Prison Officer

cordub · 25-08-2011 7:08pm

Delancey wrote: »

It's been reported in a local paper that 2 Prison Officers are believed to have contracted TB from a prisoner in one of the prisons in Portlaoise :eek:

thats not unusual . i have 2 friends who got it too a while back , were paid money to settle outside court and had to sign a confidentiality agreement!!!!

bitter_lemon · 26-08-2011 1:18am

yeah thats not unusual.

i also know somebody who got scabies from the handcuffs. always bring your alco wipes with ya or acquire a pair of handcuffs like i do and mark it so you know which goes on the lags hand and which goes on yours. hygiene hygiene.

i never want to share the same proximity as a prisoner. i don't and will never understand why its not common practice to colour code them. so i do my own thing :P

same as checking cells turning lights on. ugh. scruffbags with their hands down their jocks and god knows where else hanging off the switches. stick a pair of latex gloves on if you are doing a full check. ugh :mad:

*this is a health and safety disclaimer from bitter lemon*

cordub · 26-08-2011 1:23am

bitter_lemon wrote: »

yeah thats not unusual.

i also know somebody who got scabies from the handcuffs. always bring your alco wipes with ya or acquire a pair of handcuffs like i do and mark it so you know which goes on the lags hand and which goes on yours. hygiene hygiene.

i never want to share the same proximity as a prisoner. i don't and will never understand why its not common practice to colour code them. so i do my own thing :P

same as checking cells turning lights on. ugh. scruffbags with their hands down their jocks and god knows where else hanging off the switches. stick a pair of latex gloves on if you are doing a full check. ugh :mad:

haha jesus now you have me thinking and what about the semen on the spyholes and the door knobs :rolleyes::rolleyes:god what a lousy job we forget sometimes no wonder we all get so sick :eek::eek::eek::eek: yes we reguarly get the scabie alert people on the outside just dont realise what we work with

;) oh well guess we should just shut up and be grateful

:D

bitter_lemon · 26-08-2011 1:43am

we just should protect ourselves more. i know i do. noone from ips is gonna hold your hand and say are you allright when you're lying in a hospital bed are they?

do they teach this in beladd? :cool:

LoanShark · 26-08-2011 6:37pm

Sweey FnJ I never thought about Junkie C**K when I was touching the light switches...

TBH if you started worrying about the diseases and stuff you'd never leave the Class Office (Which sometimes can be worse than a cell)...

cordub · 27-08-2011 1:32am

LoanShark wrote: »

Sweey FnJ I never thought about Junkie C**K when I was touching the light switches...

TBH if you started worrying about the diseases and stuff you'd never leave the Class Office (Which sometimes can be worse than a cell)...

you mean you do lol ???your brave

:D:D:D

LoanShark · 28-08-2011 9:21pm

cordub wrote: »

you mean you do lol ???your brave :D:D:D

It's how I get my Heros allowance!

MIRMIR82 · 01-09-2011 11:36am

Hi guys,
Rumours are a going that 60 people will be going into Beladd this month - from fairly good sources too - so hopefully yer wait is nearly over:)

sodbuster77 · 01-09-2011 1:29pm

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

Hi guys,
Rumours are a going that 60 people will be going into Beladd this month - from fairly good sources too - so hopefully yer wait is nearly over:)

Hope its the end of the month. I'm off to Spain on Saturday:eek:

slim1919 · 01-09-2011 2:50pm

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

Hi guys,
Rumours are a going that 60 people will be going into Beladd this month - from fairly good sources too - so hopefully yer wait is nearly over:)

I was on to IPS a few hours ago and the woman i was taking to laughed when i told her i heard there could be a class starting soon she said it was news to her and that nothing was planned,
I realy do hope a class starts soon though

MIRMIR82 · 01-09-2011 7:49pm

slim1919 wrote: »

I was on to IPS a few hours ago and the woman i was taking to laughed when i told her i heard there could be a class starting soon she said it was news to her and that nothing was planned,
I realy do hope a class starts soon though

I heard today staff from beladd that were sent back to the prisons during the year have been sent back to beladd this week!! - think its a go guys - best of luck

slim1919 · 01-09-2011 9:35pm

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

I heard today staff from beladd that were sent back to the prisons during the year have been sent back to beladd this week!! - think its a go guys - best of luck

well i am fuked then still haven't been called for pct yet so if there is a class starten soon doesn't look like i willl be in it

cordub · 02-09-2011 1:13am

YES fingers crossed there is though they could do with a few hundred never mind 60 a drop in the ocean , They prob need the 60 to cover for the promotions in

