Correctional Officers and Correctional Probation Officers

Probably the most misunderstood, yet essential, part of the Florida DC is its Correctional Officers (CO's) and Correctional Probation Officers (CPO's). Judging from the following responses, the public does not know that probation officers collect victim's restitution fees from their charges; and that CO's are not armed inside the prison. They also make less money than expected.

When asked for one or two words to describe CO's to help determine the public's image of them, the answers from each of the three groups were mostly positive and surprisingly similar. The top five responses from the general public were tough, brave, underpaid, dedicated, and strong. The top five responses from the news media respondents were remarkably similar: tough, brave, dedicated, stressed and underpaid. The top five responses from DC staff were dedicated, professional, underpaid, brave and hardworking.

Description of Correctional Officers

What two words would you use to describe the typical correctional officer? (Media respondents were only asked to list one word.) (The top 20 most frequent responses by the general public are listed.)
General Public's Descriptions of COs	Number	Percent
1. Tough	53	10.8%
2. Brave	47	9.6%
3. Underpaid	36	7.3%
4. Dedicated	31	6.3%
5. Strong	30	6.1%
6. Mean	17	3.5%
7. Big	16	3.3%
8. Honest	15	3.1%
9. Patient	13	2.7%
10. Fair	12	2.4%
11. Good	12	2.4%
12. Hardworking	12	2.4%
13. Overworked	12	2.4%
14. Crazy	11	2.2%
15. Courageous	10	2.0%
16. Hard	10	2.0%
17. Under-Trained	10	2.0%
18. Lazy	9	1.8%
19. Stern	9	1.8%
20. Guard	8	1.6%
News Media's Descriptions of COs	Number	Percent
1. Tough	22	8.6%
2. Brave	19	7.5%
3. Dedicated	15	5.9%
4. Stressed	13	5.1%
5. Underpaid	12	4.7%
6. Undereducated	11	4.3%
7. Guard	8	3.1%
8-10. (tied) Crazy, Employed, Frustrated	5	2.0%
DC Staff Descriptions of COs	Number	Percent
1. Dedicated	93	15.5%
2. Professional	75	12.5%
3. Underpaid	45	7.5%
4. Brave	33	5.5%
5. Hardworking	22	3.7%
6. Overworked	16	2.7%
7. Stressed	12	2.0%
8. Good	11	1.8%
9-10. (tied) Courageous, Fair, Security	10	1.7%

Do you think Correctional Officers (prison guards) who work inside the prisons are armed?
Are Correctional Officers Armed?	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Yes	530	68.0%	173	50.7%	34	7.5%
No	249	32.0%	168	49.3%	422	92.5%
Total Cases	779	100.0%	341	100.0%	456*	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 223/25/243 * Correctional officer/security staff was not asked this question.

Most general public and news media respondents (68.0%/50.7%) are incorrect in believing Correctional Officers who work inside the prisons are armed. Most DC staff (92.5%) are aware that COs are unarmed in prison. In fact, they do not carry weapons of any kind on the prison grounds for fear they will fall into the hands of inmates. All staff, including teachers, volunteers, prison industry workers, chaplains, medical personnel and administrative staff is unarmed. Correctional Officers are armed with 431 hours of certification training and common sense, but no weapons. Even pocketknives must be left at the gate before entering the prison. Officers in the perimeter towers are armed with various guns, but they are not located inside the prison grounds. Some officers carry walkie-talkies and all have access to phones on the compound. Should a disturbance erupt, officers do have access to weapons, including guns, pepper spray and electronic resistance devices (ERDs) and they have been trained in the use of these weapons and devices.

Do you think that an entry-level police officer and a typical entry-level Corrections Officer (prison guard) should make the same salary, or do you think one should make more than the other?
COs and Police Make Same Salary?	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Make Same Salary	419	53.8%	190	58.3%	487	73.5%
One Make More Salary	360	46.2%	136	41.7%	176	26.5%
Total Cases	779	100.0%	326	100.0%	663	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 223/40/36

Most respondents (53.8%/58.3%), especially DC staff, which included correctional officer staff, (73.5%) think entry-level CO's and police officers should make the same amount of money. More women (55%) than men (45%) in the general public survey expressed this belief. The starting salary of a Florida Correctional Officer was $18,923 as of January 1, 1997. According to statistics from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training, the average entry-level police officer made $22,995 in 1996, (the most recent figures available) or about $4,072 more than the average entry-level Correctional Officer.

