NC DOC testing and CO openings

[zmurphy]

Hey guys, i am pretty new to this forum. i have been doing some searching and there is tons of info on here.

i am going through the NC DOC application process. i took my Educational Achievement Test and COVT today.

during my visit they had us fill out a "wish list" of which prison we would like to work at. i made my list of close ones (within 1 hr) to my house, there ended up being 11 within an hour of my house.

to my dissapointment, there were only 2 prisons in my region (Piedmont). they are 1 1/2 & 2 hrs away from my house! with the salary the state pays, i can't afford that. and w/ working 12 hour shifts, i don't want to be driving 3 to 4 hours to go back and forth to work.

one of the guys testing asked the lady giving the test about turn over. she said, "we don't have any turn over". so she said we would be placed on the waiting list for the prisons we wanted (since they were over cap).

really, is this true? low to no turn over?

i really want to be a CO, but i can't drive that far for work. even carpooling would suck!

NC CO's, do i stand a chance on getting on with a local prison?

thanks

[OfficerPedde]

I know there are some prisons that are well staffed but I have never heard of a waiting list. Your best bet would be to call the facilities closest to your home and ask if they have CO positions open. As for the comment the lady made about no turnover, I question her on that one. I work at Polk and we turn people over all the time. Many don't even make it the first month on shift.

[zmurphy]

Originally Posted by OfficerPedde

I know there are some prisons that are well staffed but I have never heard of a waiting list. Your best bet would be to call the facilities closest to your home and ask if they have CO positions open. As for the comment the lady made about no turnover, I question her on that one. I work at Polk and we turn people over all the time. Many don't even make it the first month on shift.

yeah, from what i have been reading on the boards, there does seem to be more turn over than she was admitting to. of course i am sure she in incouraged not to admit the high turn over.

really the first month? what did they think they were getting into when they took the tests? have they never watched Lockup or Jail?

people amaze me. i have never been in law enforcement, but i have done my summer internship w/ a PD and a ton of ride alongs. i have a friend that was a deputy in a local jail for several years (hes out on patrol now) and from what little experience i have, i understand pretty much what i am getting into.

thanks for your time Sir!

[killabytes]

Originally Posted by zmurphy

yeah, from what i have been reading on the boards, there does seem to be more turn over than she was admitting to. of course i am sure she in incouraged not to admit the high turn over.

really the first month? what did they think they were getting into when they took the tests? have they never watched Lockup or Jail?

people amaze me. i have never been in law enforcement, but i have done my summer internship w/ a PD and a ton of ride alongs. i have a friend that was a deputy in a local jail for several years (hes out on patrol now) and from what little experience i have, i understand pretty much what i am getting into.

thanks for your time Sir!

There's a lot of people who don't seem to stop and think when doing the application process.

As for prisons locally to you, sounds like you may have submitted your application to the wrong region. Every region is hiring, you can also submit wishes for prisons outside of the region currently testing in. When I was testing we had several who asked about other prisons and the lady doing the testing gave them the codes for those prisons.

You might want to call the office back and ask them about switching some of your choices for closer prisons. I'm not sure if you can once you've submitted it during the testing but can't hurt to try.

The waiting list isn't really a waiting list, basically, your 3 choices will see you on their Roster if you pass all your tests. One of those prisons will call you to schedule an interview should you qualify and should they need help(I don't think there is one prison that doesn't need help currently)

[Custodian]

There is NOT a prison in North Carolina that is NOT hiring. There is NOT a prison that does NOT have turnover.

Now, what do I know about waiting lists? It sounds like someone at that particular institution is not doing their hiring paperwork, as quickly as possible. That's what the real "waiting list" is for. Let me tell you something about working for the state, if you look & observe you will (in time) find your answer, if you ask, more than likely you will get an non or false answer that will just placate you enough, to get you out of their face.

[zmurphy]

well i know i sent the app to the correct region, those 2 prisons that are supposedly the only ones hiring are in my region, their just a long way away.

the lady over seeing the tests gave me an extra sheet so i could write down more than 3 selections. i wrote down all the ones within 45 minutes to and 1 hour from my house. i believe i ended up with 11 prisons. surely some of them are hiring.

BTW, i read somewhere that NC has Law Enforcment retirement that is shorter than normal state retirement, i assume CO's are NOT considered LE. am i correct?

thanks guys!

[Gooseneck]

CO's ARE considered law enforcement from what I've read. If I'm wrong I stand corrected.

[Custodian]

Originally Posted by Gooseneck

CO's ARE considered law enforcement from what I've read. If I'm wrong I stand corrected.

This is a complicated issue. Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here (here I go!), but Federal law states anyone who fits our job description (described in LEOSA) is LEO. Well, thee state doesn't exactly agree. You will be working for NCDOC, right? The state. So, you are LEO when it suits a purpose. The state's purpose that is. Correctional Officers are LEO if you wanted to join an LEO association [like FOP or NCLEOA, I guess to bolster their numbers], however, you are NOT entitled to LEO perks, benefits, or raises, etc, etc. Another note, our would-be, could-be Law Enforcement Officer/Criminal Justice Officer/Peace Officer status is NOT taught to those attending Basic Law Enforcement Training classes (i.e. Deputy Sheriffs, Local/Special Police, State Troopers, Park Rangers, Alcohol Law Enforcement Agents). So even if you were, those who are supposed to know it, wouldn't. The state considers us nothing more than State Trooper helpers, if that.

Does this clear up anything?

Once again, I will defer to Sort2000, as he has been doing this a heck of a lot longer than I have.

[jblevins]

See if any private prisons are near by (good for exp) or try being a detention officer at a local jail, the two prisons near me said there fully staffed and the next two said they have a long waiting list, this is my second year applying, you can call and get put in different areas, I've done it but so far no luck, but I'm going to keep on trying.

[Machiavellinc]

I applied to a few places. There’s one which is a nice drive from where I am now. Its Tabor. Already been to the Board Interview. And if they put me on, we are moving, to Tabor. You know what that means? There is no turning back and no long drives! Just a whole lotta yams!