Topic: Everything Education / New Officer

When I was a new officer I tried to get al the information i could about the job, but there was not much in the way of reading material written by real officers in the trenches. As a result i learned how to be a C.O. by watching and listening to the senior officers and supervisors and by trial and error. Much of what I learned over the years has been passed down from one generation of C.O.‘s to the next. I made many mistakes and have seen others make mistakes while learning how to supervise inmates. When I became a senior officer i decided to write down the lessons i have learned throughout the years and publish them in book form so other officers won’t have to learn the job the hard way. The book is entitled “Correction Officer’s Guide to Understanding Inmates: The 44 Keys to Power Control and Respect.” It can be purchased at www.coguidebook.com for only $9.99 plus shipping and handling. It can also be purchased through Amazon as an E-book. By purchasing this book you will be making the best $10 investment you will ever make in your career. No book can tell you everything you need to know about corrections, experience is the best teacher, however this book will help you avoid many of the pitfalls of the job and help you stay safe during your carer in corrections. My name is Larone Koonce and I am a retired New York City Correction Officer. If you have any questions about the book or correction in general feel free to reach out to me at laronekoonce@gmail.com. Good luck and God Bless you.

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

Dear Giants2008, I am a retired NYC Correction officer. To answer your question: Yes, your degree will definitely help you advance quicker. In order to advance to the higher ranks, like Warden or Deputy Warden you must have a degree, so you are already ahead of the game. In addition, if you have any technical or computer skills they will be a great asset because many of the personnel assignments require computer skills and you will have to understand the personnel aspects of the job in order to advance. If you are good at taking tests you will also have a advantage when it come to advancement. If you want more information about getting the job here’s the link to the NYCDOC website:http://www.nyc.gov/html/doc/html/job/job_opp.shtml

If you want to know what it is like to be a Correction Officer i recommend the book: Correction Officer’s Guide to Understanding Inmates" by Larone Koonce I wrote this book for correction officers and for people who are interested in a career in corrections. I have worked on Riker’s Island and throughout the NYC Department of Corrections for nearly 20 years. There is no substitute for experience however, this book will give you an insight into the world of corrections, explain the challenges that correction officers face, and help you to avoid many of the pitfalls of the job. Good Luck!

Topic: The Club House / Starting Career in Corrections

Dear Tbaby33, To answer your question: No, being on a visitation list will not affect you getting the job. There is nothing wrong or illegal about visiting an inmate. Many of us have friends and family members that are incarcerated and we have the right to visit them if we wish. However, once you become a correction officer and want to visit someone, you will be required to get permission from the correction department as well as the Warden of the facility where you want to visit before you can visit anyone. This is because as a correction officer you may have detailed information about the functioning and layout of a facility and for security reasons you will be under special scrutiny as it relates to your visits. It’s not personal, it’s business. I am glad you told the truth and you will not be penalized for it. During your investigation it is very important that you tell the truth about anything that can be verified by the police or correction department. Things like your name on visitation records can easily be verified. If you would have lied and it was discovered that you in fact are on a visitation list you would have been disqualified at that point.

If you want a further insight into corrections consider purchasing the book: “Correction Officer’s Guide to Understanding Inmates” by Larone Koonce. It is also available as an e-book on amazon.com. There is no substitute for experience however, you can get a good understanding about the challenges that Correction Officers face when dealing with inmates. The book will help you stay safe, focused and healthy throughout your career. Good luck :)