correctional officer

senior correction officer

case manager

administrative associate

parole officer

NC Dept. of Public Safety

Don't buy the hype and snake oil of what this agency is trying to sell in order to get people to work for it. You may read this and say this person is bitter or burned out. On the contrary, I have plenty of good public service years left in me, am a well respected professional, and take pride in the work I do with people. I just call a spade a spade when I see it.

The tile of being a Probation Officer used to be prestigious and was a wonderful job 10-20 years ago.You actually got to supervise offenders, be seen positively in the public eye, and helped to keep the public safe. 

Now, it has become a "data driven" agency full of sycophants that keep officers tied to their desk to keep the computer happy or threatened to be fired. It is a cluster of management that changes every 4 years when government administration changes. Policies are constantly re-written or added to on a daily basis in order to throw the officers to the wolves when the media picks up some negative story on an offender. This causes very low morale within the agency. The numerous and recent officer suicides attest to this.

The agency has never had a true identity and management cannot make up their mind if it wants to be law enforcement or social workers. I call PO's social Workers with a gun. I've seen way too many dedicated people come and go. The only one's that stay are folks that have no skills to do anything else and make it up the ranks by walking on people to make themselves feel big. It's a sick culture. It's like a bunch of spoiled children.

The management is wishy washy, shows favoritism,  is punitive, micromanages, creates a negative culture that leads to low morale, manages by email or making slide show presentations on what they think a probation officer should be. I've passed up Supervisor jobs because of this. To be honest, I feel safer around the offenders than I do my fellow employees. At least you know when the offenders are feeding you a line. No wonder why the agency has thousands of lawsuits against it by employees.

This is the only agency that I've ever worked for that meets regular to tell you what a bad job everyone is doing instead of lifting up their employees and telling them what they are doing right.

The pay is terrible, case loads are high which is dangerous to both officers and the public. Management is out of touch and fully admit they do not know how to do, nor have ever done, the job that the Probation Officers do. By the way, they write the policies.

After quitting a previous job that I liked and came to work here, I was not told that there were no pay raises. I would have never taken this job if I'd known that. That was my fault as I did not ask and was laughed at when I asked about it. I would have been making almost 2-3 times more if I stayed at my previous job or stayed in the private sector. 

You will not get Law enforcement Retirement pay, but you will collect it for every other agency across the state. Probation Officers are not legislated as law enforcement, even though they have powers of arrest. I have been told that upper management has fought to keep this away from the officers. I am not quite sure why other than they would not get the incentive. I have spoken to lawyers to start a class action law suit against the agency and it is feasible. Unfortunately, the turnover is high and I am going to be another casualty as I consider yet another career change to a more stable agency.

This is the only agency I've ever worked for, in my 34 years as a public servant, that management  brow beats their employees instead of lifting them up to be the best they can be. Policy constantly changes and there is no positive feedback system in place. If you question anything, the mentality and answer to everything is "if you don't like it then find another job". The smart folks do. I watched many smart and good people quit to find a better job during the initial 6 weeks of training at a hole called Salemburg you will be sent to. This was the most unprofessional trainings I have ever been to. I should have ran then, but had faith and was told to stick with it and this was a good agency to work for by the person who hired me. He later quit.

The only pros of the agency is that you have a flexible schedule and you get to experience and educate yourself on the inner workings of a very dysfunctional government agency that beats it's employees up.

It stared out as an excellent place to work and has snowballed into an awful working environment, to the point that privatization would be a good idea for medical.  In most places I've worked, you could go to the boss if you had a question.  The boss could answer.  Not here.  Your emails might be ignored, or if asking your direct supervisor, they probably won't have a clue as to what to do.  A supervisor should know more about the job whoever he or she is supervising knows.  You are micromanaged and questioned about why a certain task wasn't completed.  Management doesn't take into account that sometimes OTHER THINGS ARE GOING ON THAT TAKE UP YOUR TIME.  The nurse supervisor doesn't bother to look into the situation before asking inane questions.

There are far too many bosses.  Again, in previous workplaces the work was more evenly distributed.  Here, there are nurse managers who aren't really needed.  They could serve more purpose by working as nurses in an institution, doing actual work that helps others.  There are plenty of float nurses and travel nurses.    

