Issues with the Institution

[Custodian]

Howdy, people. It's been a little while. I've haven't said much in awhile, just wanted to get some more corrections experience, you know? Well, I'm sitting here... injured. I was at work and I was injured by a co-worker who has injured people before at a control station. Now, after the doctor visit and everything, I'm just looking to take a step back and really examine the prison system as a whole and what problems as a collective we face and try to solve them, if at all possible. Stand back, this might take awhile...

No comradery.
- I see C/Os have more energy and pep talking to convicts than speaking to fellow officers. Most of the time from fellow officers unless I have trained with them, I just get a "hey" and they keep blabbing with convicts, are really close up on them, walking side-by-side, not holding their baton tightly. As if they can read their mind that they are not going to react violently. I wish I was psychic too.

No glory. (This is a two-parter)
- This one was brought to my attention. Support staff who work only 8 hours, pretty cozy looking with convicts, get all the employee awards. This person who is an amazing officer especially when it comes to enforcement and up-close encounters, said in his x amount of years, he's never got an award or anything, however, when he saw those who don't even do a quarter of the work as normal C/Os get "seen" its demoralizing.

- We are hemorrhaging great officers because once certified (BCOT) they flee the coop. Most of them go on to become excellent police officers, deputy sheriffs or state troopers because of low pay, bad practice (we are supposed to get reimburse for items we purchase for the job, however you need the trainee status removed from your I.D badge. Well it never will be unless you are promoted. That's right. You could possibly be a C/O for 20 years and still be under trainee status because there is no policy for removing the trainee status from plain ol' officers, so no reimbursements for you), helplessness, no backup from the higher-ups, and super low morale. Also, once you enter the state system you can apply for jobs not available to the public, so this is a springboard job to enter the state system. We need pay equal to state troopers in my opinion, then only could we retain quality candidates.

NC Correction's Officer salary range is $26209 - $42410.
NC State Trooper's salary range is $32,069-$52,713.
This price range could be the difference in retaining good officers.

We have lost the amount of shift premiums since going to 12 hour shifts.

Yes you are and no you aren't: The Art of Double-speak (Never ask Law Enforcement officers about what is legal and what is not, cause they don't know.)
- At temporary training we were told (by a Police Officer Instructor, a detective and Lieutenant) C/Os are not Law Enforcement. However, for LEOSA to pass, at the senate hearings, examples of N.C.D.O.C. officers who were ambushed and murdered off-duty either at or near their homes,. Even though the law was touted as the "National Concealed Carry for Cops" law, dead N.C.D.O.C. C/Os helped it pass.
So those who are able to enjoy the fruits of those labors, enjoy it, because N.C.D.O.C. has remained mum about the law. And the state AG has said that their office does not interpret federal law. And yes, we meet the requirements. Our paperwork state we are law enforcement employees, etc, etc.
Questions From a New Officer [Archive] - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com
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A pulse and a clean background check.
- This is all it takes to become a Correctional Officer at the close custody (read as: max/supermax prison) facility in my state. And this is what got me hurt from a moron co-worker who has injured officers and convicts alike. And yet they continue to keep this person on? I mean, WTF?

Asleep at the wheel: Your prison administration at work.
- Hurt on the job? Need workman's comp medication on time? In pain. Well, tough. Cause you are going to suffer a good day or so, just like I am right now. And nobody knows nothing, either. The paper pushers go home early and leave you ravishing your medicine cabinet for high dose Tylenol.

Leave your gun at home.
- A Lieutenant in Master Control beat around the bush and tiptoed for three days getting forms for a firearms on state property (which is violation of North Carolina Constitution, but who cares about that, right?) and gave me a speech on why I don't need it at work, why it was a bad idea, where I need to leave it, and if I used it for self-defense not only would I be out of a job, but N.C.D.O.C. would not back me whatsoever.
However, the masterful OIC Captain, personally gave me the forms and pretty much is the best Captain I've ever worked for.
And I have been threatened with a weapon in uniform outside of work, headed home.

Where does the time go?
- We need to be in line 15 minutes prior, however, we are not paid for it. But, we are accountable for it to be there. And up to 15 minutes after shift has ended if second shift takes its time, dragging its feet to relieve us, then DOC still doesn't have to pay us. Thats 30 minutes of unpaid time while still on the job. Did you leave say 10 minutes early with your supervisors permission, doesn't matter! Did they only get 20 minutes free that day from you? Oh no! Well then, the Master Control Lieutenant will dock your vacation time and laugh about it, too while doing it. Even after its been explained. And yes, this is the same guy who doesn't want you to have your gun. even though the DOC arsenal is sitting beside him. Must be comforting.

There is no real end to this post for me.

Anyone else has anything to add?

[all4114all]

Wow sounds like NC sucks worse than MO. Sorry.

[BOPCO87]

All of that is why there is no comradery. That is why I left the state and went to the BOP. It is better in the BOP but still not where I think it needs to be. I think these same examples plague corrections everywhere. It's a sad sad situation.

[jafish]

And we bull**** around about how bad the BOP is...

[GUNNER]

Originally Posted by jafish

And we bull**** around about how bad the BOP is...

I dont know, I thought there for a bit he was talking about the BOP. I dont really see that much of a difference.