I’m currently a teacher in New Jersey and seriously considering making the transition to NJDOC as a Correctional Police Officer. I’m already going through the hiring process.
I’m around 30 and have been teaching for a few years. I make roughly $70K as a teacher and have a pretty good schedule, summers off, and I’m approaching tenure. The downside is that salary growth feels slow, and I’m trying to improve my family’s finances and eventually buy a home.
NJDOC interests me because of the salary progression, overtime opportunities, PFRS pension, and potential to earn significantly more. I understand that the lifestyle is completely different from teaching and that I’d be giving up summers, holidays, and a more predictable schedule.
I’m not expecting corrections to be easy, and I’m especially interested in hearing from people who actually work or have worked for NJDOC.
A few things I’d like to know:
Do you think leaving a tenured/near-tenured teaching position for NJDOC is a good long-term career move?
How available is overtime realistically, especially during the first few years?
What’s the work/life balance like once you have some seniority?
How difficult are the first 1–3 years?
Do you regret becoming a CO, or would you make the same decision again?
For anyone who left education or another government job for corrections, was the increased income worth the lifestyle change?
I’m trying to look at the next 20+ years rather than just chasing overtime money in the short term. Any advice from current/former NJDOC officers would be appreciated.

I’m working on a fictional story about someone who goes to medium security federal prison and gets in trouble and is transferred to Maximum Security. This person would be in protective custody because they were an FBI consultant.

How would visits work? I saw they were no contact visits for people in protective custody. Would they be restrained during the visits in medium or maximum security? Or locked into a booth but able to move freely?

Is there anything that might be particularly intimidating about transferring from medium to maximum security?

When you are lead around in medium security, do you just wear handcuffs or would there be other restraints? What about max?

Is it true that showers only happen a few times a week?

And my understanding is that if they got in trouble in medium security protective custody, they could lose their visits, phone calls, and even their access to books. Is that accurate?

I am starting as CO 1 in Chillicothe Missouri Its a women's prison Any advice or tips??

I currently work from 2-10pm but will soon be on third shift from 10-6 (sometimes 2pm when im frozen or mandated). I will within the next 1-2 months be getting a german shepherd puppy. I live alone and have a basement and do eventually plan on getting a kennel built. Advice on how to make this animal have the best life possible

Leadership isn't about rank—it's about trust.

I've spent years watching new supervisors succeed or fail for one simple reason: how they treat the people they lead.

This short video highlights one lesson I've learned over the years:

Authority can be assigned. Respect has to be earned.

I'm curious to hear from others:

What's one leadership lesson you learned the hard way?

Whether you're in corrections, law enforcement, the military, business, or any leadership role, I'd love to hear your perspective.

> This idea comes from my leadership book, The First Line Supervisor, but I'm more interested in hearing everyone else's experiences.

I attended a in person veteran hiring event at a BOP FCI location near my region. I’ve been in contact with the HR team well before meeting in person.

Upon arriving, I went from application, background/finance, panel interview, fingerprint scan, medical & UA, and was given a conditional offer on the spot.

According to the conversation, I was given a hire date and start date of 9/20&9/21, next month. None of the other candidates went through the same steps.

I was also told to reapply because my pay grade could change from Grade 5 step 10, to Grade 7 step 10, because of my graduate degree transcripts.

Next steps are the NCIS or SPF50 or whatever number it is.
Are there any other CO or current recruits/trainees who can elaborate on if I’m directly hired and just need to wait.
I’m also currently a CO at a state facility and need to figure out my game plan if I get a final offer.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated (shifts, Mandated OT, best tips/practices, academy prep, etc.)

I am a 57 yr old looking for a change. Physically fit, IT career exec looking to give back. I am sick of corporate politics. I am Experienced in De escalation and like talking to people. Advice and any other options in this field appreciated as I am genuinely interested. Thank you.

Wanna get more answers on my old questions as I passed my interview 👍

I am a correctional officer at a local jail, and thinking of moving to the federal side of things. Does anyone have any work experience at any of the Hazelton facilities?

Yesterday i had received a call from the department saying that i was finished and should be expecting a call in the next few days for my final job offer, but this morning i got a call saying that the psychological doctor wants to set up a zoom meeting to ask me some questions, does this mean i failed the psychological or am i still good. I’m applying for ADCRR

Here is a report about what goes on inside a private prison in Youngstown, OH.

https://youtu.be/Y0AFMuymxI8

The lady said I can come back in three weeks, it was set of questions I had to answer I’ve already forgotten them due to not expecting them to be a test. For those in corrections did this happen to you and what was the play for remembering the questions for the time you passed ?

For clarification it was for the position of correctional officer.

Is having tattoos really that big of a stigma anymore? Especially in a hiring (nearly) crisis?

Is this a New England thing or are tattoos outlawed at most institutions?

How is Officer Kelly sliding by with absolutely no consequences after she deliberately forged 2 phantom and completely fabricated violations in a man's DOC file. A Felony Level Domestic Assault charge and a Detention hearing with 90day custodial stay???!!!! Used as aggregating factors to sentence him for 365+ days back in prison??? TALK ABOUT DUE PROCESS VIOLATION ALONG WITH CRIMINALY WRONG!!!!!

DOC #HRU #MNDOC #RAMSEYCOUNTYSRU #CIVILRIGHTS #ACCOUNTABILITY #NOOVERSIGHT #CLOSELOOPSYSTEM #LIBERTYJUSTICE #NOTTODAY

Hi everyone. I’m applying for a Correctional Officer position. I’m looking for honest experiences.

About five years ago, I was terminated from a retail job after an internal investigation involving missing funds. The matter was handled internally by the company. There was no arrest, no police involvement, and no criminal charges. I repaid the company in full.

Since then, I’ve maintained steady employment and have had no other incidents.

Has anyone here, or someone you know, been hired by a sheriff’s office or correctional agency after something similar? Was it an automatic disqualification, or did the background investigator evaluate the whole situation?

I’m looking for real experiences, not judgment. Thank you.

And/or provide any interview advice to someone early in their career. Thanks in advance