correctional officer

Arkansas Department of Correction

The people I worked with at my unit (admin staff) were great, had no issue with the admin staff. It was some of the security that was a problem. You have guards/ CO's starting drama with other Security officers, and admin staff, and would half do their jobs. Which caused a uncomfortable work environment. The benefits were really nice, good PTO and holiday pay. I liked the fact that they allowed you a day paid for your birthday. 
I worked two positions pretty much, business manager and fiscal support/ commissary supervisor. It was ALOT, and it was very stressful. Had bad headaches at the end of each work day. The training was not like any other training I've seen. Wasn't much training to be honest. I think maybe a full week for me to learn those two positions. The people at the admin in pine bluff were SO VERY helpful, however I am a hands on learner and need to be able to actually be trained rather than walked through it. 
Management was decent, good as it could get because it was a mess before the new warden got there. 
My other issue was the pay. Although the pay was nice, I was working two positions and getting paid for the lowest paying position. I feel like if I was going to have to work two positions, I should have at least been paid a little higher. 
My last issue was Admin staff had nothing to defend their self with. I get this is not a security position, however admin staff deal with the inmates as well, and my office was in the back where the inmates sleep.   

Overall I enjoyed the people I worked with and had a decent experience. I just couldn't do it because too much was expected from me without help, and on a time crunch since we were not allowed to have over time, and it caused a lot of stress an anxiety 

Family Service Worker Sept 2017- Present
•	Investigates suspected child abuse and neglect complaints by making on-site visits, securing background information, and interviewing parties involved. 
•	Discusses investigative findings and observations with supervisor and recommends the opening of protective services, foster care, or supportive services cases. 
•	Intervenes in crisis situations, removes the child from the home if the situation is life threatening, and arranges for temporary placement in foster homes, group homes, or treatment facilities. Develops a case plan to establish goals, objectives, tasks and time frames for all parties involved in case.
•	 Provides counseling and guidance to clients in defining their needs, interests, and courses of action and refers clients to other professionals, agencies, services, or community resources appropriate to clients' problems. 
•	Recruits and trains families, conducts home studies and family assessments to determine appropriate child placements, and visits clients and/or foster parents on a regular basis to monitor progress toward case objectives. 
•	Documents all case work activities and developments and prepares court reports for custody hearings and presents testimony when necessary

Keeping not only myself and other officers safe, but inmates safe from other inmates was a high priority starting the daily routine. Inmate accountability and preventing disturbances along with providing security would descibe a typical day at work. I would conduct pysical searches of inmates and their living quarters enforcing all rules and regulations. I learned many officer duties and learned what it actually takes to "run a prison" including how important safe, honest officers are an asset to a shift. Co-workers always looked out for each other's safety and would see to it to hold each other responsible for his/her actions. Expectations were set high by management which I believe is crucial. One has to enjoy a prison work environment, (the cons of inmate encounters, negative atmosphere, crude environment), and see through all of it if they want to advance. Though I saw through these things, I never sought after advancement in this type of environment which was the hardest part of my job. I felt secure with the job and knew the benefits were great which indeed made my job enjoyable.

Unsafe conditions and did not provide the correct hourly pay as said.
My duties include: 12 hour shift. Responsible for maintaining security, observing behavior, conduct of inmates in cells, during group meeting meals, bathing recreation and during visitations. While working and other assignments. Maintains perimeter security. Watching for escapees and/or disturbances. Maintains security at front gate by logging in visitors to unit. Performs security checks of buildings and ground, including shakedown and strip searches of inmates/residents. Maintains a log for work release, status and movement of inmates. Writhes incident reports and takes disciplinary action on rule violations of inmates. Escorts inmates to and front court and work assignments. Attends shift briefing to discuss incidents, problems and security issues.  Operate communications equipment by receiving/transmitting messages, logging incoming/outcoming calls and contacting requested parties. Perform other duties as assigned.

As far as the work and benefits of the job is involved, it is a great place to work for. The work environment, is fast-paced and can be hectic at times. The job itself can be very mentally and physically draining, but you have to learn how to balance everything and keep your personal life separate from your work life. Some of the supervisors are great to work for, others not so much. Some of them do not know how to give respect when dealing with their employees. As long as you do your job effectively and correctly you won't have any issues. Do not engage in the gossiping at work. Do not fraternize with the inmates/residents. The hardest part of the job is staying busy when there is nothing for you to do (when the inmates are at groups/activities/sleep). Do your security checks and find something to do that is productive. The most enjoyable part of the job is when you see progress in inmates/residents towards their recovery and rehabilitation.

I would get to work approx. 30 min early to get an Idea how the nightshift went. Then we had a security meeting then went to assigned barracks, counted .Inmates. Checked paper work and relieved other officer. I then sent inmates out to work or school frisking each inmate as they went out. Then I picked various inmates to go through there bunks looking for contraband if I found any I took it and wrote up a report on that inmate.
   I learned to keep a list to track the Inmates so we knew at every moment where they were, the hardest part of the job was dealing wit the inmates when they were mad at someone and you had to defuse the situation so there  wasn't a fight.
     The best part of the job was listening to the stories that they told they really came up with some good ones. You know some of the stories were totally made up. And they expected you to believe them

Maintained accurate and detailed logs of all events that occurred during each shift.
• Responded to calls in both routine and emergency situations.
• Noted and followed up on any unusual behavior.
• Monitored building access and identified all officials and employees before authorizing their entrance.
• Verified each individual's right to enter restricted areas and denied access to unauthorized persons.
• Investigated all security and safety violations.
• Directed guests around the building and answered questions regarding accessibility.
• Maintained the custody and control of 160 inmates housed in security unit.
• Conducted routine and emergency head counts.
• Made rounds at specified intervals and conducted head counts and roll calls.
• Searched the building and grounds, living quarters and work areas for contraband.
• Prepared, processed and maintained forms, reports, logs, records and activity journals

A typical day at work consisted of screenings, interviews, intakes, developing treatment plans and After Care plans, five hours of treatment classes, documentations,developing the program curriculum with focus on Cognitive Behavioral approaches. In addition to,following the guidelines of the correctional unit.
 Lessons learned from this employment were how to deal with addiction and other behaviors, collaboration among department for the safety of the units. Management was supportive of the treatment process. Co-workers were very supportive and provide training as needed. The hardest part of the jobs was limited admissions to the treatment program because of limited space.
The most enjoyable part of the job was inmates completed the treatment programs.

I started at ADC in Texarkana in August of 94 and left due to medical reasons in June of 2015. In the last few years that I worked there, you had to be more concerned about being mistreated by fellow employees and supervisory staff than you had to worry about the inmates & criminals you were employed to watch over. The Dept. as a whole is an excellent employer, but it has become more and more political minded than security minded. Your best opportunity for advancement depends on who you know more than what you know. I have watched, as a member of the public instead of an employee, the unit I was kind of proud to work at turn into a unit full to the brim with rock bottom moral among subordinate employees & incompetent supervisory employees.

Working here is cut and dry once you learn a position you can learn almost all of them with ease. Manage prisoners and hear them complain all day everyday as well as insult you on a daily basis regardless of how you perform your job. Everything is your fault regardless if it actually is via the prisoners or higher ups. Walk on eggshells around  convicts so they dont call there mama on you.Overtime is not paid out until the quarter so you dont see reward for your time until long after the fact. Work environment is dull gray and boring. Staff tend to be devious and undermine what rules you uphold or the higher ups pick at the small rules and rile up your barracks just to walk off and leave you with 260 complaining aggravated inmates.

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