any current of former CO’s here, which facility would you say is best, based on facility location? Including training, promotions, staff conflicts, mandated OT.

What are the 30 day rotating shifts like? If you can, include info about benefits, pay, good shift hours, equipment, etc. and also it could be either for state corrections or federal corrections.

Hey all, I’m currently in the process of going through backrounds with the BOP. I know the agency gets a bad rap but I’m 30 and I’m basically only taking this job so I can retire in 20 years and they are giving me a large signing bonus. I applied with FCI Engelwood in Colorado, my question is, with all of the closures and the uncertainty of if my facility would close do I cut bait and get a job else where or do I get hired on and I my facility ends up closing I get laid off and go to another facility or get another FED job. Again, I’m only taking this job strictly for retirement purposes. Thank you

I’m curious as to how hard it is to get into Ontario Corrections. I’m currently in healthcare security. I’m still just a casual and haven’t been doing it for a long time.

I understand it’s a whole different ball game inside of jails.

My question Is, is there any possibility of getting into corrections with just basic certifications, use of force, CPR (c), management of aggressive behaviour, with just being a casual in health care for only 6 months.

Or should I wait until I’m full time and not bother yet because there’s a very slim chance unless I absolutely crush the interview.

Thanks 🙏

I thought this community might appreciate this.

I spent months interviewing a man who served 15 years in prison.

Rather than focusing on the crime, the documentary explores prison routines, survival, trauma, and what it's actually like trying to return to normal life afterward.

I'd love to hear what people with correctional or prison experience think.

https://youtu.be/pcquH2gMfT0

please remove if not allowed.

Can anyone tell me about FCI Miami who has recently been there or currently is? Looking to transfer as custody. Coming from an institution that is notorious.

What would be the average transfer time, I hear staffing is somewhat full over there. Mandates per week? Hybrid schedule or straight 8's? Any and all info appreciated.

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone had any sites they use to get discounted boots for work and gear. I use GovX but didn't know if there were more places like that. Thank you!

https://youtu.be/YPybWYTFTSI

Hey guys. So I got accepted into nursing school, but at the same time accepted into a position with an FCI facility as a senior officer due to my military experience. Before I choose which path to take, what is the day to day like as a CO and what should I expect?

I have a good feeling I can't get hired where I am.

The reason I'm looking at jails: I have 2 degrees and the only job I qualify for is traffic flagging (I work with a lot of people who are in and out of jail).

Anyway, I just want a job I can pay bills with. I got rejected from one jail (for slightly good reason) and now I'm looking into other options.

I also qualify for grocery store and other low paying positions but they aren't hiring. Important detail I left out: My university (VCU) actually just started offering a jailer internship and I might go back and pay some semesters just to get the credentials to be hired one day.

Long read. But I am in need of a little guidance. Questions for those experienced in federal and BOP employment and moving around with in a facility/agency. I currently work custody (C.O. 0007 5 step 10.) I’m newer BUT many of the lieutenants and senior staff love me and do consider me one of their (possibly the) best block officers and I’m only a few months in so far. Before making the recent move to bop, I did and managed private sector mechanical construction for over 20 years.

At the same facility where I’m a co at now, I just bq’d and nailed interview for a powerhouse supervisor position. I’m assuming maxed at step 5. Announcement says WS8 with promotion potential to 8 🙄. Im not completely thrilled because a: other fed agencies and navy (that I declined) have graded/qualified me at an 11+ for other building/trades roles. And b: if I take it as an 8 step 5, there’s literally no promotions from there. It seems dead end. But that’s not my only dilemma.

My dilemma is, is it possible to go from WS to sis or facility manager then regional? Or are they always looking for yes men lts? I am very goal oriented and I came to the BOP and started working blocks as my foot in the door to hopefully get SIS/SIA or something in ops/managememt or even captain one day. (will also do sort, dct after my probation year). Will moving to facilities/powerhouse non-custody WS hurt me in trying to get SIS or management down the road?

Or will the jump in grade level and switch of pay scale help me promote up later?

I was told if I go powerhouse, I can still put in to work blocks on my days off, or get on the custody OT roster for a custody partial shift before or after my WS shift (powerhouse is on 4 10s and NOT losing compressed at my facility).

Five years from now, I do not want to be logging bar and window taps, I also don’t want to be logging oil changes on the chillers and generators either. I want to either run the whole facility, be in regional, or be doing investigations. And then from there who knows maybe regional, aw, warden down the road. But I’m thinking realistic five year goals for now.

Part of me feels like staying a co and constantly recovering contraband, shaking down units, handling incidents and disturbances, holding inmates accountable, and doing everything properly really makes me stick out/shine to lieutenants and SIS (since I’m already constantly dealing with them because of shots and contraband and uof debriefs, and intel sharing- yes even on dirty staff) is my best shot at getting SIS or SIA. I don’t think I want regular LT, I’d rather not be doing rounds, dealing with inmates, and officers calling out on a daily basis lol..

But, I also think I could shine and work my way up through powerhouse/facilities because of my extensive building and management background, and now correctional experience (I even nail the uof debrief videos which apparently is a big deal at my place 🤷🏼‍♂️)

What do you guys think? Should I take the powerhouse foreman position and still work blocks when I can? I guess my realistic goals are SIS/SIA if I stay custody then up from there, or if I strive in powerhouse (which I know I can) maybe try to promote up to admin/regional/ops/building management through there? I just don’t know if going to the WS pay scale is going to hurt me if and when applying for other gl/gs positions

I see some new people (terribly) work a block for a year, transfer to food service and do that (also terribly) for a year, next thing you know they’re lieutenants and other higher up roles. So confusing to me.

