is this a good life for someone with a family?

[dvtny2]

I was just wondering what kind of family life one can have a s a correction officer. I'm taking the test for nassau county so if anyone s from there some feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[blackstang]

A great one...Life is what you make of it.

My father is a police officer and he worked nights when i was younger and it never affected out relationship...and i also thought it was the coolest thing that he was a cop.

[DOCSatTheGunk]

I am 5th generation Law Enforcement

My Great Great Grandfather was an original Metropolitan Police Officer in the pre NYPD datys

My Great Grandfather was a NYPD Sgt.
My Grandfather was a NYPD Patrolman
My Pop was a NYC Transit Policeman

I have brothers, cousins, all Corrections Officers and Police Officers

Right now things are cool cause I'm single, but my previous girlfriend couldn't deal with it...

[Bass]

Its can be a very stressful job at times. Hours arn't always the best for people with a family, but it is a very fun job and worth a shot IMO.

[Iowa #1603]

Pros
1 Pay is usually above average for the locality
2. Benift package for City/County/State/Federal Corrections is normally above average
3. Retirement package is usually above average , however you pay more than the "normal joe" for the early retirement. (in 33 months I'll let you know for sure)
4. Your co-workers will in most cases be willling to help out with almost anything you need in time of need




Cons
1. Lousey Hours and shift work
2. Seniority rules so expect lousey hours/vacations/shifts until you get some time in
3. Stressful job with little or no support from the community.



The is more I am sure.............but the bottom line is the job has been very, very, very good to me and my family over the last 30+ years allowing me to live somewhat comfortably. You are NOT going to get rich......but you can live in comfort if you plan wisely.

My children had some special needs growing up. I was able to work a shift that made my life, that of the rest of my family easier than if I was tied to having to work either days or evenings...I work midnights for that reason.

I was working for the department when I got married so she knew what was in store BEFORE we got hitched...........still pluggin along

[SMD]

It all depends on how you deal with it. I have done this along time and I have seen this job turn new boots into convicts. Then again I have seen so many new boots also turnout to be great Officers and people. It is up to you but the one thing is it aint ever as easy and simple as you think it is.

[JMTX]

It's really what you make of it. Both my parents are LEOs and I have to admit that depending on their schedules, I didn't see them much during the school week sometimes. However, we made a point of spending time together during the summer and on weekends during the school year (either before they left for work or after they got home.)

I do think the job is *easier* on people who don't have spouses/kids (like me) but it really is whatever you make of it. You just have to be a little creative about things.

Also, how well you handle stress is important. This job DOES change you and your spouse may not like the changes.

You'll really have to learn to transition from "work mode" to "home mode." When I was younger and my dad was in the jails, I can remember him snapping at me pretty good about something trivial and my mom had to remind him, "You're talking to her like an inmate."

It affects the entire family unit really...To this day, I go over to my best friend's house and his mom cooks a dinner and they all get dressed and sit down and eat dinner at the same time every night, with no TV on or anything. With my parents always on different schedules, that was never a possibility. Every one sort of ate on the run as their schedule allowed you know, and so sitting around a table with them feels weird and formal. We're more comfortable hunkering down in the living room and eating on tv trays while watching a movie or going out for pizza.

At my friend's house, there is such a thing as "proper dinner table dicussion." You don't discuss anything gross, violent, or sexually oriented. Going to dinner with my family would traumatize some people with all the discussion of blood, guts, flatulence, nudity, crack houses, the dead body that burst, the kitchen that was crawlilng with cockroaches that Dad saw today, etc. Anything goes at our table.

In my friend's house, you do not curse around each other and certainly not at the dinner table. The F word flies around my house about every 3rd word.

So, you know, it just changes things. It makes things different. You because far less sensitive and depending on your spouse, this can cause issues (some women especially seem sensitive to these kinds of things for reasons I'll never understand.)

[Cubfan]

As a C/O, husband, and parent, I have no trouble at all. You just have to separate work life and family life. I do my job at work and I am in a different mindset there and in a heightened state of alertness. At home, I am all about family time, relaxed, etc. I Never bring my work home, and never bring my home to work.

[THIBBS]

I happen to be lucky enough to love the team that I am on and the fact that I don't have to rotate shifts. I work a standard 5/2 rotation which makes planning anything a snap. But after 30 years in the Navy and turning 50 this year it is tough adjusting to working nights. To echo what has been said before it is all what you make of it. Like my Daddy used to tell me "If You Ain't Having Fun, You Ain't Doin It Right"

[NJPrisonCop]

I work nights, but we make it work by working around it. I can pretty much work any shift I want, but I like 2nd right now. Family life is good. Just leave the crap at the gate and you'll be fine. Some guys cant figure out how to talk to their wife and kids like humans and not inmates. Other than that, its a good gig.