;);););) the near future :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

lakes1985 · 02-09-2011 8:16am

if they were taking on new staff soon,would a person who still hasnt had interview stand a chance of gettin in? i was supposed to be in interviews before xmas and they f**ked up my address! told me theyd put me top off list next time around

sodbuster77 · 02-09-2011 8:44am

slim1919 wrote: »

well i am fuked then still haven't been called for pct yet so if there is a class starten soon doesn't look like i willl be in it

If they are going to be taking in 60 then surely there will have to be another round of pct tests. The classes that started in Beladd back in January were the last to do pct tests afaik. I don't think there are 60 people who have completed all the stages of selection and are just waiting to be called. There are a few like myself who missed out due to the security clearance delay.

slim1919 · 02-09-2011 11:10am

sodbuster77 wrote: »

If they are going to be taking in 60 then surely there will have to be another round of pct tests. The classes that started in Beladd back in January were the last to do pct tests afaik. I don't think there are 60 people who have completed all the stages of selection and are just waiting to be called. There are a few like myself who missed out due to the security clearance delay.

Thats the thing i think i am still waiting on my security clearance like you there is some kind of delay with it i was on to IPS over a month ago and they said there was a problem with mine and a few others,
Thats why i was onto them yesterday waiting on a call back. If there is a class starting soon i realy dont want to be in the same boat as you were and miss out on a security clearance delay.

sodbuster77 · 02-09-2011 5:07pm

slim1919 wrote: »

Thats the thing i think i am still waiting on my security clearance like you there is some kind of delay with it i was on to IPS over a month ago and they said there was a problem with mine and a few others,
Thats why i was onto them yesterday waiting on a call back. If there is a class starting soon i realy dont want to be in the same boat as you were and miss out on a security clearance delay.

My security clearance came through in April.

slim1919 · 02-09-2011 5:16pm

sodbuster77 wrote: »

My security clearance came through in April.

no i know you got it i mean i dont want to miss getting into a class because its not back in time and have to wait another year for another class to come around

sodbuster77 · 02-09-2011 11:07pm

slim1919 wrote: »

no i know you got it i mean i dont want to miss getting into a class because its not back in time and have to wait another year for another class to come around

Hopefully it comes through for you soon.

bitter_lemon · 03-09-2011 8:19pm

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

Hi guys,
Rumours are a going that 60 people will be going into Beladd this month - from fairly good sources too - so hopefully yer wait is nearly over:)

rumours..... love it!

Shield · 03-09-2011 10:23pm

bitter_lemon wrote: »

rumours..... love it!

Me too...

LoanShark · 04-09-2011 1:17pm

bitter_lemon wrote: »

rumours..... love it!

As we were told "If you don't hear a rumour by Nine O Clock on a Monday morning..... Start one!!"

Old Trafford · 08-09-2011 11:13am

Hi all
just out of interest is there many prison officers expected to retire this year in advance of pension cut next year?will all those eligible to retire go or do you think many will stay on regardless?thanks

08-09-2011 6:41pm

There are a few who think the place will fall down without them who'll have to be dragged out , but also a few diehards that nobody thought would go, are after putting in their papers.

bitter_lemon · 08-09-2011 7:05pm

its a bit of a mixed bag. i think some people simply can't afford to go after remortgaging and whatnot during the boom times.
i don't think i will be able to retire after 30 years service. i'd be still paying the mortgage for another few years. oh god how depressing is that

Old Trafford · 08-09-2011 9:21pm

Thanks for your replies!

Delancey · 08-09-2011 10:07pm

Old Trafford wrote: »

Hi all
just out of interest is there many prison officers expected to retire this year in advance of pension cut next year?will all those eligible to retire go or do you think many will stay on regardless?thanks

Old Prison Officers never retire , they just fade away.

cordub · 08-09-2011 10:19pm

Think we will all be in the same boat . Will be staying to pay for the big mortgages that we borrowed not forseeing the huge wage cuts :mad::mad::mad:

Rawhead · 09-09-2011 8:01am

There was a huge intake in 1979/80 and that means that we had a massive amount reaching 30 years at the same time. The big exodus in our job was really last year and early this year, everyone who could go has gone. The ones left have to stay because of financial commitments or such.
I think it was a typically short sighted move by the government which has forced out a lot of experienced officers who could easily have done another 5 or more years.
All that said there is some decrepit old dinosaurs left who will have to be dragged out the gate by a 3 man team, they have become institutionalised just like the old boy in the Shawshank.

On a side note, anyone see "Russia's toughest prisons" on Nat Geo. If you get a chance have a look. I think the black dolphin regime is badly needed here. I can't imagine a Governor here ever saying that it curls your tongue to have to describe the lags as human. It's no fcuking wonder the eastern Europeans and Russians laugh at our set up here.

bitter_lemon · 09-09-2011 3:07pm

i saw that rawhead. thats the job! but our country is too liberal. thats the way it is. sure if you look at a dirtbird crooked nowadays you are in trouble with management.

re mass exodus - the mortality rate is apparently high among officers who retire. i have heard of 3 people in the past week who have retired recently or had a few months left and have cancer. its some kick in the teeth!

