tattoos and CO's

[butcha]

hello, im new to the board, ive done alot of reading. havent found anything on this so i thought id ask. if you have tattoos on your forearms are u atuomatically not going to be selected? or is there long sleeved uniforms one could wear? any help on this topic would be appreciated. corrections is one thing i want to do. or border patrol. also, if you have a friend thats in prison and are on his visiting list, will that jeopardize my chances?

[butcha]

also i live in washington state, any information on how to go about pursuing a career in corrections? i went to the site and they want you to sign up on this wa state career site, is that the only way? what arfe the steps say for someone without internet access?

[Arkansas Red]

hello, im new to the board, ive done alot of reading. havent found anything on this so i thought id ask. if you have tattoos on your forearms are u atuomatically not going to be selected? or is there long sleeved uniforms one could wear? any help on this topic would be appreciated. corrections is one thing i want to do. or border patrol. also, if you have a friend thats in prison and are on his visiting list, will that jeopardize my chances?

Overall tattoos on the arms are not a problem in corrections, but it depends on the institution. They may require you to wear long sleeve year round or they may not. I got one on my arm and I wear short sleeve all the time.

As for the friend in jail. Again it depends on the institution. You need to be very clear and honest with your background investigator and (if you get hired) chain of command. Also, be sure that if anymore friends come into the facility you need to notify the chain of command as well.

Hope that helps.

[robeans]

hello, im new to the board, ive done alot of reading. havent found anything on this so i thought id ask. if you have tattoos on your forearms are u atuomatically not going to be selected? or is there long sleeved uniforms one could wear? any help on this topic would be appreciated. corrections is one thing i want to do. or border patrol. also, if you have a friend thats in prison and are on his visiting list, will that jeopardize my chances?

It doesn't matter. I work with guys with pony tails and tattoos on their necks, so don't worry about it, in Washington that is. You'll get asked about them during the process, just tell the truth and you'll be fine. Now when it comes to other agencies like the Border Patrol, it may or may not be a big deal. Go to www.honorfirst.com and you can find out a ton on BP stuff.

Concerning your friend, it's not a super big deal, but you won't work at the same institution that he is in. When you hire on, you will fill out a form that describes the whole situation, then, especially if it's a close friend and you were a visitor, that inmate will be sent to another prison. But my advice, especially if you ever want to be a gun toting cop or a federali, stop visiting your friend. Background Investigators look closely at whom you associate with, and inmates don't look great.

Good luck

[robeans]

also i live in washington state, any information on how to go about pursuing a career in corrections? i went to the site and they want you to sign up on this wa state career site, is that the only way? what arfe the steps say for someone without internet access?

Depending on where you live, your best bet for information would be to call Amy Estes at (253) 680-2771. She is a DOC recruiter and is very helpful.

As far as applying goes, it's all on the web site. Even us employees have to use that same web site for applying promotions and the such.

If you don't have internet access (which I know you do because your on here) then you go to your local employment office, they have computers you can use.

PS. I'm not going to lie either, spelling and grammar are huge in this line of work, so just double check your work.

Good luck

[DaytonaBeachCO]

I've got numerous tattoos, some visible in uniform and some not. We wear short sleeves year round. We've got some guys with full sleeve tats. Our policy states no neck/face/hand tattoos and forearm tattoos must not be offensive in nature.

[Dawg]

Robeans does the psych test you take up there still take an entire afternoon? I know when I applied @ WSR in Monroe and Clallam Bay I had to take about a 4 hr long test. I had an offer from Monroe but had to pass because the $4000 a year pay raise would have been eaten up by the cost of living. Since the a house rented for $1200 a month in Monroe at the time and I was only paying about $400 a month here.

[RCJailer]

Robeans:
I think that the tattoo policy will vary from agency to agency. I know that DOC has a more relaxed tattoo as well as hair policies. Other county/city agencies may have a different view on this. I had a new officer who wore corn-rows in his hair that appeared very newat and presentable, but was still forced to remove them.
We have officers here in the Pierce County Jail who have visible tattoos and not been forced to cover them. I tend to agree that as long as they are not offensive in any way, they are OK.
The Pierce County Jail's recruiter is Yolanda Barham. She can be contacted at (253)798-4171. We are actively recruiting at this time (monthly testing dates) as we are about 20 officers under-staffed.

[co1669]

Like everybody is saying it depends on the department.NYCDOC has co's all tatted up,arms ,necks,hands,full sleeves and you can wear short sleeve shirts all year round.

[butcha]

awesome information thanks to all of you, as for my friend in jail, hes been in since 2004. ive wrote him maybe 10 times, i actually havent visited him yet. i am just on the list. the ones on my forearms one in a skull, and the one down my forearms says "chicano pride" all the tats i got were all done before i was 18. i would be willing to have them removed or wear long sleeve year round. now do you have to sign up on that career site first for washington state or go in and take the tests first? and where are the test taken, im closer to olympia/shelton, but ill travel anywhere

[PRIME EVIL]

Our department allows some tattoos on the arms but full sleaves must be covered. It all depends on what kind of tattoos also though, needless to say any type of gang tatt would get you disqualified.

[TexasAggieOfc]

I don't know is Wash DOC is any different, but when that windbag, waste of skin Harold Clarke was on the vast, treeless, snow-covered prairie, we did not have a policy that required long sleeves. In fact, one officer had the German, Texas, and Stars & Bars crossed on his forearm, and he only wore long sleeves in the winter.

[Guest]

We had a few sleeved out in our academy class. They were relentlessly picked on by the DI's....but it was all in good fun. It kept the attention off other people! As for last two years, I have seen some good ink on NYS Backbone CO's!!

[robeans]

Robeans does the psych test you take up there still take an entire afternoon? I know when I applied @ WSR in Monroe and Clallam Bay I had to take about a 4 hr long test. I had an offer from Monroe but had to pass because the $4000 a year pay raise would have been eaten up by the cost of living. Since the a house rented for $1200 a month in Monroe at the time and I was only paying about $400 a month here.

The psych test is horrible! Not really, but it is long. I can't remember the name, but it's the generic bubble test "Personality Inventory". My hand cramped up multiple times during that thing.

I heard today that Clallam Bay is having a tough time filling slots, so this maybe your shot. Also, have you looked at Stafford Creek? It's a medium custody and IMU joint, and it's in Aberdeen, which is a pretty nice town from what I saw. Check it out..

Unless your a glutton, stay far away from Monroe. Not only is the cost of living going through the roof, I hear BAD things about the way that place is run. Lot's of mandatory overtime.

[robeans]

I don't know is Wash DOC is any different, but when that windbag, waste of skin Harold Clarke was on the vast, treeless, snow-covered prairie, we did not have a policy that required long sleeves. In fact, one officer had the German, Texas, and Stars & Bars crossed on his forearm, and he only wore long sleeves in the winter.

You know Mr. Clark? He's SUPER!