Anybody Out There???

[Don]

Hey guys, I know we have some C.O.s here and I know we have some deputies who either are working or have worked corrections. Now I can't believe you guys are shy. Doesn't anybody have anything to say to get this topic rolling? Bitches, gripes, snivels whatever? http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

How about some officer safety issues, or stress relievers?

Do we have anyone here who works a city jail?

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"We're sorry, the number you have dialed, 911, is no longer in service. This is a recording. . ."
6P1 (retired)

[Jingwa]

Don,

I'd like to see some action here as well. There are a few people I want to show some gratitude. I have to say that I don't envy anyone who works corrections, and appreciate all the B.S. these folks put up with. Thanks for doing what most couldn't.

[tcsd1236]

Worked 8 years as a CO before going on the Road...

[Don]

I worked as a jail deputy for three years. It was some of my most frustrating time in LE. During that time I also worked dispatch quite a lot.

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"We're sorry, the number you have dialed, 911, is no longer in service. This is a recording. . ."
6P1 (retired)

[Tackleberry]

Don,

This is why corrections has the highest turnover of any law enforcement agency. As you know it takes a certian kind of person to put up with the crap let alone working until retirement. It seems everytime somebody retires in a matter of months they are dead of something. The life expectancy rate of a C.O. is very low. It was also said in training that a C.O. is burnt out in 3years! I have 5+ and I can attest to this but I am hanging on partly because the money is very good if not better then most police departments around here, and easy and plentiful OT on night shift. I work part-time as a police officer about 20hrs a week and make $10.02hr. I work at the prison and make $18.08hr plus shift pay. If I could make the same money I would do police work fulltime but I cannot afford to lose that much money going and starting at another department. I do like corrections very much and could do this till retirement if I have to. It's kinda funny running into the same people you put their in the first place. They do take a second look! I've had some come up with their charges wanting to be buddy, buddy and say can't you drop these?? Sorry Nope!! Gotta love it!


Tac

[Don]

Tac,

Glad to see you back on here, seems like you've been gone for a while?

You may have hit on the solution here. Using your street time as a "stress breaker" just may work real well. I certainly understand the money dilemma. Just remember that those extra toys you can buy (hell for that matter the extra house payment) won't do you much good if you stress out and have a coronary!

You say you work in prison, so I

[Tackleberry]

Don,

Actually I work for a County and not state. We are called a prison instead of a jail by our county. Our actual name is Lehigh County Department of Corrections but on the front of the jail it says "Lehigh County Prison". We are located in Allentown, PA., and are 60 miles north of Philly and 80miles from NYC. As such we get all of their trash doing their crimes here. We are the second largest city and county in PA. We have a newer style hi-tech facility built in 1992. It can house in excess of 2,000 inmates which would be very large for a jail. We are maximum security and do a lot of holding for the Federal Government. Fed's comprise 50% of our pop. We also have a floor for INS. The rest are state and county, Those of which are detainees awaiting trial or those sentenced to state time but do their bid here because state is crowded. We have several people on death row awaiting appeal. We have also had fed's land a helicopter on our roof with "mobster informer types" for safe keeping in the middle of the night! Our police department is located right next to us as well. We have a hospital 1 block down and a fire department 6 blocks down. Some nights when working OT in the jail we can hear gun shots ring out in the city. We all turn the channel on our radios to find out whats going on, makes the night go by quicker! As for the pay it isn't everything and I am really the type with a laid back attitude despite my nickname and gung-ho incentive, I try not to let stuff get to me. If its one thing I learned from corrections its not to take anything personal. I can defuse a lot of situations on the street without resorting to force from all the experience I learned in the jail so this helps my other job greatly. We actually get paid more then state does so I can't complain at all. If I had to I would do police work almost for free because I like it so much and I really don't depend on that job for as my main bread and butter. Between working 2 jobs I sometimes get very busy and don't get a chance to check in, When I do this is the first place I go because the people are so great.


Tac

[Don]

Tac,

Thanks for the info, it

[gazza]

g/day don im working on getting some aussie prison officers hereto make things bitmore interesting and swap ideas etc with our comrades else where

[desd zone]

I worked in a county jail for 13.5 years before leaving for a police department. I must be nuts but i liked it,9 years cert team.I am told it is not the same today with all the lawsuits changing the backbone(or lack of one)of the administation.I worked with some of the best all around officers in lawenforcement. Many better then some of the cops I work with.