Response # 16

Britton maps the path to becoming a correction’s officer for both men and women. Some interesting results occur when he concludes his findings. He states that most of the correction officers never aspired to become a correction’s officer. That is was true for both men and women. He did see there was a huge difference in the type of work that was performed by men and women before they became CO’s. He found that a large proportion of men who were correction officer have been prior military personnel, whereas women were mostly in clerical work. Some of the reasons as to why they became CO’s were because the facilities were located out in the far part of major cities and there are few well paying jobs that are within the area. Therefore, many are turned to the CO position although it does not have the best pay it includes full benefits and retirement. Some of the social networks that persuade people to become CO’s are due to the figure that CO’s are known for. They are known to be big masculine guards that have great authority. Women often times felt very threaten by this myth and hence this is why so few women are employed within this career. As women realized that this was no necessarily the case for all positions they actively became part of the career. Women also took on the CO position many times when they were recently divorced. They needed to find a job that required little education but offered nice benefits. To become a CO officer a diploma or GED was the only requirement along with passing the academy. This is beginning to change through put the years. Many counties and cities want their personnel to be more educated. The officers also did say that it was not as bad as most people believe to think it is or movies show.