Washington State Department of Corrections

"Keep your eyes open! and your mouth closed! Be aware of the culture clash that often exists between custody staff and nursing staff. Stick to your guns when you know you are right, but do so carefully, and with a smile!"

"You will not have any say about when you work and where. When you first start you are on-call. The selection process for getting a probationary postion is a popularity contest. Men seriously out number women. This is good and bad. If you are serious about the job and push through a few years of being pushed around by management you can make a decent career of it. Because there are less women you are more likely to be pushed and selected for advancment opportunities. Rumor spreading is rampant. It is the nature of this place. I think it would be the same no matter what correctional facility you work for. I've been here for 6 years and am in school. Defiantly would not make this a place to retire from."