correctional officer

parole officer

administrative assistant

maintenance supervisor

senior clerk

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

A typical day at the Hughes unit located in Gatesville Texas starts off on the night shift. On a normal night I always anticipate for the worst to occur meaning none of the paper work such as mail and lay in sheets are ready. These are the two most essential parts of our job on nights just starting off, it is required to have them passed out and signed for by each individual inmate that own these pieces of paper. It is required to be finished being handed out before 12 a.m. which can be made very difficult to accomplish with 144 inmates running around. If your desk boss does not know how to utilize his people when letting out for recreation and takes into account your work load it can be a really bad night for you, what I mean by that is we are needed to strip these inmates out before releasing them to the recreation yard, depending on how well the traffic is controlled depends on how many officers you need. So in turn you can utilize three of the four or perhaps five officers you have depending on if your sergeant is there or not so one of the officers who is in there pod can finish there paper work and continue passing out there mail and lay ins. 

We are also required to complete security checks all across our pods which hold 144 inmates and there is never a guarantee that all of them are there, some are workers and others go out for recreation when the time comes. Attention to detail is crucial for this job, my first day was a day I realized how much people really think they can sneak passed you and actually think you wouldn't notice it. We have to accomplish 5 cell searches which each cell holds 2 individual inmates at one time, looking for crevasses or gaps, string hanging out of a crack or magnets holding things in place, weapons, tattoo guns, etc. Each hour we are required to go to each of the three sections and do a house call in which is letting them in there cells on each of the three rows, eight cells to each row, then going on to the next section. Once completed head back to the first section and make a house call out which requires to roll four to eight doors at a time letting those who want to come out come out. However given the fact that these individuals are stuck here they like to take there time instead of hurrying up. All of these factors combined make the task we have at hand extremely difficult to complete on time. There is much paper work to also complete.

 At 1800, the start of shift, we do a count, the next count is at 2200. Once 2330 hits we are required to do what is called a bed book. This is where we take a sheet of paper with the names of all the inmates in numerical order from one to seventy two cell as well as there TDCJ No.'s (Texas Department of Criminal Justice Numbers) and which bunk they live on bottom or top. They must show there I.D.'s to confirm there identities to this sheet in comparison and this is one of the trickiest parts of the night. Most individuals just take there time waking up one cell at a time, you must yell to wake them all and have them ready if you want to get this done right and quickly. It is imperative for this job to know when you should rule with an iron fist and when to be fair to these individuals, it is not our job to know why they are there nor to be biased, instead it is our job to protect them and our co-workers no matter what goes on or what happens. By the second half of the night everyone has gotten there 30 minute break. Our breaks start the moment a relief takes our place, if you're a smoker and depending where you are it can take between 2-8 minutes to get out of the unit to smoke and 4-15 minutes to get back in and to your duty post after being pat searched. 

At 0100 we do our next count, this is when the night becomes smooth sailing till around 0400, but I"ll get to that shortly. At 0200 is the next fallowing count, usually between the 0100 count and the 0200 count we drop inmates to the day room who are 0130 kitchen workers or who are 0230 Ramadan for those celebrating the Muslim faith during this time of year. Between 0300 to 0530 we can have 0330 - 0400 Lab who are incline takers or need medical work done, or 0430 - -530 Garment Factory Workers who work to make clothes, 0500 Law Library, 0515 commissary workers. The hardest nights are the ones where we have necessities in the morning which is almost exactly defined as organized chaos. The inmates are allowed 3 pairs of new fresh cleaned clothes, depending on how this are going across the unit will depend on if they eat breakfast first or will do necessities. Then there is pill window for those psychological patients who need there morning dosage of whatever it is they take, we must watched them take it and they must show us there tongue after they have taken it so we can tell they're not just hiding it, even though there are still many other ways they can hide it. By 0600 we are relieved and we make our way out the door thankful for a good safe night had come to us.

The management of my work place is simple, we are all managers of something there, whether its a pod, a desk, or a picket controlling doors, we are all managing inmates together as a team. What I have learned is how to team up with a picket boss who controls my doors as I run the floors so he can organize my papers so I can pass out all my papers with in minutes instead of hours. Allowing me to complete cell searches while inmates are in the recreation yard and haven't a clue they had been searched, not to avoid conflict but so they do not have the opportunity to throw away something they're not suppose to have. 

