AIBU to want to be a prison officer?

[Bodakyellow]

I currently work in an office. I have applied and been offered a position in a category A prison as a prison officer. My partner has had concerns during the recruitment process. They feel it is a dangerous job and is concerned for my safety. I have explained there will be thorough training but they are still worried. Aibu to accept this job offer?

Also does anyone here work or previously worked in a category A prison that is willing to share there experience?

My cousin loves it. The lay is not great but there are other perks and good benefits and the shift work in their prison is structured in a way that she can have a week off within annual leave.

She feels very safe there compared to working with general public. The only down sides are the lad culture (apparently she has lost her faith in men after listening to get colleagues) and that the days can be very boring and you need to keep yourself intellectually stimulated on your free time.

I would consider working in a women's prison, but I may be too much of a pushover!

What about police? I'd be scared to work longterm with the same dangerous people, breaking up riots, attending to prisoners assaulted.
I worked in an a&e reception I've seen my fair share of prisoners beat until their black and blue.

I work in a prison but not as an officer. There are well established safety procedures in place and in my establishment people really do look out for each other.
It's not a job I could do. For the most part it actually looks really boring. Lots of hanging around watching people. But this combined with the ever present possibility that things could kick off at any point. You'll also get lots of contact with other people's bodily fluid and have to deal with a lot of self harm and drug use which looks difficult.
I am not you however and you might be really well suited. A good prison can make major positive changes to lives of people who are at their lowest. Like PPs I am astounded at how low the pay is. It's a really undervalued role.

*Good prison officer

A really worthwhile job, but I found that it's more about maintaining prison and residents security rather than rehabilitation. Your outlook on life and people will change, your language will change. My experience is in cat b

If you have a genuine passion and interest in the job, then go for it. After being a mainstream school teacher for 15 years, I now work in a very specialist private school which caters for students with severe SEMH issues. Two of my students have recently been convicted of attempted murder and our ultimate aim is to try and help our students on to a life path that keeps them out of prison. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my job. On a day to day basis I teach, but also assist with things like helping a 22stone 16 year old male in crisis (breaking windows, kicking through reinforced doors, flipping furniture, trying to assault staff). When I first started I was terrified initially, but as a poster upthread stated, once it became the norm I'm now completely unphased. I much prefer it to mainstream despite the risks. Every day, I have students punching, kicking, spitting, biting etc. We have radicalised kids, those who severely self harm, county lines etc and those who are very, very violent. The life stories are horrendous and I'm passionate about doing my part to help. I'm paid around £50,000 and get 13 weeks holiday too and once I'm home, I don't do nearly as much as I did in mainstream . How much do PO actually get paid?

I wouldn't do it but that's more to do with being against the carceral state and general policing. But everybody has bills to pay, I guess.

@RoseRedRoseBlue totally agree. The training period is way longer to be a probation officer compared to a prison officer. You do get probation officers that are prison based.

You'd probably be safer in a high security with less mixing between the prisoners.

I think you are very brave indeed and if you take it all seriously, you will make a difference. Be prepared for a lot of sitting around, supervising an being bored but unable to be off your guard. Also you may find that some of your colleagues are dodgy and that can make life difficult for a new officer who wants to do things right; choose friends wisely.

Good luck, I wish you success in your training.

Interested to know what is the appeal for you op? I'm not judging as someone has to do it. But from all the jobs in the world why this?

@AmyLou100

Interested to know what is the appeal for you op? I'm not judging as someone has to do it. But from all the jobs in the world why this?

I was thinking the same seeing as someone described it as exciting 🤔

I've worked in a prison but not as a PO, it was quite rewarding but I was young then. I was however thinking of a career as such, but decided against it. The choice is yours OP but many people can't hack it.

What do you want to do?

Do posters not realise that SW is a four year BA and you need the equivalent to be a probation officer. While you don't need a degree to be a probation officer, you'll be competing with people who do have one and relevant experience. It's nothing like passing the tests to become a PO.

The prisons are full of vulnerable, abused people who've been fucked over. The services needed aren't in place and MH is poor. Prisoners have been locked in cells for 20 hours a day during Covid. There's a crisis going on. So 'exciting' isn't exactly the right description. Many of your colleagues won't be in the job to make a difference.

I know two POs, they are still getting job satisfaction at the moment, but it isn't enjoyable as such and it's emotionally draining.

You do need a degree to qualify as a Probation Officer.

@Gladimnotcampinginthisweather - HMP

@AmyLou100 - I applied and was successful, as simple as that really. It’s better paid than my current role and I don’t think I could ever earn as much without having to retrain in another field.

PM’d you op

Good for you Bodakyellow.

Do you aim to specialise in a particular 'type' of inmate? I know some prison officers do that and there are several categories within Cat A. It would be more interesting. However you will have to be a rookie for a while.

@MrsPworkingmummy, thank goodness for you, the work you do and the passion you have for the young people in your care. Thank you. It can’t be easy

I too admire MrsP.

Hi, I have worked in a cat a prison, as a teacher. I would have absolutely no qualms with going back and working there again, it was a truly lovely job, and one I genuinely enjoyed.
The rule is last out 4 months and you will make it there! Good luck and enjoy yourself.

@ToffeePennie I love your username

I have worked in prison education for 20 years. I have great respect for the prison officers - their job role has diminished quite a lot - lots of their role gone to the private sector. The pay is bad for the responsibility they have. A good prison officer can make such a difference - good luck .

My husband is a prison officer. When he first applied, I was like your DH and was worried sick about the risks. And there are risks, my husband has had a broken rib recently after having to restrain a prisoner, he’s been attacked and has had such specific threats to him and his family that he had to be sent home while this prisoner was transferred to another prison. However, it hasn’t been as bad as I feared. It’s certainly not an easy job but you’re obviously not going into it with rose tinted glasses and you’re giving it a lot of thought so I think you’ll be fine. Good luck!