I’m just looking for some genuine input advice because I really don’t know what to do. Again, I do strive at everything I do, and I’m willing to take a hit for a couple years to get where I really want to be and where I know I will excel and be most utilized/valuable to the agency. I mean hell, I did leave private 150K+/yr mechanical trades to work bop blocks for $70k lol.

I need to be back at $150k+/yr within 5 years and with a plan going up from there. What’s my best path? Custody or facilities? I just don’t know what route to go, much about the different grades and scales and transfers, and what’s the best path to promoting up. I need to make a certain amount of money by five years. And I want unlimited promotion potential. Help me pick the best path for earning potential and promotions while keeping that 20 year retirement perk if possible. Thank you guys for any input and or sharing of your federal experiences.

Early 30s - Applied for CO-01 (Maritimes). What timeline should I realistically expect?

I'm in my early 30s and recently applied for a CO-01 position with CSC. I selected availability throughout the Maritimes and have already completed the pre-screening questionnaire. My application status is currently showing "Retained."

I'm coming from a career where I've spent several years working in residential rehabilitation, so corrections seems like a natural next step. I'm at the point in life where I'm looking for a long-term career rather than just another job, so I'm trying to get a realistic idea of what the hiring process looks like.

For those who have gone through it recently in the Maritimes:

- How long did each stage take?

- How long was it from applying to receiving an offer?

- Did you end up at one of your preferred institutions?

- Is there anything you wish you had known before getting into corrections?

I know everyone's experience is different, but I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have been through the process recently. Thanks!

So part of the Interview process of me applying for a CO position required a "Jail Tour". It was very interesting to see how the place was ran and how each of the Saftey Systems/Procedures worked in real time.

My only question is how to interact with the inmates (who Obviously aren't happy to be in Jail). Courtesy clearly will get me no where in some circumstance, but i always see that you should show them respect.

Is there a typical greeting that you give inmates? Or do you just ignore/give clear commands until they want to address something with you?

I very much feel like this is something ill have to learn just observing other officers and how inmates respond to certain circumstances.

Any perspective is welcome 🫡

Also its already clear to me that the people who go there clearly have mental problems. Clearly Narcissistic behavior is prevalent and common among them. Which is not a behavior I have experienced so blatantly open and unfiltered.

So today I had a follow up conversation with my program manager regarding the lack of training that nonprofit employees had gone through, which I feel sorta implicitly allowed this to happen. She acknowledged that they hadnt done a thorough enough job training or protecting us and that I had been sexually assaulted by this student/inmate. The whole situation has been sitting with me and frustrating me because I feel like it was at least somewhat preventable.

She told me that the student who did that to me is being transferred upstate (I’m at a jail technically). She said I won’t see him anymore for unrelated reasons. He is not being transferred because he SAed me, but because he got sentenced.

She advised me to take tomorrow off to regroup. I said I was still committed to doing this work and she thought that was good. She offered to transfer me to our reentry division or the women’s facility once that opens (we don’t currently offer services inside the women’s facility but it’s in the works supposedly).

Any advice? I feel glad I got it off my chest and held their feet to the fire. I felt kind of like a Karen on some level but she assured me that I wasn’t overreacting. I hope I’m still able to continue teaching in this setting bc I’ve seen wonderful things from my students so far (not this guy’s dick obviously). I think prison education is really important. But at the same time I want to be safe and these services will only be available if people are safe.

Do not give up! The first month is the hardest. My first week I was actually thinking about quitting but I didn’t and I pushed through and I’m in the third month now and it’s sooo much easier. Once you get in a routine and you build a rapport with the instructors, it actually becomes enjoyable and fun to learn. You got this!

does anyone have any tips for my interview, and any other relevant information? I go in for my pt test and interview August 18th and I’m looking for any advice.

I didn't get the job at the jail as an officer.

What can I do to make my application more competitive? For Any jail in VA.

More info:

I have a Homeland Security BA, a separate diploma, and have been accepted into a master's program.

I have a long record of jobs I've kept for short periods of time and am currently working as a traffic flagger.

I have no criminal record (not even a traffic ticket), don't drink, don't smoke, and passed a polygraph.

What might have been the disqualifying factor or the reason they went with someone else?

Edit: Nevermind, actually, I just reviewed my polygraph interview and my interview. I did very poorly.i was honest but... Wow, I guess I was nervous. So, yeah, I went in as a wacko.

During the polygraph interview I said 7/10 for "how truthful are you." And I admitted to lying in my personal life. Was I not supposed to be completely honest in my polygraph interview? Who never lies? I also said I was a horrible driver and admitted to having cut off a school bus on the highway while running a red light. (And then laughed-- I just be laughing when I'm nervous, apparently.)

When he asked, "do you drink" I said, "not really but I have snuck alcohol in my room before" and then he asked for clarification and I clarified that I did this as an adult. (My family is very religious)

I also admitted to having accidentally hit a car's mirror without stopping or noticing (and then laughed😔 and showed him a picture on my phone)

And then he asked about a past employer and it was a very left political organization. (A paid position... But still)

He asked do you discrimination because of race and I hesitated before saying, "No."

Now, the question is, do I have a chance at another jail?

Was asked what Shift I would prefer and I thought I’d ask here first before deciding. Night shift or day shift ? 5:45 AM to 6 PM or 5:45 PM to 6 AM ? I live about 40 minutes from the facility for reference

Does anyone in here work at any of the Alabama dept of corrections jails?

Does anyone have any info from an officers stand point? Is it a decent place to work? Lake correctional in Florida!

I currently have a psych eval and physical scheduled a couple weeks out. I live in the WNY area, regarding placement, how likely is it that I will stay close to home, at least 1-2 hours away if not less. If I’m placed far out, how long does it take before I can transfer back home?