I have come to find most of my co-workers are prior military which makes my work environment that much greater to work in. Those who are not prior military can be difficult, I had a run in with one co-worker who is not prior military and he is very biased towards female co-worker as well as younger co-workers then him self. He has shown disrespect to many individuals and I have had private conversations with him about these offenses many times. Despite that getting along with co-workers has never been a challenge.

The hardest part of the job may most likely be obeying an order that you know will make your tasks harder to complete on time, however I have no difficulty following the orders, instead of getting upset find a way to work with it to complete my task in a time efficient manor. Another is being partnered with someone who refuses to help you as a team member and expects you to do all the work and never help, there are nights where it feels as if it's ever man for him self.

I personally would have to say the most enjoyable part of the job is having that right co-worker by your side because you know that night will be fast easy and team work will be done properly given both of us have had similar military training. Also knowing you handle the inmates correctly without giving them the wrong thoughts of you but understanding you are firm fair and consistent. I always try to remember those inmates who have certain privacy requests because I wouldn't like being in his shoes either. Not through sympathy, nothing like that, just understanding. I do not pity them, I'm not sympathetic of them, just understanding. Everyone I work with for the most part is firm and consistent, but I feel many of them forget the fairness. Fair treatment, they're already being punished, as long as they're not giving us problems I can help them with things they're allowed to do and have, not giving them things, just remembering the little things that mean everything to them. That is how I have earned many of there respect.

Depending where I worked at on 12 hour shifts, we all had different jobs some more managerial and supervisory others lax and sluggish, If I was on a pod I would make my 15 minute checks after accounting for all my equipment (or another one of my co workers would) and make sure the inmates in my charge were not in any act committing suicide and checking for any irregularities within the cells, making sure the run (hallway where the cells meet) were clear of any food trays or clothing and trash. During that time I made a list of inmates that were going to the dayrooms (for recreation/television/talking among each other) and made hourly on the hour for the inmates to go back to their cells.If a barber was present, I escorted inmates to the barber so that they may receive a shave and or a haircut. After making my list we would escort the Pod nurse (LVN on site) down the rows and give the inmates their prescription medication under the watchful eye of both the nurse and myself. After all 4 rows were completed and the barber was also gone and within the first 2 hours of being on the pod, inspections and accountability were to be assured, and also the 15 minute row checks, cell searches were to be completed during this time. trustees that were on the pod were to be strip searched and have his TDCJ # and name written and kept on the front desk for counts that we have (8 in a 12 hour shift). count was not to be an excuse to stop working but it is a priority that you must take overall. Rec time (Recreational Time) ended at midnight and on weekends 1:30 AM offenders coming in and out were pat searched upon leaving the day room and exiting the cell.The Pod janitor (usually a Trustee) would not be caught slacking off if he were to be caught we would immediately find him something to do, The facility was to be cleaned non stop and we (the officers) were made sure to do our part our job.if nothing happened from midnight to 4:00 AM it was a good night, but if anything were to have happen (example an offender by some means gets part of a razor blade and starts to cut him self I was to order him to comply with my orders or I would have to take the step of gaining compliance which was to call for backup and my shift supervisor advising them that an offender was mutilating himself and would not comply with my orders and in result was pepper sprayed with my carry on can of chemical agents, if the offender still did not comply with orders and the shift supervisor requested a cell move team consisting of 5 men [or women or mix and match] to gain compliance from the offender at this point if he complies with orders the team will enter restrain him get him patched and place him in a secluded cell with nothing but a thick suicide blanket for the night, if he doesn't then under the order of the warden and the doctor in charge of the offender gives the order to place the offender in a 5 point restraint [both arms legs chest and head is strapped to a metal bedding with no clothing a pillow and a football helmet until we gain compliance from the offender and 15 minute checks with a nurse present were to be performed] after 1 hour of the allotted time and the offender is complying with orders he is then asked if he wants to decontaminate and is patched were he had cut himself and placed in the seclusion cell with the restraint removed and watched every 15 minutes with intake and restroom breaks)
And after all of that then you would have to make a report about the incident taking the names of all who participated the team the supervisor the orders given what I did to whom at approximately this time at this location where did he self mutilate with what all the events before and leading up to and after with the conclusion. that was to be done no less than 45 minutes or so I was told by a supervisor. Paperwork was also due by midnight and new paperwork was to be made asap. At 4:00 AM was around the time when breakfast was to be served before then we used to have to escort the offenders (the one's that could walk some restrictions apply) to the chow hall but then the major or the wardens changed it to them eating in the cells hence the food trays on the run each offender was given a diet by the doctors orders and we filled out the order for their food trays.after feeding and picking up the food trays on the run we accounted for our equipment and gave the relieving shift a briefing on the pod came my favorite part of the day, going home.

