CORRECTIONAL CAREERS
CHAPTER 9
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS
I. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
A. The Officer-Inmate Relationship
1. Structured Conflict:
Physical assaults:
Texas Prison Assaults
|
1988 |
1992 |
1996 |
1999 |
Change |
|
Offender Assaults |
182 |
366 |
1,388 |
1,612 |
+8.8X |
|
Staff Assaults |
132 |
365 |
918 |
1,836 |
+14X |
Psychological
"You can't trust any one of those inmates for anything. The offenders are always trying to outwit you and to get you in some shape or form. You have to be prepared" Quote from McConnell guard, (2,000).
B. The Organizational Structure
Primary responsibility is to custody, security and control.
Salaries:
Correctional Officers: $20,500--$31,000
Major: $3,072
Warden: $64,000
Asst. Warden: $$45,300
CO: Qualifications:
- HS diploma or GED
- 18 years old
- no felony conviction
- no conviction for drug related offense
- no convictions for domestic violence
- no Class A or B conviction within past five years
- Cannot be on probation
C. THE CUSTODY-ORIENTED CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
Pre-1960's: (Guards) uneducated, shaky employment history, untrained, negative view of inmates
D. THE PROFESSIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
Post 1960's: (Correctional Officer) Human service-oriented professional, educated, trained and less negative view of inmates
Black People's Guide to Prison Survival: Describes two types of guards.
- Professional: Respects other human beings. Does his 8 hours and goes home.
- "Others are the worse type, dirt poor and barely literate, they exist in a no man's land between welfare or prison for themselves. They deal in contraband and are capable of brutal acts against prisoners. They thrive on authority. Their world view is negative and that is the way they view most prisoners."
E. THE FEMALE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
Pre 1960's: few female officers in male prisons
Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (amended 1972): prohibited employment discrimination by public employers
- Today, Females are well accepted as correctional officers
- Nationally: 19% are female
- Texas: 23% are female
F. THE MINORITY CORRECTIONAL OFFICER
- Pre 1960's: vast majority of corrections officers were white male.
- Today: 37% of correctional officers are non-white.
G. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STRESS
1. Alienation
2. The Subculture of Violence
When can correctional officers use physical force?
- Self defense
- Protection of others
- Prevent escape.
F. Staff Training
1. The Pre-service Phase
All States require Pre-Service Training (120-400 hours)
2. On-the-Job Training Phase
II. PROBATION OFFICERS IN TEXAS
- Adults:
- Eligibility:
- Bachelor degree in criminal justice, criminology, social work, sociology, psychology
- Cannot be on probation
- Hiring Agency
- Judicial District Judges
- Salaries: Vary from $25,000
- Training:
- 40 hours initial certification
- pass written exam
- 80 hours re-certification every two years
- Juveniles (Probation and Parole):
- Eligibility
- Bachelor Degree in criminal justice, criminology, social work, sociology, psychology
- One year experience
- Hiring Agency:
- County Probation Departments
- Salaries: Vary from $23,000
- Training:
- 40 hours initial certification
- pass written exam
- 80 hours re-certification every two years
- PAROLE OFFICERS IN TEXAS
- Eligibility:
- Bachelor degree in criminal justice, criminology, social work, sociology, psychology
- 18 years old
- 1 year full time experience
- no conviction for domestic violence
- not on probation
- Hiring Agency
- Institutional Parole Officer: TDCJ
- District Parole Officer: Regional Offices
- Caseworker: Regional Offices
- Salaries:
- Parole Caseworker: starts $25,600
- District and Institutional Parole Officer: starts $29,000----$42,000