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Correctional Officer Career

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When I first started my career at The Department of Corrections (CDCR), in Chino, California. I had no idea that deciding to become a Correctional Officer would be one of the worst career choices of my life. One day, in particular, made this abundantly clear. One single day would change my perspective on my life, confirming my ethical beliefs, affirm that no career was worth my soul and that making the correct decision can be traumatic and an isolating experience.
Arriving to work that summer night, being assigned to a sick relief position could place me anywhere in the prison for my shift. My position for the night would be the Reception Center (RC). The RC is known not only for the smell that seeps from underneath the door as you approach. …show more content…
Releasing the inmates by hall, one officer will be posted down the hall that is being released. I myself took up the position in the door way, keeping my eyes on both the hall way and the culinary seating area. My eyes fixed on the seating area, suddenly there is a commotion coming from down the hall. I understand what this means, instantly I can feel the adrenal. Turning to asses the racket in the hall, I witness the hallway officer struggling with an inmate. I start to run in the direction of the officer. Pulled and swinging her body around, he forces her to fall into the fetal position on her knees. I am in a full run by know, watching as he places his knee onto the left side of her back, simultaneously moving her left hand to the middle of the back to place the handcuffs on the prisoner. I reach the scene, with the realization, it is over. I start to calm …show more content…
Approaching the sergeant on duty to obtain the proper reports to complete. I received a response I was not quite prepared to accept. There would be no reports, no Use of Forces was Used. Questioning the authority of a sergeant is not something that I wanted to do. Especially this sergeant, the RC sergeant had a reputation for not following the rules, not reporting the Use of Force. Standing there for what felt like five minutes, starting to sweat, finally getting up the never to speak my opinion “I witnessed the Use of Force”. I watched her expression turn from her normal disapproving look to, an angry disapproving face. Then she attacked, the loudest, finger pointing verbal attack I had ever experienced from a boss. I am scared, what am I going to do? Again I stood there, feeling like a scolded little child. I humble out the words, “I need to speak to the

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