My workplace is also a hotbed of gossip.  I admit, some of it is true.  For example, no supervisor is supposed to be inappropriately involved with a subordinate.  That puts the subordinate in a position of power and gives them special perks or even authority over others.  It's a rule that is sometimes ignored.  Causes a lot of trouble.  

Staff bringing in contraband to inmates is also a problem.  It puts everyone at risk.  Safety is an issue and the NCDPS has a knee-jerk reaction when something bad happens.  An employee gets attacked by an inmate wielding a knife?  The people at the very top of the organization pretend they have no idea that inmates had access to dangerous weapons.  How did they think the onions got chopped in the prison kitchen?  The maintenance crew routinely uses saws, hammers and other tools.  But if something horrible happens, the folks at the top feign shock. It's the NCDPS way.

There are some really nice people who work here, and some really nasty ones.  With the nasty ones, I just consider the source.  Also, too many people who try to get into your business.  No idea about your job, but they want to run it.  

The typical workday varies.  The job keeps you really busy, which helps the time go by faster.  It is very job specific - unless you have worked for the DPS before, it would be difficult to explain.  You work between two computer systems, which is a pain.  

The hardest part of the job is nurse managers who don't pay attention to something they could easily check, but are too lazy to do so.  

CONS:  Please remember as you read this, THIS IS YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.  So, a lot of the nurse managers could either do actual work rather than monitor people over a computer or their positions could be eliminated.  Better yet, the whole medical system could be privatized, which would save tax dollars.  The jobs could be done more efficiently with fewer people.  No need for "sit on your butt" and make a lot of money positions.  This would also save tax money.

PROS:  The best part of the job is the benefit package.  The health insurance is wonderful.  Free 70/30 for the employee (spouse and family plans are extra).  Lots of additional insurance options such as vision, dental, cancer, heart, AD&D, life.  You name it, there is an insurance for it.   Vacation and sick leave accrue separately.  Vacation leave increases over time.  Sick leave remains the same at 8.0 hours per month.  Raises are generous, though not as much as teachers, who are also state employees, receive.

In my humble opinion, my typical work day varies due to the complexity of my hired responsibility to multitask in the position of intake; considering that I make my own schedule and court dates for my clients and that of my co-workers, I have a revolving door which means those seeking assistance are welcomed into my office at anytime during the work day. Honestly, I have learned a great deal of patience, not only with my co-workers but with the young clients and their parents while attempting to assist them with delinquency and environmental problems that contribute to their delinquency. I am fortunate to have a supervisor who trusts in my ability to implement policy in his absence and allows me to be myself without having insecurities of insubordination. I strongly believe that I have a good, professional relationship with my peers and that they are comfortable with my assistance when asked and also when my assistance is volunteered. The hardest part of my current occupation would be the constant pressure within myself to continuously improve my work performance. Also, having to bear the burden of assisting with other case loads in addition to my own because it's known within my office that I can complete any and all tasks set before me. The most enjoyable part of my job is knowing that I made a positive difference in the lives of the juvenile and their parents through the use of therapeutic tactics, guidance and support. Additionally, I have enjoyed forging and maintaining great working relationships with other agencies while leaving a positive reflection of my agency through my professionalism.

I work in HR in an administrative building and I've had an amazing experience with DPS!  (I understand my experience may be very different from those working in prisons, law enforcement, or in the field.  Please also note that my primary motivation is not a high salary, but a good work-life balance and purposeful work.)  I've worked here for 2.5 years and have been promoted twice (with pay raises, of course) and have excellent leaders to support my growth.  I came from HR in the retail environment, and let me tell you that the flexible work schedule, paid time off, benefits, and culture makes this job feel like a cakewalk!  I'm about to go on maternity leave and I'll take 12 weeks off with full pay.  (DPS offers 8 weeks of full pay for child-bearing people and I easily have enough sick leave to cover the additional 4 weeks plus all of my doctor's appointments.)  Also, the State of NC has a pilot telework program in place from July - Dec. 2021 in which we can work from home two days a week (hopefully this will become a permanent policy in 2022!).  You aren't reimbursed for teleworking costs, but I print paperwork when I'm in the office and take phone calls through my State-issued laptop (so my cost is $0 for teleworking), plus I'm saving a lot of gas on my 45 minute one-way commute.  I have typical tasks that I need to complete each day, but I also have freedom to work on special projects that I take an interest in, all with very limited supervision.  The hardest part of the job is that there's a lot of bureaucracy, so when you have an idea about changing or improving a policy, it often has to be approved by DPS leadership, the Office of State Human Resources, the State HR Commission, and the Governor's Office, which takes several months to a year or more.  If you have the patience to persist in changing a very large organization (over 85,000 employees in the State of NC), this is a great place for you to work!