Rawhead · 09-09-2011 3:37pm

The Scottish service did a study a few years back and the average life expectancy after retirement was 18 months.

Things have improved in that the hard drinking culture is nearly gone and lads are more inclined to play soccer or go for a run at lunch than go for pints. Weight is still a big problem with a lot of officers as its a very sedentary job and the weight creeps on easily enough. We nearly top the league in most stressful occupations. If you combine all of the above with shift work and management who don't even acknowledge health and fitness it doesn't make for a long and healthy life. I haven't even taken into account the chances of some scrote sticking you with a HIV filled syringe, getting killed in a riot, taken hostage, stabbed or all of the other niceties we face.

It should be every warders ultimate aim to get longer on the pension than they did on the job. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

innercitydub2 · 09-09-2011 4:34pm

Is there a certain number of POs the goverment need to cut as is the case with the Guards before they can begin to recruit again?.

Also whats this talk of bringing in Auxilary officers, would this be chep labour type secuirty for parts of the job that involves standing at the gate into the prison, guarding outskirts of prison etc.

Old Trafford · 09-09-2011 10:19pm

Prison officers have no rights and prisoners have too many,crazy!
I watched a documentary few months ago based on prison in UK,forget its name but PO's have a tough number and that's putting it mildly!

Old Trafford · 09-09-2011 10:20pm

@Innercity,I dont think prison service had to cut a certian number unlike Gardai as you say or Defence Forces for that matter.

Delancey · 15-09-2011 11:01pm

Currently reading the book '' The Governor '' by John Lonergan ( signed copy no less ) , interesting stuff.
Is it accurate ? Anyone here read it ?

cordub · 15-09-2011 11:54pm

Delancey wrote: »

Currently reading the book '' The Governor '' by John Lonergan ( signed copy no less ) , interesting stuff.
Is it accurate ? Anyone here read it ?

Oh yes ST john gives a good account of the poor prisoner , pity he wasnt as sympathetic to the staff that were held hostage by prisoners or staff who were assaulted by the poor prisoner who never stood a chance in life, He is a polititian in the making , His predesessor is now trying to sort out the mess he made ie ignoring the fact that drugs were freely allowed with his knowledge in mountjoy , because in allowing drugs there he kept the prisoner quiet.It makes me laugh when I hear all the joe soaps out there who dont know him as a boss and think hes a great man, He worked mainly as a great PR man for the prison service who now btw wants nothing to do with him !!!I wonder why !!Am curiuos to hear other opinions !!!!

16-09-2011 3:21am

Old Trafford wrote: »

Prison officers have no rights and prisoners have too many,crazy!
I watched a documentary few months ago based on prison in UK,forget its name but PO's have a tough number and that's putting it mildly!

Prisoners don't cost the state a pension for the rest of their lives. . . . . .

16-09-2011 3:23am

for all ye dog lovers out there...a bit of light relief..

MIRMIR82 · 16-09-2011 2:12pm

480905 wrote: »

Prisoners don't cost the state a pension for the rest of their lives. . . . . .

Ya thats true - they only cost 80k for a years sentence - or if maximum security-250K - the PO's costs start at minimum wage.....sounds fair:rolleyes:

cordub · 16-09-2011 3:10pm

MIRMIR82 wrote: »

Ya thats true - they only cost 80k for a years sentence - or if maximum security-250K - the PO's costs start at minimum wage.....sounds fair:rolleyes:

Plus the cost of the damage they do when they wreck their cells and smash tvs etc , not to mention the damage they cause to staff when they assault them and cost huge man hours for them to be replaced while they recover :mad::mad::mad:

bitter_lemon · 19-09-2011 5:04pm

Delancey wrote: »

Currently reading the book '' The Governor '' by John Lonergan ( signed copy no less ) , interesting stuff.
Is it accurate ? Anyone here read it ?

em yeah i read it. cordub has pretty much said everything that i feel. i remember him being on a talk show years back and a victims support group asked him if he was ever the victim of crime. he said his car was broken into once but nothing was robbed :rolleyes:
he has not a clue about reality. he is a soft spoken lump of ****e with no back bone that is not suitable for work on the front line and hence through his contacts he was promoted without little experience of what being a prison officer is like. he loves the lags. he should have stuck to coaching the GAA!
Muppet - leaves a precendent in his wake for others who have no option but to follow through.
delancey - its pure bull****.

maybe read "screwed" by ronnie thompson or "newjack" by ted conver.
don't read "inside man" by philip bray. along the same lines of lonergans poo!

bitter_lemon · 19-09-2011 5:07pm

480905 wrote: »

Prisoners don't cost the state a pension for the rest of their lives. . . . . .

you do realise you are a muppet and have not a clue what you are talking about? prisoners cost the state a fortune! so much so that we suffer to make sure they are happy!

bitter_lemon · 19-09-2011 5:08pm

480905 wrote: »

for all ye dog lovers out there...a bit of light relief..

that dog died 2 days later after that was filmed

Delancey · 19-09-2011 7:13pm

bitter_lemon wrote: »

delancey - its pure bull****.

maybe read "screwed" by ronnie thompson or "newjack" by ted conver.
don't read "inside man" by philip bray. along the same lines of lonergans poo!