This place is the worst.  The salary for the Administrative Assistant position is the lowest of all the state agencies, and they will work you as hard as they can during your regular hours and refuse to let you stay for overtime no matter how far behind your section is on work.  The management team also does not reward good behavior, but instead lets the bad apples stay employed and coast.  During my employment with the agency I have seen someone come into work and do literally nothing (and cause investigation by a government agency into our section)  for an entire year and he is still employed with the agency at my same pay level, but they still expect me to go over and beyond the established quota.  If you are 24/7 be ready to have any leave you get approved suddenly become unapproved at the last minute, and management does not care if you have already purchased plane tickets, paid for hotel rooms, promised your Grandmother you'd be at her 90th birthday, and so on.  This past year my entire team was required to work on Christmas day so our manager could stay home with her family.  The managers just want you to make them look good and they will take advantage of anyone willing to work hard and achieve more than the minimum that is required.  They also audit your work by rules that they change whenever they feel like and completely ignore the approved handbook.  Write ups, which should be a last resort when it comes to handling issues, are done on a daily basis for minimal things such as minor dress code violations (wearing sandals, for ex), high error rate (see previous comment on errors), calling in to a supervisor who is not yours when your supervisor will not answer his/her phone, and so on.  They will write you up for any and every little thing they can if they do not like you, but those who are liked will get away with just about anything.  The turnover rate is so terrible that we currently have over ten positions open in our section which is supposed to have 21 employees (and they expect the same amount of work that would be done by 21 people to be done by the 10 we have, without any OT). Training, if you are lucky to receive any, is lacking and often contradictory to what you will learn "on the job".  Also, if you are 24/7 do not expect lunch breaks or any breaks at all because "breaks are a privilege not a right" and with the amount of work you are expected to accomplish you are lucky to have time to run to the restroom.  THERE IS LITERALLY NO JOB ADVANCEMENT...and there is no pay scale.  If you want higher pay you have to completely move to a different job or section. The working conditions (which are in an office, open floor plan), are horrific and unsafe.  Carpet has large holes taped over by duct tape, keyboards have half an inch worth of food and other crud caked on them, phones that have to be held together when used, computers are out of date and worn out, chairs held together by screws that did not come with the original chair (many missing arms or leaning sideways), dust everywhere, PEST PROBLEM, etc. Not to mention they employ a cleaning service who just come and stir the dust around until their manager tags a long.  Theft is also a major issue among employees...everything from paper plates to money has been stolen from the locker room. Also, managers will give the good employees bad references just to keep them in the job and give bad employees good references so they will get new jobs and leave.  I would not recommend this agency to anyone. Look elsewhere for jobs.  If you call in sick be prepared to disclose any and all information such a diagnosis of you or whoever you were out to stay home and take care of...they do not care if it is a HIPPA violation to reveal such information and will give you a red flag of unauthorized absence in your file if you do not provide them what they want.  They also do not adhere to their "provide a doctor's note on the fourth day of absence" set forth in their employee handbook and will require you to have a note for any absence from 20 minutes to an entire day.

     TDCJ used to be a very good agency to work for.  Times have definately changed.  You must always be vigilant when working around inmates.   This is a given.  You must also be extremely careful working around your coworkers.  Once you learn the job, dealing with inmates is not as difficult as dealing with coworkers.  Their are some good coworkers, but they are outnumbered by the bad.  Working after officers who do not enforce rules makes your job much more difficult because you then have to get your duty post  back under control.  If a coworker breaks policy, you may also be written up for not reporting or just being in the vicinity.  Officers wiring inmates up or making up their own rules.  Officers who just dont like you lying to supervisors about you to get you in trouble.  Supervisors lying to keep themselves out of trouble thereby getting you in trouble.  Again not every officer or supervisor is a bad employee, but their is a learning curve trying to figure out who they are.   Learn policy!  This is a must!   You will not be told about the majority of policies and of policy changes.  The state will expect you to know policy anyway.  I recommend going to the aca library to read policies, and taking good notes and keeping those note while going through preservice training.  Write everything that happens down in a notebook.  Sometimes this is your only defense from bogus allegations from inmates and staff.  If you try to take a problem up the chain of command, the response I have usually gotten is that if you dont like quit.  Once you max out, the only way you get a pay raise is through the Texas Legislature.  This does not happen very often.  When it does happen its usually 3 percent.  Because of this other jobs in retail and others have gotten close if not outmatched TDCJs starting pay.  Their are major problems in this agency with staffing.  Expect to work a lot of mandatory overtime.  Having no sitter for the kids is not a excuse.  Unless you get a doctors not, you will be written up for any refusal of overtime no matter the reason.  If this agency would give enough staff and resources, this would be a good job.  I just dont see that happening anytime soon.  The attitude of the agency is just get it done.  Being preasured to bend or break policy to get the workload done.  Many units have cameras now.  So if you are bending or breaking policy to make your supervisor happy, and something happens your reponsible.  Even if your supervisor ordered you to do so, most of the time the supervisor will say "I never told them to do that".  Be careful, learn policy, and stand up for yourself.  Once you prove yourself to be a good workhorse officer, they will then proceed to pile on more and more work until your burnt out.
     To sum it up, lack of staff, no communication, poor enforcement of policy on inmates and staff, out of touch administration all the way to the top, not being informed of rule changes until you or someone else breaks that policy, at times unrealistic work expectationa, and rule changes that increase your work load to the point that it becomes very difficult to perform your main duty which is security of the inmate population.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
What bothered me was the gossiping and backstabbing of other  individuals. Supervisor's we're to complacent with their friends and family getting by with doing and saying things without talking about it with them. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It wasn't the work or customer's. I can adapt too anything but the constant bickering got old quick.. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Culturally I seen thing's I didn't think was right but when you're supervisor isn't doing anything about it one tens too think Humm, if they don't care it presents a bigger problem. Working with any entity has its challenges but I just felt like the environment of communication was lacking really really bad that was quick to blame the low level employees than the upper employees taking responsibility for not either explaining or preparing the employee about what to expect at doing their jobs. If you couldn't multitask you didn't belong there because you had to be very very expertise in doing seven things at once and what I mean by that is answering the phone giving out applications receiving applications timestamping applications helping people on the computers search for jobs entry into the facility making sure that people that didn't work there but were there for other reasons checked in and checked out appropriately follow all policy and procedures that the state has in effect and then the other part was just to keep your mouth quiet and cover your own butt and don't say anything about anything to anybody else even if they're the ones that could help with the problem. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Typical day was signing into my worksheet and begin to start answering phone calls? Receiving applications giving out applications customer service at my desk in the computer room helping those that are job searching making sure I had all my supplies Make sure we had plenty of paper for the printer Make sure everything was up and running and turned on the lights were on the bathroom was clear and then as the applicants came in make sure you check their IDs have them sign into the sign in sheet and on the way out you had to make sure that they signed out and if they didn't and if they took the visitor's badge home then you would have to call them to bring it back or mail it we had other duties as in the mailroom the stock room the application and processing room we did all retiree badges we made employment badges for ID purposes you have to realize this was a correctional facility so at any given time it could be on lockdown you had to be prepared you had to be aware of what was going on around you be very attentive to the inmates and their movements because the trustees could come and do things for you like lift heavy boxes or move a lot of of copy paper pallets of coffee paper I've ever just a whole variety of the duties that you were responsible for but it wasn't anything that was challenging or hard you just had to be knowledgeable enough to know what was going on and to make sure that you done it in a timely manner.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

 Resourceful and dedicated [Texas Department of Criminal justice] with motivational leadership, training and employee supervision experience. 5 years in corrections and law enforcement. Safety-oriented Correctional Officer with more than 5] years in maximum and medium security facilities. Extensively trained in defensive tactics and suicide prevention. Correctional Officer who manages dangerous and unruly criminals while focusing on maintaining safety and promoting rehabilitation. Respectful and ethical Correctional Officer who believes that implementing firm, clear guidelines and adopting an attitude of understanding generates a more peaceful prison environment for all involved. Correctional Officer who exercises excellent judgment during crisis events and develops strong rapport with prisoners and colleagues.


