Prison Officer?

Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

Hi, anyone on here a prison officer (sure I've read of a couple) and fancy telling me what the job's *really* like, and what you *really* do day to day?

It's an option I'm thinking of. Smile

Many thanks in advance!
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

Resurrection · Ballast Boy Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

Pm me ill fill you in on the gory details

Which prison you thinkin?

Res
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ZX9r

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Drink coffee and swagger about, mostly!

Oh wait, that's just seniors, yay for us!

Ben's right; the job is highly dependent on which nick you apply for, and whether it's private or public sector.

In short, a decently run prison will give a decent human being one of the most fulfilling and rewarding jobs you could possibly find. It really is one of those jobs that (cliche alert!) is different every day.

Today I spent most of my shift carrying out Case Reviews on suicidal detainees, 3 of whom were on continuous watches with officers poised at arms' length; in case they tried to kill themselves again - one has made 4 big-boy attempts this week.

Last weekend I spent 5 hours sitting in full riot gear waiting for everything to kick off.

Variety, the spice of life.

Pay is reasonable in the public sector, especially in the South.

It can be extremely stressful, and at times; dangerous. The average life expectancy of a screw on retirement is 18 months.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Urgh ... apparently I have been sent a VO ... so I will be a prison visitor shortly (new experience for me) ... but I guess its not the same thing, LOL.

I'm far too straight for all this visiting lark. Its really not my sort of thing to do.

Rolling Eyes

What do they do when you go there?
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Depends on the nick really.

In general, you'll attend a visitors centre, ID the lag you're visiting, be searched, have the rules explained, and then be escorted into the prison visits hall. In general, they are large rooms with a few dozen tables scattered about. At my gaff, we have comfy chairs and little coffee tables. At Resurrection's pad, it's fixed chairs and tables with big screens in the middle to stop you from passing packages.

If your friend/relative is deemed a security or drugs risk, you may have to use Closed Visits - which is more like the system you'll have seen on TV - i.e. talking through the bullet-proof glass.

There will be CCTV and officers patrolling the room in any case, and occasionally sniffer dogs.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Dom_ · Points Mean Prizes Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Karma :

A mates brother works at Sudbury, which i think is a cat D so very tame. He's a big lad (bodybuilder/rugby player) and seems to enjoy the job quite a lot.

Although he has changed jobs now and drives around visiting prisoners on day release. Easy as pie is how he makes it out.

Thats all i know i'm afraid. Very Happy

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Cat D's for dossers!

You barely encounter any of the challenges that make a cat A/B environment interesting! I suppose I can grudgingly admit there must be some small satisfaction in taking an active part in rehabilitation of offenders at the end of their sentence - although that's probably mostly ruined by dealing with smug twats like Archer!
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Well I dunno ... its in St Albans, apparently its not the glass-screen thing, just tables etc.

Suppose I'm not allowed to smoke, it being a work place and all?
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

Resurrection · Ballast Boy Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

Cat B's are where its at.

Still wish i was HMP and not a private prison officer.

Don't even get a truncheon! Crying or Very sad

Its what you make it to be honest!

Anyway i'll bore you more on msn.

Res
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ZX9r

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

Jull · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 Mar 2007 Karma :

I went for a job in a prison (counselling suicidal young offenders) and went for a tour only to find I was totally stressed by the fact I was locked in! I kept thinking if there was a fire I would be trapped.

Even at the cinema's I have to know where the exits are and hate having the car doors locked.

Told them immediately that I couldn't hack it, which was a shame because it was a really worthwhile job Sad

Resurrection · Ballast Boy Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

DrJustice · Scooby Slapper Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Karma :

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

No, that's the average for a career officer on retirement - more to do with the cumulative stress, and the utter change in lifestyle between the prison regime and being put out to pasture.
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

So you need to make sure you get at least 18 months worth of use out of your gold watch, then.

Rolling Eyes

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :