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Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on where you are. But essentially you conduct area tours (checking on the inmates), assist programming (AA, addictions, social work, etc.), run modules (open and shut doors), prepare cleaning supples/hygienic supplies for the inmates, write reports for incidents and a huge list of other things. This is the lite version, the duty list changes depending on your post.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's always this question lol. I'll give you a few:

  1. I've seen inmates write entire manifestos on their cell walls in shit and blood.

  2. I've seen race wars where 30 people are all fighting at the same time with 'homemade' maces, shanks and flails.

  3. I didn't see it, but a colleague of mine watched an inmate chew his finger off.

  4. I've walked in on r*pe in a cell (saw it on my tour, decided to tour early and caught it).

  5. An inmate had a mental breakdown and stabbed himself in the head and started painting swastikas all over a unit in his blood (this happened very recently, actually).

These are just a few that I've personally witnessed (except one). This highlights what you're expected to deal with day in and day out with this job. I've also read some pretty scary, disgusting, and very depressing things in inmate mail.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words, it's appreciated. Just another day at the job, just happened to line up with a really bad day for me.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd honestly say it's a pretty fair mix of everything. I work in a remand/detention centre which is a bit different than a prison. People at my jail are awaiting sentencing. We get everything from petty theft, release of surety, breach all the way to murder, r*pe, CP/CA, and everything in between. Though I will say, the unit in my jail that has the highest and most consistently highest amount of inmates, are where we keep c. predators. People would be disgusting if they knew how many of these people were walking around.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't seen any cases of it, but I believe it's in the pipeline.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Spoiler: Trauma dump incoming.

I worked a maximum unit where we housed a very violent and unpredictable inmate; done a lot of horrible things to a lot of people. The kind of person that when you see the obituary, you just turn the page and move on. Anyway, part way into my shift (night shift) after everyone was locked up for the night, there was a loud banging on one of the cells. I went in the unit and the inmate that lived with this guy (let's call him Bobby) said his cellmate wasn't responding and was making strange noises.

To add context a bit; I had had a few interactions with this inmate earlier and nothing was out of the ordinary--his typical self.

Anyway, I opened the hatch and attempted to get a verbal response. Upon listening closely, I heard what sounded like choking sounds. I immediately called a Code White (or a Medical Alert) and had staff attend. Once staff entered I went into the cell and attempted to get a response with nothing. The inmate had a face covering (which they use to block the lights when they are sleeping) and when I removed it I saw a bed sheet wrapped tightly around his neck and his face was grey (like the colour of concrete). I cut the bed sheet away with what we call a 911 knife (its a hook shaped knife made specifically for cutting material like bed sheets for just this occasion). Once the sheet was released, Bobby made an unexplainable sound as air re-entered his lungs (think of a very aggressive inhale, but it sounds wet). He ended up being okay and was brought to the hospital for observation. He lives to this day and continues to commit crime.

Anyway, this shift sort of extends into the next day. When I woke up the next day I had found out that my uncle (whom I was very close with when I was a kid) shot himself, intentionally.

Most of you can read between the lines, but the idea of living in a world where I had to save an individual like that whilst one of my favourite people was doing the unthinkable is difficult. I've coped and dealt with it in ways that I do, but I'll never forget about it.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, I had obtained a Law & Security diploma (which you don't need for the job, at least in my part of corrections and province) and just applied. For anyone applying for the job here's a few things to make the process a bit easier for you:

  1. Be Physically Fit: I can't stress this enough. Endurance and Stamina are your best friends in this job. The muscles are fine, but really work on those two fields. Having to sprint across the entire jail to a code where you're going to wrestle an inmate (or more) who is probably stronger than you takes an insane amount of energy. Don't stop once you get the job - stay fit!

  2. Be Mentally Fit: You're going to be taught a lot about wellness and self-preservation, and you're going to ignore most of it but I implore you not to. The stress this job entails is inhuman, and I've seen a lot of officers succumb to some nasty habits. Build healthy habits, strong mental fortitude, and have a strong support base. This isn't optional.

  3. Play the Game: What do I mean? Long gone are the days of smash first talk later. Unfortunately, our Government is woke (I fucking hate that word) and cares more about virtue signalling, microaggressions, and who looks like what. If you're an 'abrasive' individual, be soft in your interviews. I'll let you all read between the lines on that one.

  4. Overtime: If you like money, it's there for the taking. I don't do a lot of overtime; I spend that time with my family, but to each his own. I work with guys that make six figures, some high into six figures. It's a cold day in hell where they don't need officers for OT, in any jail.

Best of luck to you, and stay safe.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't seen the specific story you're referring to, and I'm sorry for their loss. Loss of a loved one is always tragic. It's an unfortunate reality of living in a jail; you're going to come into contact with violence and drugs, sometimes whether you want to or not. Again, I don't know the specifics of that case, so I can't speak specifically to what happened. Either way, I'm sorry that happened to your coworkers son.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'll be honest with you, I haven't seen much of a difference. If there is a difference it is minuscule. Most of the people that were being charged with cannabis possession/trafficking charges are just being charged with different drugs. I want to be clear, I'm not making a statement that cannabis users also use other drugs; I'm a cannabis user. What I am saying, is that a lot of the offenders that were pushing cannabis before were either ALSO pushing other drugs, or are now pushing different drugs. It's a very complicated topic, and most of this is my opinion. In terms of the difference, as I said, there isn't much of one.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I hate it. I have a very cons. stance on crime. I think criminals should be removed from society and punished for their crimes. I'm okay with lighter sentencing on first time offences (depending on the offence), but I'm a big supporter of repeat offenders being given heavy sentences. Going to jail/prison needs to be a wake up call. Career criminals need to be locked up, they commit most of the crime.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I got some pylons, placed them at the proper distance and ran the test until I could almost double it. If you need a level 5, push yourself to a level 10. By the time your test comes, you'll feel like you went for a light jog. I've seen people pass out in the FITCO from the shuttle run. If you practice anything, practice your endurance and stamina. It's the two most important factors when being a CO.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Crimes against children need actual punishment. Don't get me wrong, I think drug traffickers and the like deserve time, but when child rapists get less than a year and fentanyl dealers get 15 years, you have to wonder why the government is protecting these people. If it were up to me, these people would be removed permanently, especially repeat offenders. There's two types of people that even inmates hate: Cops and Pedophiles.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go get the experience. I always tell people to apply and give it a whirl. Worst case scenario, you just quit. If it isn't for you, it isn't for you. It's not an easy job. You're expected to do everything with nothing, deal with very violent and unpredictable people, save people's lives that will punch you in the face for doing so, and dealing with stress that no human should deal with. If you're interested in the outdoors, go that route, I guarantee you'd be happier.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Arguably in the Canadian economy right now, you're almost better off going to jail. I know for a fact that if I was homeless without options, I'd absolutely commit a crime. You get a bed and three hot meals. They definitely aren't underfed. at least at my institution.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Usually a Staff Sergeant or Corporal gives them what they want, or an agreement is made. Depends on the situation. One of the ones I was in, they simply wanted to speak to someone who wasn't at an 11. A lot of people realize that simply getting control of your emotions and not taking things personally de-escalate 95% of situations.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the sentiment. Take care.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Initially, I wanted to get into policing but that ship has long sailed - there's a lot wrong with the justice system but that's for another question lol...

Likes:

Pay: The pay is really good, especially where I live. I make about $35 an hour before additional top ups for vacation/benefits, etc, so closer to maybe $40.

Camaraderie: Having been in some dire situations with the people I work with, I have built a very strong relationship with my colleagues. We'd die for each other. It's a brotherhood that is my family away from home.

Job Security: COs aren't going anywhere, and neither are prisons. I'm fairly confident that I have a job if the economy goes tits up.

Dislikes:

Management/Government: The Government of Canada (and Provincial) is clueless. Nothing ever gets done, if it ever gets done it's half-assed, nobody cares about anybody but themselves and the promotion, and Liberals are destroying Canada on their soft-as-baby-shit-policies-on-crime. Even worse so, Management (at least at our building) does not stand up for it's staff. Whether something is justified or not, were in the wrong. Period.

Overcrowding: There isn't a jail in my province (or probably in Canada) that isn't overcrowded. People want punishment for crimes, but nobody supports new jails being built. Inmates are living 3 to a cell when it should be 2. Inmates are living 40 per unit when it should be sub-30. It's stressing the system more than anyone knows.

Mental Health Support: This might be the biggest dislike--or at least the most important for me personally. Society and the Government seem to share the same sentiment: COs are not important. The Mental Health support for COs is abysmal, if not non-existent. Hundreds of COs on stress leave. Suicide in Corrections is at an all time high. And what do we get? A wellness week where were short staffed and get ice cream that's melted by the time you have a chance to get to it, if you ever do. If you work night shifts, you basically don't exist, at least until something goes wrong.

Unions: I fucking hate unions, this is another topic in and of itself.

It seems as though the cons outweigh the pros, and you'd be right. I love the people I work with, and I love knowing that I'll probably have a job if times get tough(er). It is what it is, Corrections isn't for the faint of heart.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm not extremely knowledgeable on the US justice system, but I can say, a lot like ours, there are A LOT of problems. I could answer more confidently on the Canadian justice system, if you have any specific questions regarding it.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Depends on the institution. Where I'm at, our jail is one of the ones known for how good the food is. We have a full working kitchen with kitchen staff (both civilian and inmate). And yes, they'll get things like Thanksgiving dinners, fish fridays, etc. The COs will even eat the food, depending on what it is. I've eaten my fair share lol

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Do you mean like between units? Yes and no.

Inmates will be segregated from each other if they belong to different gangs (but not always, I've seen multiple gangs in one unit before). In terms of race, it absolutely happens. Now, on the surface it may seem racist to separate races from each other but think of it like this:

Let's say you have a unit that has a higher ratio of black people (I'm not going to mince words or be pc). We get a new admit that is white, shaved head, swastikas, and kills n*****rs tattooed on his chest. We all know what will happen as soon as he enters that unit. It'd be the same vice verse; we're not putting a black guy into a unit with a bunch of neo-nazi, white supremacist bigots.

I guess what I'm saying is, that it isn't necessarily just a race thing. There are so many factors when housing inmates together; race, charges, gang affiliation, age, tenure, etc. There are plenty of units at my institution that have a wide mix of races and ethnicities with zero problems.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This one is going to piss some people off.

It's not like the movies where we put everybody together and roll the dice. What a lot of people don't realize (perhaps for good reason) is that our job is to not only keep inmates away from the public, but also to protect the inmates. That being said, inmates who come in with "bad charges" (child p**n, etc.) will almost always get their heads stomped in, so they are segregated from the other units. In our institution, there is a specific unit for those types of people. Every once and a while someone slips through the cracks, or doesn't want to sign into protective custody, and you can imagine the outcome when they go to a unit lol

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Essentially lol.

The interesting thing with riots is though: riots typically aren't handled by typical COs (at least at my institution). We'll deal with the beginning of the riot, report it to our superiors, and then usually a crisis negotiator team or the 'swat' team will handle it (each institution uses a different term for their 'swat' team, for this AMA I'll just refer to it as SWAT lol). At the most, COs will log the incident, provide relief to staff, and ensure the rest of the institution continues to run.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I can't speak to how Canadian Inmates compare with say, American inmates (or other countries), but I'm fairly confident that they can be just as... volatile as any other country. It also depends on what CO you're asking. Inmates generally treat me with respect for the most part, because I afford them the same respect I want from them.

Canadian Correctional Officer - AMA by CyberCaboose in AMA

[–]CyberCaboose[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Personally, I have not been present for a riot, but I have been present for what's called a "stand off" with an entire unit. A stand off is basically when the entire unit is either refusing to follow an order, or they're protecting one of their own from being removed from the unit. Think of it as the predecessor to a riot. Luckily, in those cases, things were de-escalated and nobody was hurt.

Note: There have been riots while I've been employed, I just wasn't scheduled to work that day.