I had no real problems with inmates.

There were three attempts at privatization of healthcare in the state system in my 11 months there.  The State Employee Association of North Carolina (SEANC) is basically a non-factor in employee concerns that are relevant and far-reaching.  It is more of a boosters club and cheerleading team that publishes a newsletter and does little of substance.  I never authorized dues to be taken from my paychecks.  

We were under the oversight of an interim warden and the micromanagement of a petty tyrant over our department.  The manager who hired me left before I started and we didn't get a permanent nurse manager until I had been there about six months.

First shift was toploaded with staff and often passed responsibilities and tasks to an understaffed second shift.

I have never understood how people can stay employed when duties are shirked or delayed or ignored entirely.  I encountered acute convictions of entitlement and ironclad employment, unacceptable incompetence and there was a subculture of minimalism in which the least work was done for most of the time by the same chronically fatigued nurses.

There were legitimate security concerns and a chronic turnover of corrections officers.  I enjoyed working with most of my second shift coworkers.  I was concerned for those good and dedicated employees who had to deal with dereliction of duties on first and third shifts.

Being a corrections nurse at Polk would not be such a bad job if there were adequate staffing, a team approach to getting the work done, and a level of organization and support from Raleigh that didn't border on the ridiculous, unreasonable and mad.

A typical day started with waking up at 2 pm and making something to take to work leaving at 3:50 pm to make it to the job site by 5:45 pm which is when line up is held. After receiving the assignment for the night, I would get to my area and find that I have 5-7 disciplinary investigations to conduct and complete within 72 hours, I would patrol  my building and get a feel for the attitude among the inmates and even the staff. I made sure to communicate with everyone, monitored the medication line, assisted with officers with count at count time, ran to other areas to give assistance to the particular code called. It could be a medical emergency and we have had to obtain a stretcher and place the person on it and push them to the Infirmary or it could have been a call for a fight or an officer in need of assistance. There was not much time sit around and do nothing. Dealing with the different types of events everyday helped to make my decision making much better and I learned to take a breath and analyze the situation before making any moves. Then I would end the day by getting home between 9- 10:30 am. The hardest part of the job was just getting to the job on time with a lack of sleep and then having to perform at high levels for extended hours. I mostly enjoyed working with the multiple personalities that was encountered on a day to day and helping those that truly wanted to change their lives. It is through this job that I was able to find what it really is that I would love to do and that is psychology. This is the reasoning for going to college and studying Psychology so that I can assist more people and hopefully keep even more out of becoming incarcerated.

I just spent my Thanksgiving Holiday (Thurs-Friday-Sat-Sun) dealing with prisoners who were "suicidal", manipulating the system to get transferred.  Instead of enjoying time with my family (they drove from Maryland), I had to spend 5 hours on Thanksgiving day, driving around to different prisons to deal with psychopathic inmates lying about being suicidal to get away from gang debts.  There is NO work-life balance in this job.  You're expected to be "on call" at all times, after hours, and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays, for $2.00 an hour.  You're expected to stay close to your house when on call, and you can't travel, since you might have to see a suicidal prisoner at one of the prisons.  So, yes, you are on "house arrest" for $2.00 an hour.  Caseloads are very high.  In this prison system the typical mental health staff to prisoner ratio is 1:1000.  Why?  Because they are to cheap to pay well.  And people quit after being abused. So they are always short staffed. You're expected to drive to three prisons to see inmates, because the state does not have money to put mental health staff at all the prisons, so you're asked to "cover" these other prisons that are an hour away.  Raleigh does not care about its employees.  Did I mention that mental health staff are "supervised" by people with no mental health degree or background?  Yes, that's right, your annual performance evaluation is done by a former corrections officer and not a psychologist/social worker.   If you like being treated bad, and having no work-life balance, while being responsible for providing mental health services to four prisons, then this is the job for you.  If you like getting sick and if you enjoy a job that gives you insomnia, anxiety, and depresses you, then this is the job for you.

