Thinking about becoming a Prison officer?

Question

Hi, i've been thinking about becoming a prison officer to give me a better chance of getting in the police force, cos i aint gunna be a CSO.I was wandering what is the best way to go about applying to be a prison officer and if there is a shortage of them. I've been on the HM prison service website and it says there are no vacancies but i find that hard to believe as i dont think there would be many people out there wanting to work alongside murderers and rapists.

Answer 1

move to the state of Georgia where there are many vacancies my nephew walk in fill out a application and he got the job but you will have to be certified before you can carry a weapon at one of the state three training centers for civil service workers .

Answer 2

I started by being an OSG, operational support grade, you get to learn the basic running of the prison.

OSG's duties include, escorting deliveries,post,visits and visits booking,front gate and depending of the Cat of the prison gatekeeper and comms.

I have known a few who have been OSG-Officer-police, there is plenty of jobs going within the prison service, dont let the website put you off.

good luck

Answer 3

Well if you don't believe what the government website tells you there isn't much chance of you becoming a prison officer.

Answer 4

A good friend of mine, her partner is a prison officer - morale low etc etc.

I have a great deal of respect what my mates partner does, I could not do that for a living.

Hopefully things will change, I'd go for the Police 1st then may be someone who has to supervise scum everyday.

Answer 5

you have to go through the HMP website. You can call you local prison and ask for some advice, ask for the head of resources or the head of personnel. But they will direct you to the website, however you can ask questions and get direct help fromm this person. Prison Officers are highly proffessional and there are many positive sides to the job. whatever you think of criminals they are human and the hardest job in the world is working with people, you need many skills and may develop skills you did not realise you had.  you can work anywhere and find obnoxious, nasty people they are not all in prison.

there is a new prison being built in cambridgeshire and will need two or three hundred officers and staff.

Answer 6

They need prison guards BAD! Here in Texas if you apply within two days you will get a call. Further, they give you as much overtime as you want because its that bad.  

Answer 7

Yes HMP are extremely short of staff. I know as I have just got out of HMP Newhall but like everything it is down to money. Like all the services they will do recruitments at various times of the year so you will just have to keep checking the website and the local and national papers as they also advertised in there.

I wouldn't say it is the ideal job as a stepping stone into the police though mate. It's a hard job and you can't bully the inmates around or have the same powers as the police. The best screws are the ones that treat you with respect and have a laugh.

You're are not one of these people that goes into the job for the pension are you? There is more to it than that.

Hope this helps you in some way

Tracey x*x