Basically the title I know you make more money in CDCR but the quality of life seems horrible right now from what you guys have been saying. BOP seems more relaxed but the pay is way less? Am I missing anything?
Great money with overtime. Good pension if you can make it until 57 on the line with cameras. The pros. Now with the cons, miserable environment including but not limited to you being treated less than an inmate. Inmates get tablet phones you do not. Inmates get treated well and management (captains above) will listen to there complaints. (Which is unlimited) no recourse. If you complain. Response is lucky you have this job. Easy job until you get stressed out over stupid stuff. Doing this job for a long time but everyone thinks it can't happen to them. On or off duty incidents can land you in mail room with everyone talking about you. That will never go away in this department. Red wall will lie to you all day with no accountability. I think that is it. Other than that happy career..
PAcoVilla, you the man!
So do people get fored a lot for no reason? Or is there a good reason and they were stupid? I get mixed answers
It's a mixture. Most terminated officers at my institution have gotten walked off for off duty incidents rather than on duty. I would say you can avoid getting fired by not getting involved in dumb shit off duty and using sound judgment inside the walls. I do however believe it's far easier to lose money from adverse action on situations where you weren't necessarily in the wrong or at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Lose money as in they make u take time off?
Losing money can be in different forms. You can have a salary reduction such as 10% salary reduction for 12 months. Administration can also suspend you for a period of time which would be time off.
Most people prefer a salary reduction because it's not as financially taxing upfront as a suspension. A suspension also can have serious consequences such as you lose seniority for that period of time and lose health benefits for that month.
Damn that's messed up. You said that happens a lot?
A lot? Not really. There are prisons that have 800-900 officers working there, so if you hear of 3 people losing money in the same year it's not that many in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure it depends on the institution. A prison like CSP-SAC most likely has a lot more disciplinary occurrences due to how many incidents they have that put officers in bad spots.
Are the best prisons in norcal or socal?
I can't say. I've only worked at 2 total. I'm sure all of them have their pros and cons.
CDCR quality of life is just fine. You can work 2 1/2 days a week. Reddit is just filled with people who like to whine about their job. Yeah there are problems with the California model, admin, blah blah blah. You can be responsible for your own day & mindset and have a good career.
Agreed, I made 120k last year did a bit of OT took a vacation and a bunch of random days off. 9 years in I did maybe 2 overtime shifts a month on average
That's nice to hear. This sub makes it sound like people are getting fired left and right for no reason.
I’ve been in 15 years and there’s plenty of crap I could complain about. At the same time, the department has given me a lot of opportunities in life I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s not for everyone and a lot of people are miserable there. If you don’t have much discipline and are very sensitive to your environment, it could be awful. If you take it for what it is and don’t take the bad stuff home with you, it can be a great career.
How does the 2.5 days work? Two 16 hour shifts and one 8?
Yup
At BOP I made 120k last year 4 years in. There unlimited OT, so if you don't mind doing 16 hour days here and there your good. I do 2 OT's a week, one on my Monday and one on my Thursday. I do 8 hours in the tower then drive to the hospital and do 8 hours there. It's really like 7 by the time you get relieved, get food then drive to the hospital. Goes by pretty quick. Some guys make over 200k but they are doing OT almost daily. Just live within your means and make OT your play money, not necessity.
Are you based in LA?
Yes sir
BOP is federal and you can transfer almost anywhere. Also starts your Federal 6c retirement which carries with you if you change agencies.
CDCR is better pay, but the current contract makes you pay a large percentage of your own pay towards retirement. This means the take home pay is not as much. CDCR, I believe, has better promotional opportunities.
I've moved much faster in the process with BOP than I have with CDCR. CDCR I haven't heard anything at all, BOP I've already done medical, took the test, and everything else just waiting to hear back on a start date. How much you make with BOP also depends on your location. Some places are offering higher retention bonuses than others
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25d
CDCR is basically a low income high school if You been to one you will be just fine!!
I agree with bend above ^ he knows what he’s talking about