You're gonna hate me but the other ' Inside Prison ' book I read was the one by Philip Bray

I'll keep an eye out for the ones you recommend though.

LoanShark · 19-09-2011 8:20pm

I've been reading Lonergans book too. And it did strike me that he seemed to move through the ranks rather quickly... But if all that he has wrote is to be believed,then he didn't have it handy.. Or am I way off the mark??

I know from talking to others they say the joy is a better place now without him..

Rawhead · 19-09-2011 8:36pm

He really should have been done for negligence his governorship of Mountjoy was so bad. He used the same dung speech about deprived areas and society being to blame for all the poor lags hardship. At one stage he actually wanted to divert the canal through the Joy so the lags could have a water feature. During his time in charge 4 murders, 1 hostage taking and numerous riots occurred. He allowed the prison to become awash with drugs and caused morale among the officers to reach new lows.
He was so soft that during the riot last year the lags were shouting "bring back Mr Lonergan, he wouldn't allow us to be treated like this".

bitter_lemon · 19-09-2011 8:48pm

Delancey wrote: »

You're gonna hate me but the other ' Inside Prison ' book I read was the one by Philip Bray

I'll keep an eye out for the ones you recommend though.

lol thats gas!
you must understand though that even when the irish retire there is still a lot of politics involved and they have to paint a certain picture. whether it be involved in pension or medical benefits or basically the face of the media.
the other books are from a english and US perspective. very interesting reading and shows no allegiances to the cause. they go all out but "screwed" annoyed me a small bit because the author was full of bravado. but still i would be interested in what you thought of it and would appreciate feedback. they don't give a damn and say it how it is.
cheers

bitter_lemon · 19-09-2011 8:59pm

Rawhead wrote: »

He really should have been done for negligence his governorship of Mountjoy was so bad. He used the same dung speech about deprived areas and society being to blame for all the poor lags hardship. At one stage he actually wanted to divert the canal through the Joy so the lags could have a water feature. During his time in charge 4 murders, 1 hostage taking and numerous riots occurred. He allowed the prison to become awash with drugs and caused morale among the officers to reach new lows.
He was so soft that during the riot last year the lags were shouting "bring back Mr Lonergan, he wouldn't allow us to be treated like this".

rawhead there is not really any point in talking. he left in his wake the pieces we have to pick up. but the ordinary joe soap agrees with his stance. they have no clue what goes on in there. you have only to look at the dochas centre which was his baby. if the male lags had a brain in their head they should cry inequality and sue the females for living in such luxury.
and yes his reaction to the murder, hostage taking and riots was appalling. and yet he is living off a fat pension. unfortunately its all about public relations and hes a PR man.

Shield · 19-09-2011 10:24pm

bitter_lemon wrote: »

you do realise you are a muppet...

Infracted. No further comment on this post please and thanks.

innercitydub2 · 20-09-2011 5:07pm

bitter_lemon wrote: »

lol thats gas!
you must understand though that even when the irish retire there is still a lot of politics involved and they have to paint a certain picture. whether it be involved in pension or medical benefits or basically the face of the media.
the other books are from a english and US perspective. very interesting reading and shows no allegiances to the cause. they go all out but "screwed" annoyed me a small bit because the author was full of bravado. but still i would be interested in what you thought of it and would appreciate feedback. they don't give a damn and say it how it is.
cheers

same here scrwed was quite honest and pulled no punches, but his bravado and jack the lad was a bit annoying at times, kept getting pictures of a danny dyer type screw walking the landings ha.

Other than that was a good read.

On another note, ive a question for all POs in here that i would very much like feedback on. Ive 2 years left of college to go and have always had a intrest in working as either a Garda, or Prison Officer, Im currently a reserve with the Gardai, but if the chance came up to apply for the prison service id defo go fo it.

Anyways for all the POs could you give us the pros and cons of the job in some bullet points.
Could you also give us a run down on what the hours are like without revealing too much, Is it any better than the guards system of seven work days two off on 10pm to 6am and then 3 weeks of a mix of 6am to 2pm 2pm to 10pm??, Id personoly prefer working a 12 hour system where you get more days on than 2 and back in for seven again. PM me if details cannot be posted public.

Prison Officer

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