational person, i generally get along with everyone, would this cause me problems? I don't want to get stuck in a career where i hate going to work how big of a adjustment would this job be?
2007-01-03 08:12:06 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
#1 A prisoner is a prisoner no matter if in max security or not. You NEVER want to try to make friends with any of them as they WILL USE you any chance they get. You NEVER WANT TO FEEL SORRY for any of them either as they will play you the whole way. You dont fight unless YOU have to and you need to remember a PRISONER IS A PRISONER not male or female a""A PRISONER". You show no favoritism to any of them, but at the same time no matter how upset they get with you you treat them with "respect" because somewhere down the line one out of 100 will show you a little respect in return. I worked in a system for a # of years. When an Imate asked me to check out something for him/her I would tell them the first chance I had free to do so I would----it may not be till the end of shif before I got the info to them--even if I was not able to find out for them I still walked down and let them know I did not have an answer for them. One thing you dont want to do is tell an Inmate you will check into something for them, write it down then throw the paper away and never get back to them. They will find a way to hurt you. I never showed any favortism to anyone of them but I never had any problems with them. If they got into trouble in the prison and had to be written up then I told them they would be written for whatever reason and followed thru------you have to let them know you are in charge but you can do it without being a total JERK.
2007-01-04 12:57:36 · answer #1 · answered by nickle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like this job isn't for u. If you chose to try it out (although this isn't really a job that you walk in and try, and the just stop, at least not in CA) You don't have to be a jerk 24/7 to be a c/o... you just have to be a different person when handling inmates. The job WILL change you. You can talk to wives, girlfriends, etc and they'll all tell you... however, the guard never sees that he's changed.... and it's never been for the good.
Private c/o's aren't trained well and the private facility is a lot different. Most state c/o's receive months of training at the academy and are slowly intro'd into the system. I have a friend in OH who said she could submit an application and be a prison guard within a few weeks... making 8$/hr. That's terrifying to me that there's no training (according to her).
Here in CA, the pay for private c/o's vs state c/o's varies tremendously!!!!
My husband has only worked for the state but in all levels.. The supermax he's @ right now has had fewer staff assaults than the level 2 he left since the inmates spend more time in their cells. A level 1 yard is considered fairly safe and are non violent offenders.... there is a difference working in the different levels.... here in CA, private prisons (Wackenhut) don't handle level 4 inmates.
Email if u have more questions.
2007-01-03 18:13:48 · answer #2 · answered by crimsonshedemon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To tell you the truth, it doesn't matter which one you work in. Neither of them is going to be safer than the other. Once you are inside the facility, all inmates are the same. They will fight each other and you just the same no matter what classification level they have.
On the issue of the pay, from my experience in the correctional field I have found out that usually private company ran facilities will pay more money. There really isn't a differenc in pay in regards to which level security you are working at.
On you being non-confrontational. Well, it depends on how you let that make you operate in the facility. You do not have to go up and start **** with them on purpose or anything, but you do have to lay down the rules and make them follow them. If you see them breaking a rule or fighting, you will need to have the motivation to get in the middle of it all even though you know you might get hurt.
2007-01-04 03:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by deftonehead778 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A minimum security prison would be better suited for your personality. However, you can't be laid back when dealing with criminals. If you can't confront people then you will be in the wrong business. Remember, they are there for a reason. Private Prisons always pay more, that's just the way privatization works. Personally, I could not work in a prison. When I obtain my Master's in Criminal Justice, there are several different areas I would rather pursue.
2007-01-03 08:23:05 · answer #4 · answered by spanky1492 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have to think that minimum security is a whole lot better! Remember, you're serving time there too - just in 8 hour shifts.
You're a braver man than I am. Good luck!
2007-01-03 08:32:58 · answer #5 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
id say go ahead and try it, you might like it. non-confrontational is a good thing, but as long as you are not gullible as well sounds like you could do well. as for the adjustment, isnt there one when beginning any new job. as for safety, its all about being aware of your surroundings. in a max facility, all the inmates are locked in tiny rooms, on a minimum facilty the inmates are allowed to roam within the fences (sotospeak) i currently work within the dept of corrections in my state and i love my job
2007-01-03 17:40:46 · answer #6 · answered by cheery_ohz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they don't its way to dangerous for them to carry one. If an inmate got a hold of the gun that would be bad because now that individual who was put in prison for a reason is now armed and a danger to everyone esl inmate or not. they might wear a gun during transfer but i highly doubt it.
2016-03-29 06:18:03 · answer #7 · answered by Deborah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Minimum would definitely be better than maximum. I would not want to do either though. Those guys are put through hell. They have feces and urine thrown on them, they are cursed at, and who wants to do strip searches of guys all day long. I don't think they could offer me enough money to do the job. I know someone has to do it... just not me.
2007-01-03 08:43:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pay is the same regardless of which level prison you work in...at least in GA...but from what you are saying as to your personality, not sure you want to get in this line of work--trust me! Been there, done that...
2007-01-03 08:20:34 · answer #9 · answered by Cindy B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely minimum.
2007-01-03 08:16:33 · answer #10 · answered by Timothy M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