[theole34]

there are a ton of sacrifices that have to be made in any law enforcement career, but i believe 20 year retirement and the camaraderie we have is priceless. i am almost done with a 20 year career... 70 miles each way, travel by train, subway and bus, 2 hours door to door and work a rotating chart of 2 1600-0100s then 2 0800-1600s then 2 off... my wife of almost 20 years is very understanding, and the kids are good about it too. i have missed a few games, plays and concerts but make some changes due to seniority to make most of the kids activities. you really have to find good spouse to make it work.

good luck.

nassau, ny?
if so, you'll be ok.

[heikki]

Its can be a very stressful job at times. Hours arn't always the best for people with a family, but it is a very fun job and worth a shot IMO.

It' s a good job, when you carry the duty belt, put baton, handcuffs on the belt, you'll understand the corrections officer is a very stressful job, but it's a best choice for the person who is fit to it.

[NJPrisonCop]

along with what heikki said.... a person who doesn't fit in the profession should feel no shame. Its not for everyone! It does take a special person to do what we do. Need to be able to take a joke, have a sense of humor, roll with the punches (sometimes literally), and be thick skinned. And you need some bass in your voice. if you have a problem TELLING people what to do rather than ASKING, you'll be okay.

[PRIME EVIL]

I will keep mine short cause I hate reading long posts......

With the great pay, and a schedule (4 off, 4 on 3 on 3 off) you get tons of time off. When I started I was single, now I am a married father of two. Go for it, you won't regret it!

[dvtny2]

thank you everyone for all the information im defeniteley goin for it and hoping i make it on. I defeniteley feel more comfortable after reading all the posts.

[heikki]

along with what heikki said.... a person who doesn't fit in the profession should feel no shame. Its not for everyone! It does take a special person to do what we do. Need to be able to take a joke, have a sense of humor, roll with the punches (sometimes literally), and be thick skinned. And you need some bass in your voice. if you have a problem TELLING people what to do rather than ASKING, you'll be okay.

you are right, if you doesn't fit, it's not shame for quit. I'm glad that I can handle this job, this is a reason why I feel very comfortable from the corrections job.anydoby who is fit to the corrections officer, his correctional ability'll be stonger and stronger day by day, and he'll like this job, never wants to change law enforcement career, so one day corrections officer, all life corrections officer

[Hack4NYS]

Go for it. It's better than working a dock at Wal-Mart, or a register at your fave Golden Arches. Besides...we have way better stories!!!

[gialinn]

As an older person just entering corrections, I read posts like this and always feel the need to ad my .02
I've driven OTR truck. Try starting a family with that.
Types of construction. Talk about the possibility of an accident
Low pay jobs. Theres daily stress there about just how you will survive
Working odd shifts with the wife. Talk about no family life and no time for anything.

Yeah, this will be a stressful job. But keep in mind, those of you who haven't had may jobs. There are lots of situations out there that area miserable to work with. Every job can have it's share of challenges, and waiting around for the perfect one most likely will not happen so you make the best of the good and try to minimize the bad. But don't look at it as "corrections is stressful" and "every other job is "okey dokey". Your going to have to learn to eat your words, play the game, or whatever at some point no matter what job you take. I'm not trying to minimize the stress of being a CO, just saying that if you haven't much job experience/supporting a family experience then you will learn that no matter what career you have, you will pay some price for it.

[NJPrisonCop]

3/4 of it is who you work with. the other 1/4 is the inmates. As long as the people you work with are dependable and competent, you'll be okay. But there are some that just arent cut out to do what we do. I like it. It beats being behind a desk all dang day!

[nateljen80]

3/4 of it is who you work with. the other 1/4 is the inmates. As long as the people you work with are dependable and competent, you'll be okay. But there are some that just arent cut out to do what we do. I like it. It beats being behind a desk all dang day!

+1

Also I'd like to add that all work sucks regardless of where it is :) It is very rewarding when you are heading home and think about how much cojones it took for you to spend ANOTHER 8 hrs in the most dangerous environment on Earth and survived while supervising hundreds of dangerous inmates with nothing but a flashlight, verbal skills and a radio, and kept the public safe {thanklessly}yet another day.

[Joe45]

Two Words-

Job Security!!!!!

[PRIME EVIL]

3/4 of it is who you work with. the other 1/4 is the inmates. As long as the people you work with are dependable and competent, you'll be okay.

You nailed that on the head. You will have more problems with staff than you will inmates. LOL. You think im kidding?

[Cubfan]

You nailed that on the head. You will have more problems with staff than you will inmates. LOL. You think im kidding?

I agree with that. Nothing disruptes your family life more than finding out you have to stay over because some turd on the next shift caught the "8 hour flu" during his/her two days off. That being one example of many other things other officers may do to give you a headache, but that is tops in my book.