Conduct Shift briefing to ensure staff is mentally and physically able to work assigned security posts as well as presenting a professional appearance. Communicate relevant information, including memorandums, of changes in policy, ensure that staff documents discrepancies in their assigned area and are reporting these to supervisors and communicate with other supervisors. Supervision of 10+ subordinate staff members. Follow up with subordinate staff to ensure daily assigned task are completed in a timely manner. Check daily alert screens on computer to ensure all relevant reports are completed, Complete various job related reports, on computer to document daily operations, facility incidents/safety drills, job specific email program, staff working time and employee appraisals. Receive telephone calls from members of the general public as well as other staff members or other prison facilities, answering any questions they may have, or, making sure they are transferred to the appropriate area of their needs. Communicate with subordinate staff, fellow supervisors and upper management to ensure staff operating in the same way to ensure a Teamwork based atmosphere. Work assigned posts with subordinate staff when staff shortages necessitate and lead by example while ensuring my supervisor duties were completed as well. Assigned to track and schedule training for the facility, ensuring that all relevant training was up to date for each employee. While scheduling training, ensure that each shift had ample staff to cover during training so the facility was not short staffed.

While the typical day lasts 9-6 there is also mandatory weekend and evening shift work.  The position consists of supervising a high risk offender population to include individuals with substance abuse, mental health issues and violent situations.  Time is spent in court testifying along with collaborating with law enforcement, attorneys, judges, etc.  Case management, defensive protection, drug identification and arrest, search and seizure are some of the areas one receives training.  Management is bureaucratic with a high degree of nepotism with conflicting information.  The workplace culture is one of stress and indifference with a high degree of lack of compassion. Coworkers and management are rude, demeaning, belittling and lack interpersonal skills.  The hardest part of the job is dealing with coworkers and supervisors who like to bully the offenders and abuse their authority.  The most enjoyable part of the job is hearing from the offender population and their families of how you've helped them achieve some sort of help in their lives or assisting them with finding alternatives to past illegal behaviors.  The pay is minimal in comparison to what is expected of an officer when compared to that of a local police officer. It is said a law enforcement officer may deal with 10% of the criminal population on a day to day basis whereas the probation parole officer deals with 100% of the criminal population to include violent and nonviolent offenders.

Dispatching for the highway patrol is most certainly different. More different than any other job or position I have ever held before. A typical day at work is unpredictable. You will never know if you will have an easy, smooth and quiet running shift, or if the whole building will be on fire with how much emergency traffic you will have.

So far, working for highway patrol has taught me that I am not fit for this particular position. I have also gained new knowledge and understanding for how dispatching at a communications center really is which was previously unknown to me.

Management at this particular establishment could stand a little sprucing up in my eyes, but I do not think I enough experience with this organization which could produce a valid opinion on the topic.

Workplace culture is normal, and very professional. Its a place which does not tolerate rude/demeaning language or unprofessional behavior. 

The hardest part of my job is having to learn all functions of the job within a mere 16 weeks. It really seems impossible, but only some people can really do this job.

This most enjoyable part of my job is knowing that I am making a difference for the Troopers out in the field and helping them to operate more efficiently.   

**CAUTION** This job has a tough training course and an even worse time limit for said training to turn out a completely competent telecommunicator. I urge you to self evaluate before looking to become a dispatcher for an communications center nation wide.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Correctional officer 13 salaries reported	$36,034 per year
Senior correction officer 49 salaries reported	$44,150 per year
Case manager 23 salaries reported	$46,967 per year
Administrative associate 27 salaries reported	$38,301 per year
Parole officer 2 salaries reported	$49,183 per year

Working at North Carolina Department of Public Safety: Company Overview and Reviews

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

North Carolina Department of Public Safety Ratings

Popular jobs at North Carolina Department of Public Safety

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected