Do you have any experience or insight about working in a boot camp corrections facility?

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 17:21:11 -0500

I am giving it some thought of working in a correctional facility when I retire from the Army, more specifically a county jail or a boot camp corrections facility. A boot camp corrections facility seems to be very interesting. As a corrections officer (CO), one will get to implement a strict military style structure life to young offenders, mentor to troubled young people, and teach basic life skills to those in need.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2015 9:53 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:53:48 -0500

There is a South Carolina program here on the SCARNG part of Fort Jackson, McCrady Training Center, that I have seen a few times. It is called SC Youth Challenge.http://scyouthchallenge.com

SC Youth Challenge

[one_third] We offer two classes per year,in January and July. Our program provides a wealth of educational enrichment offered by the staff and facilities with the SC National Guard's commitment to serving the SC's at-risk youth.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Jan 11 at 2015 9:56 PM

SSG Tim Everett — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:56:28 -0500

I did about a week as a trainee for a juvie facility down in South Carolina. The pay was far too low for me, and I ended up getting a better offer.

Response by SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. made Jan 11 at 2015 10:09 PM

SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 22:09:41 -0500

I worked in a youth detention center in Nashville, Tennessee for about 18 months as a training officer (not for the juveniles but the staff an officers). It's a rough environment with little pay, as SSG Tim Everett said. We had inmates convicted of rape, armed robbery, drugs, and murder. Those probably won't be the type of juveniles a boot camp would allow in, but the gang situations in all those environments add another dimension of danger.

Response by 1LT Kathleen Heisler made May 28 at 2015 9:33 AM

1LT Kathleen Heisler — Thu, 28 May 2015 09:33:24 -0400

As a former CO at a Women's prison that had a Boot Camp within the facility. The offenders had their own living unit and did not mix with the general population. I know the Co's that worked in the Unit were mostly Veterans and lovedworking there because of the military style of the program.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 1:35 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 01:35:28 -0400

I work in a state penitentiary, we house rapist, child molesters, murderers, thieves, druggies, we house it all. If you can think of it we have it. Several things to think about:

The pay, is it going to meet your salaried requirements? Some places pay decent, while some pay almost nothing.

The environment, these offenders are scum, but you almost have to treat them like they never done anything. They will run you to death, and there are way more of them than there is of you. I work with 128 alone everyday.

The employer, what is there reputation? Are they safety minded? whats there turnover like? Turn over in corrections is outstandingly high. Heed my warning when I say if there turnover is high, proceed with caution and investigate. I worked for a company who cared less about my safety and it almost got me and several other officers hurt.

Your attitude, these inmates will push you to the limit youve never seen. They have more rights than you and I. Can you mentally blow off every cussing and threat they give you and work on?

Im not trying to scare you out of corrections, but I do it everyday, 16 hrs a day, it is a hard field to grow a custom to. If you can handle it, go for it!

P.S. I would recommend a county jail as they are locked up most of the time.

Good luck in your adventures! If you have any questions, let me know!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 4:09 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 04:09:37 -0500

To be honest and fair, I have been working as a Correction Officer for 19 years, and that is a question nobody can answer for you. Corrections is a completely different animal than any other Law Enforcement service. If changing the life of a young person is your goal, I would not recommend becoming a CO. Rather I would suggest a School Resource Officer at the local Middle or High School. My experience has been that by the time they get to a jail setting.... It's too late. Youth this day in age have no respect for authority. It is just a sad fact of life. My department had a "Shock" program years ago. It was found to be ineffective when deterring young adults from a life of crime. It used standard military discipline practices to try and elevate the youth and mold them into productive citizens, but many returned to the same streets they came from and fell into old habits causing them to be arrested again. My personal satisfaction from my job comes, not from changing the life of someone on the inside of those walls, but, from knowing someone outside of them can sleep a little easier at night knowing their tormentor is behind bars. This is the true function of a CO and it is NOT for everyone... It takes a very special breed of person to do what we do. Only you can answer whether you are that kind of person. Good Luck, and may your choice keep you content... either way you choose...

Response by Cpl Imre Demech made Dec 3 at 2017 7:23 PM

Cpl Imre Demech — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:23:40 -0500

I took the course corrections & some of my duties was Brig Sgt of the day. One of my jobs was to keep prisoners in top shape physically. Every day they were to be exercised & put on work details also.