Ransom, but why do people becom prison officers?

[Samcro]

Always wondered why? Don't know anyone who does it in rl to ask.

[Nidan2Sandan]

I live within a couple of miles of a very famous, high security prison.

A few years ago they were advertising for staff and the training salary was £29k so really quite good. But the training is really intensive, required IIRC 10 weeks away training. I considered applying until I realised the time away needed, impossible with a young family at the time.

I think though, generally its decent money, decent pension and a secure job.

[Haggisfish3]

I can see many parallels between characteristics of teachers and prison officers. I’ve considered it as an alternative to teaching.

[Samcro]

thank you for the replies. makes more sense to me now.

[avamiah]

I would say for the Shifts and the hourly wage as my ex was considering it as they like people who can commit to 12 hour shifts back to back but he decided to become a traffic warden as they pay more a hour and yes I didn’t believe it at first but it’s true traffic wardens get paid more well at least at the beginning.

Still a awful job in my opinion.

[saraclara]

My voluntary work takes me into a prison. Most of the officers are very caring, and the people who are incarcerated have interesting and often tragic stories to tell.

I am sure there are rogues and people in it for the wrong reasons. But on the whole I'm very pleasantly surprised by those who work there

[SometimesRavenSometimesParrot]

A friend of mine does it. She does it because it’s three 12 hour shifts a week, she opts for nights so has her kids in the day 3 days a week till her partner gets home, she goes to work, comes home in the morning, sleeps for 6ish hours while her partner gets them up and a family member looks after them, then she has them for a few hours. The other four days she’s at home with her kids and loves it. No nursery fees, minimal childcare needed from family and she gets loads of time with her littles.

[CatNameChange101]

There is a genuine issue with some working for decent money by illegal methods. In Scotland it’s crap money and you can easily top it up by smuggling stuff in and out. A friend’s parent has just been released after a 6 months (absolute idiot who made a dumb decision) and was shocked by the drug systems. Nightly overdoses, the blasé attitude to them and the blatantly obvious officers involved. It might not be similar in the rest of the UK but SPS is a wreck. Honestly, pay people in these roles adequately and there wouldn’t be these issues half as much. A tough job for little reward, no wonder they want to make money by other means.

[stevalnamechanger]

@LegallyBlende

I know a few. Never asked them but can see the benefits:
Permanent
Pensionable
Overtime available
Know your rota well in advance
Can retire after 30 years service (Ireland)
Opportunities for progression
Not too hard of work physically
Doesn't require a 4 year degree like some jobs

Erm it is hard work physically .. can you imagine doing control and restraint on young buck prisoners in your 50s/60s

Two family members were in for whole careers - senior roles , decent salary and pension ,'interesting , people focused

[Janglingkeys]

I have worked in prisons for 20 years. Like every job - some do it for the money- some do it as they see it as a progressive career - some do it after they have left the forces and want the same camaraderie- some do it as they want to make a difference. It’s a job like no other - every day is different - meeting people from all walks of life.days full of tears and days full of laughter.

[MrsPsmalls]

My friend went in after first being in the army, then being a paramedic,then a prison officer. All somewhat physical jobs, that need you to be able to think on your feet and actually achieve something most days. He was not a person who enjoyed over thinking,he wanted to make difference and get stuck in.

[Jewel1968]

I agree it's a very important job and has the potential to be very satisfying. I imagine an experienced prison officer knows a hell of a lot about people and society.

[Gardeningtipsneeded]

It’s good money for no qualifications. My brother went into it as he had 1 GCSE and a local prison opened up. He could earn 40k, far more than he’d get doing anything else.
He left after 15 years, spice was a real issue and he got it thrown/blown at him one too many times. He’s struggled on the outside to find anything near the salary but he’s now a shift supervisor at a delivery company.

[SkippettyDoDah]

I knew someone who wanted to be an officer because her dad was and she thought it looked exciting (power!) and well paid 🤷‍♀️

[DamnYouAutoCarRental]

The only one I know, his business went bust after years of stress trying to keep it afloat. Regular salary, pension and recession proof work were the attractions. I think the training and chances of progression are reasonable, the shifts suit some childcare patterns.

[Atmywitsend29]

A friend of mine did it for his whole life until medical retirement. He loved it. He was amazing at it. He had such an ability to connect with the prisoners, and it's not the same as it was the prison service try to focus on rehabilitation as opposed to straight punishment. He was also a member of our local Tornado team, so he used to get called in when the local intake (remand) prison had riots etc. He loved it. He loved going in and every day being different.

My DH is awaiting his vetting clearance to start as a prison guard, because it's a worthwhile job, he wants to be making a difference to people's lives and supporting people to better themselves. You won't rehabilitate everyone to the point of being a functional stand up member of outside society, but you might help that murderer doing life learn to live peacefully with his cellmate.

[mumofEandE]

I've worked in a women's prison (in education not as a prison officer) and realised v quickly that prisons are full of people who made bad decisions.
I really enjoyed it!

[KineticSand]

My neighbour is a retired prison officer. She worked in women's prisons and set up schemes to skill up prisoners with work related skills and set them up in jobs when released. She set up schemes with big employers like Greggs and Timpsons cobblers shops. She speaks really proudly of what she did.

[LubaLuca]

I know a couple of prison officers. One of them went into it in his 40s after being made redundant. He's a very gentle man, not very big, but he seemingly uses that to his advantage in the prison - the younger inmates respond well to him. It pays well enough, he can work lots of overtime, and he'll be pensioned off a lot sooner than he could have been in his previous career.

The other one is a young man who wanted a job for life. He enjoys it too, he likes the camaraderie with his colleagues and the challenge.

[Jewel1968]

I used to play a team sport and our captain arranged for us to play in a men's prison in London. I have to admit I was a bit unsettled.

Anyway after the game which I think we won we got talking to the equivalent of the PE teacher. He explained he was trying to support the prisoners with their mental health and using sport to do that. He really cared. I have never forgotten that.

[ChrissyPlummer]

I don’t think it’s the salary. I saw one advertised a couple of years ago and it started at £19k. No chance I’d do that job for that money.

My DF knew a couple and they were on old-style contracts; 4 on, 4 off, shift allowance and retired at 50.

[PonyPatter44]

Pick me, pick me, I know! I work in a prison (actually I've worked in several over the years), and I love it. Many of my friends are prison officers (not guards or warders, please) , as is my DP.

People join the prison service for all sorts of reasons. Some of them are just in it for the money - in many prisons starting salaries are upwards of 27k, I think its 30k in London. Some of them, unfortunately, are bullies and think its a good way to throw their weight around and pick on people who can't fight back. Many of them want a physically active job, where they can keep on the move. Lots of staff are there to make a difference- they want to help people, they are interested in what makes people tick, and frankly, prison is a fascinating environment to work in.

Barrawarra, I'm sorry you had that experience. I assure you that my colleagues are NOT all lecherous intimidating pricks.

[ANameChangeAgain]

I know a couple of prison officers. They are the sort of tough guy looking people who you would cross the street to avoid on a dark night. When you actually speak to them though, they are very community focused and genuinely want to make a difference. One was an ex publican, so quite a career change.

[Amandasummers]

I’ve no idea but it’s my dream job and I would love to be a prison officer 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Namechangeforthis88]

I also learnt a healthy respect for colleagues with no academic qualifications but life experience and personal qualities.

[grooveonthemove]

It's an interesting job? I used to work for the probation service many years ago and loved going into the prisons - it's a whole other world