Which one should make more?
COs or Police Make Higher Salary?	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Police Officer	295	83.6%	120	88.2%	106	60.6%
Correctional Officer	58	16.4%	16	11.8%	69	30.4%
Total Cases	353	100.0%	136	100.0%	175	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 649/230/524

Of those respondents who think entry-level CO's and police officers should make different salaries (46.2%/41.7%/26.5%), most (83.6%/88.2%/60.6%) thought police officers should make more money than Correctional Officers.

Police Officers should make more because…
Why Police Should be Paid More	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
More Dangerous	203	69.3%	70	58.8%	66	63.5%
More Responsibility	34	11.4%	10	8.4%	8	7.7%
Other/Specify	19	6.5%	3	2.5%	4	3.8%
Out in Public	16	5.4%	12	10.1%	15	14.4%
Police Train More	10	3.4%	17	14.3%	6	5.8%
Need More Skills	5	1.6%	4	3.4%	3	2.9%
Training Cost More	5	1.5%	2	1.7%	1	1.0%
More Decisions	2	0.8%	1	0.8%	1	1.0%
Total Cases	294	100.0%	119	100.0%	104	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 708/247/595

Of those who said police should make a higher salary, the majority (69.3%) of the general public, the press (58.8%) and staff (63.5%) said it was because police have a more dangerous job than Correctional Officers.

Correctional Officers should make more because…
Why COs Should be Paid More	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
More Dangerous	30	52.5%	9	56.3%	39	56.5%
Other/Specify	17	29.0%	3	18.8%	6	8.7%
More Responsibility	6	11.2%	2	12.5%	8	11.6%
Need More Experience	3	6.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Work in Confined Area	0	0.0%	2	12.5%	14	20.3%
Too Many to Watch	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	2	0.0%
Total Cases	56	100.0%	16	100.0%	69	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 946/350/630

Of the few general public and media respondents who said CO's should make more money, most also attributed it to the dangerous nature of the job (52.5%/56.3%). Some respondents said CO's should be paid more because the stress level is higher and it is difficult working with inmates all day. Less than 10.0% (69) of DC staff said Correctional Officers should be paid more than police officers.

Correctional Probation Officers

There is some question as to whether respondents even understood that Correctional Probation Officers (CPO's) are employees of the Florida Department of Corrections. What is clear is that these respondents were not aware of the fee-collecting duties associated with being a CPO. CPO's and CPO supervisors, etc., were not asked the following three questions.

INTERVIEWER - we are interested in finding out whether people know that probation officers collect money from people on probation to pay certain costs and restitution.
Now I'm going to ask you a few questions about Correctional Officers who work in the state Probation Program. Do you think that the typical PROBATION officer's duties include collecting court costs and fines?
Probation Officers Collect Costs	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Yes	201	30.8%	101	33.3%	233	49.4%
No	452	69.2%	202	66.7%	239	50.6%
Total Cases	653	100.0%	303	100.0%	472*	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 349/63/277 * Correctional Probation Officers were not asked this question.

Most general public and media respondents (69.2%/66.7%) are unaware that one aspect of a Correctional Probation Officer's job is to collect court fines and costs from the individual he or she is supervising on some form of Community Supervision: (probation, electronic monitoring, etc.) Only half of all DC staff is aware of this part of a CPO's job. In FY 1996-97, CPO's collected more than $11.1 million in court fines and costs from offenders on community supervision.

How about collecting the costs of probation supervising from the individual on probation?
Collect Costs From Probationer	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Yes	324	51.5%	152	52.4%	322	67.1%
No	305	48.5%	138	47.6%	158	32.9%
Total Cases	629	100.0%	290	100.0%	480*	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 373/76/219 * Correctional Probation Officers were not asked this question.

Slightly more than half (51.5%/52.4%) of the general public and media respondents know that Correctional Probation Officers collect the cost of supervision fees from the individuals whom they supervise. Two thirds (67.1%) of DC staff know this. In FY 1996-97, CPO's collected more than $22.4 million in cost of supervision fees from offenders on community supervision.

How about collecting victim restitution?
Collect Victim Restitution	General Public		News Media		DC Staff
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Yes	245	38.6%	88	30.3%	295	61.2%
No	389	61.4%	202	69.7%	187	38.8%
Total Cases	634	100.0%	290	100.0%	482*	100.0%
Cases Not Applicable = 368/76/217 * Correctional Probation Officers were not asked this question.

Most (61.4%) general public respondents do not know that CPO's collect victim restitution from offenders on supervision, while even fewer reporters are aware of that fact (69.7%). Most DC staff (61.2%) is also not aware of this role for CPO's. In FY1996-97, CPO's collected more than $25.1 million for victims of crime in Florida.