       •Criminal law knowledge •Crisis intervention training •Self-defense techniques •Correctional facility procedures knowledge •Suicide prevention training •Inmate behavior modification tactics •Firearm operations trained •Strong interpersonal skills •Central and pod control     •Customer-oriented •Active listening skills. •Computer literate •Motivated team player •Self-motivated •Highly competitive •

WORK HISTORY:
Texas Department Of Criminal 
    Livingston, TX Job Tittle: Correctional Officer.  Start Date: January-2009-End Date: February-2014   
What I did in this position.
•Maintained the custody and control of [400] inmates housed in maximum security unit. •Conducted routine and emergency head counts. •Inspected work sites and crew trucks for contraband, cleanliness and safety. •Supervised inmates clearing debris from roadways and drains.
WORK HISTORY:
Estelle Texas Department of Criminal
Huntsville, TX Job Tittle: Correctional Officer. Start Date: May-2014- End Date: August-2014
What I did in this position.
•Conducted routine and emergency head counts. •Maintained the custody and control of [100 and more] inmates housed in maximum security unit. •Inspected work sites and crew trucks for contraband, cleanliness and safety. •Booked new inmates into facility and processed inmates for release. •Investigated attempted escapes and conducted searches for escaped inmates. •Tracked inmates through head counts, visitor logs and scheduled activities. 
WORK HISTORY:
Wal-Mart
Houston, TX Job Tittle: Cashier/Retail. Start Date:Octber-2002- End Date: May-2003
What I did in this position.
•Assisted the team in meeting sales, stock loss, labor objectives and margin goals to increase profitability. •Unloaded customer bags into cars. •Cleaned meat aisles, storage areas and work areas, following all health and safety guidelines. •Answered customers' questions regarding products, prices and availability. •Communicated sales promotions to customers to grow average customer account size. 

EDUCATION:
Livingston, TX Livingston High School (High School Diploma)2002:

 •Student government representative.

This Clements unit use to be a decent place to work because $36,238.08 was a decent to good salary for the area and the benefits were what made it worth it. But it all change when the warden wanted to get extremely inmate friendly towards where officer safety was compromise. There was a point where they stated that a single officer in 12 building could do the job of two officers such as giving the entire pod(78 inmate max) recreation and shower while performing other task such as 30 minute security check which a good one take 5-10 minute to make sure that your inmates are still alive and not dying because they have an injury that your missing because all your doing is just doing a fast walk so that the camera can see that your doing a walk. Plus not to mention all the constant changes in "policy" that the administration comes up with in order to cover themselves then only to change said policies the next day. Officers who work here are constantly being called out over the radio and written up for things that should have been a call to their pods would have fixed.

To anyone who wants a foot in the door for law enforcement my warning to you is this one bad use of force can damage your chances in getting into a good department so think very carefully when you choose TDCJ even though you might think the bonus that they give you is worth it and that you will only stay there for one year and quit in the end it really isn't worth getting assaulted only to have the administration refuse to pay your medical bill because you were wearing your PPE (personal protective equipment) I have seen friends who were assaulted and get written up for it. Also it common sense that if an inmate tells you he will assault you then you do not let him out of his cell but if he can get the right rank down there by pretending to have an illness then you can guess what will happen you will get in trouble and he will get everything that they want. 

There will be those who say the job is not that hard simply because they have cake positions because rank here do play favorites and if you ever cross one of them expect to pay for it such as working the worst pod for a entire week straight. Also its becoming more and more of the norm not to get your 30 minute breaks and if you report it as overtime its considered a B***h move. They do not care about your family or your life outside of this job because its apparent when they went on to 4 on 4 off(48 hour) one week then 6 on 2 off(72 hour) the next week. Also for the new officers just remember this there will be days where you have to tell your love ones that you will not be able to make it home because your relieving officer is sick(watching the Superbowl etc.) and could not make it to work so it looks like you will have a 16 hour shift today but hey its ok its your first day of work 5 more to go right?

The job has some good benefits such as Paid Health Insurance. But can be up to $600 monthly out of your paycheck just for a family member added. The compensation/pay is decent aswell, but doesn't quite match the job at hand. It is a very high stress environment that thefinitely takes a mental and physical toll. The things you will see in a Prison setting can and will be disturbing for the average citizen. Not every day is bad. But the longer you work for TDCJ the more it effects you. You will be treated as if you are expendable, yet they need you more than ever. They will ignore all your needs and expectations out of a workplace. Follows a similar ranking system to the police force (Officer, Sgt, Leu, Capt, Maj, then Warden). Most wardens are appointed by the boys in black suits and have never been in an officer position, so they will never notice what you go through every day. And will quote you by the book. 'Ranked' is a hit and miss. Some will treat you like they want you at the end of a noose, and others will treat you like family. This job is NOT meant for most people to be able to handle. Alot of our system is vets who are already somewhat mentally scarred, so this is a breeze to them. Work hours are either 8 hours 6 days a week, or 12 hours 4 days a week. Flexibility and family balance is practically nonexistent. The 8 hour shift option runs more like 10 hours after all is said and done, then you're on salary so you won't see any extra $ for that. They force you into overtime at alot of units, and their policy has it set up to where you dont get the $ for it at the end of the day, instead it becomes extra burner time. So choose your unit wisely if you join the TDCJ family. Expect to work until you're 80 before you're eligible to retire with a basic retirement check. I was told I had to work 40 years to retire, even though on my hire date I was told I could retire decently at 20 years of service. Technically you can retire at 20 years, but your retirement check would be $20 a month if you're lucky. The old officers will defend the job and claim it is the best decision they've ever made, but that is only because the longer you work here, the harder it is to leave. The pay system may seem like a lot, but at the end of the day you can work a job paying $13 - $14/hr and end up with the same paycheck. Its not as glamorous as made seem, and as stated before, it is extremely mentally and physically taxing.

Good benefits, plentiful time off, and it's day driving job. It is all hook and drop. Runs are all within easy day drives. Don't expect respect or support.

The equipment is decent but, pretty beat up and dirty because of slip seating with low paid, low skill, employees, or no pay, no skill, offender drivers who just tear up everything they touch. The trucks and trailers are old although they have been buying new units recently. Equipment is maintained by offenders with little to no knowledge of what they're doing. Shop supervisors are useless and argumentative. Quite possibly the worst maintained equipment I've ever driven/pulled. Yes, some of it isn't safe for the road.

Managers are managers in title only; nothing unusual for a government agency (bloated, inefficient). They demonstrate no ability or initiative to solve any problems. For them, whatever position they occupy is just temporary until they occupy another position (office changes for pay increases). They do not know or understand the FCR's or labor laws. They rely on "shielding" because it's a state agency (the state won't investigate/violate the state). 

Dispatch is decent and well meaning. They work with what they've got and do a satisfactory job. Most are former drivers (it's safer that way) and know what drivers do and need. So, this is the best part of the administration. Aside from not having supervisory experience, or training, they do ok.

Very low pay for a driving job. If you can make it on less than first year drivers pay, you're good here. I make more than most since I worked "in gray" for some time and brought pay increases to transportation with me. The trade off is that it is a day job, so time versus money. It is by far the easiest driving job you can get and, they will hire nearly anyone. Literally, if you can't get a job with TDCJ trans, you shouldn't be allowed to dress youself and go outside without supervision. 

Exercise caution when choosing employment here. Yes, it's easy but, how much do you need to make, or should you make, over time for your effort? Realize the risk you assume as a driver here is the same as anywhere else (you are not protected from liability if say, the wheels fall of a trailer and hit a car or your brakes fail, etc. It's happened). 

I was fortunate because I was vested early and can retire early. So it worked for me. Would I do it now? No, it isn't nearly as lucrative as it once was. The time for vestment and retirement has increased to over double and the age requirement formula has increased to where most people won't live long enough to retire.

A typical day for me was managing offenders in an Ad-Seg and/or Close Custody environment for 12 or more hours a day. I survived working in that environment for over 18 years before it finally just got to be way too much for me to handle both physically and mentally and I was forced to retire recently. Those offenders in that area are generally very dangerous and manipulative towards staff at all times and they absolutely will hurt or kill you at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, those offenders are also constantly trying to hurt or kill the other offenders around them and they will frequently try to commit suicide as well. Being at your duty post in this sort of environment is similar to being on a combat patrol downrange in the military because you constantly have to pay attention to detail and be aware of every single little thing going on around you at all times. The penalty for failure to constantly pay attention ranges anywhere from just a reprimand or probation clear all the way up to a violent death of you, a co-worker or an offender at any time. The supervisors are generally pretty decent but quite a few of them have no real leadership experience and are in this ballgame just for themselves. The weak supervisors will also be very quick to throw their staff under the bus when things get too hot for them. The most enjoyable part of my job was being able to utilize my experience as a Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant in the US Army to motivate my co-workers and most of the supervisors to strive for excellence in their job and to be successful at what they're doing every day. Furthermore, I consider working for TDCJ to be an important act of national service for one's country very much in the same way that serving in the military is. This is due to the very dangerous nature of this type of job and it's impact on maintaining public safety.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Correctional officer 13 salaries reported	$4,447 per month
Parole officer 32 salaries reported	$3,475 per month
Administrative assistant 25 salaries reported	$2,988 per month
Maintenance supervisor 5 salaries reported	$46,853 per year
Senior clerk 1 salary reported	$2,031 per month

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