Ahead of the St. Clair County Job Fair, one officer describes what it’s like to work inside St. Clair Correctional

An acquaintance came up to Sgt. Kenneth Robertson recently with a question. At the time, Robertson was shopping, dressed in his uniform, an all-black shirt and pants with the Alabama Department of Corrections (DOC) logo plainly visibly on the shoulders.

“I’d rather join the military than have your job. How do you go there every day?” the person asked him.

Robertson, a 34-year-old St. Clair County resident, said he didn’t have to ponder it. For him, the decision is simple — working as correctional officer in the St. Clair County Correctional Facility is something he wants to do, and he doesn’t see the correlation.

More information at visitstclairedc.com and doc.alabama.gov

“In the military, you don’t have a chance to talk to the people that are confronting you,” Roberston said he replied. “Here, you talk one-on-one. You educate people. You alleviate pressure and you make a difference. After that, I go home, I take a shower and relax.

“It’s easy money.”

As the St. Clair County Commission and the St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC) prepare to host a job fair this week, Robertson explained what new employees might expect starting a career at the facility or with the DOC. But with the reputation St. Clair Correctional has in the state, he said it’s not what many would expect.

Working inside

St. Clair County Correctional sits on a road between Odenville and Springville. It’s exterior, plainly visible to passers-by, is acres of aluminum and brick buildings surrounded by layers of thick fencing. Watchtowers dot the perimeter, just inside the line of thick trees.

Inside, the facility’s more than 1,200 inmates reside in centralized housing units. Surrounding those are additional buildings that contain typical fare like kitchens and visitation areas, but huge sections of the “camp,” as Robertson calls it, are dedicated to education and trade programs.

“These guys work all day long. We have many programs here, everything from automotive, furniture restoration, electrical, plumbing and hobby crafts,” Robertson said. “A person can come into St. Clair, do their time and leave with more education or trade skills than what they came with.”

A workday for a correctional officer begins about 6 a.m., Robertson said. Much of the day is planned along routines and controlled movements every couple hours for inmates. Time between that is spent training, developing bonds with other officers or, sometimes, just watching the clock.

Most of what’s required to do the work then, Robertson said, is not physical. Rather, people who serve as DOC employees must have sharp mental skills. They must be able to talk to each other and to inmates, as they spend sometimes 12-16 hours a day with them.

They must also learn to conquer their own fears.

“The fear of the unknown is what prevents people from taking this job,” Robertson said. “This place has a bad reputation, but despite what the media puts out, it’s not a bad place.”

Earning a reputation

In 2015, St. Clair County Correctional made headlines eight times for incidents at the facility. Most, Robertson admits, could be seen as fear-inducing.

In January, a fight among inmates sent one to the hospital. Four months later, in April, inmates refused to return to their cells and the ensuing fight sent 15 for treatment.

In June a correctional officer was attacked, and later that month 10 inmates were relocated when investigation determined they collaborated to induce violence at the facility.

After that, Robertson said the DOC increased control measures, and things improved. But October saw the beginning of four incidents that seemed to escalate each time.

On Oct. 7, authorized arrested three suspects for attempting to smuggle handguns, ammunition and cellphones into the facility. The DOC swept the prison and found more ammunition inside.

Then, in November, three inmates attacked and stabbed an officer with a makeshift knife. The officer was treated and released. Just days after, an inmate was fatally stabbed in the chest by another inmate.

“There are strict procedures in place to protect everyone who enters this facility,” Robertson said. “Still, I think inside any correctional facility complacency takes place. There are also times, regardless of the measures, prison still going to be prison.”

Currently, 108 of 230 available correctional officer positions are occupied. Besides that, the facility, according to the DOC’s September 2015 Report, is 23 percent over capacity, resulting in a less than optimal officer-to-inmate ration.

Robertson said besides operational changes at the facility which have greatly improved things, the DOC prepares its officers by subjecting them to intense training — 480 hours — before they start, as well as 40 hours of annual training. Training covers firearms and hand-to-hand combat in addition to communication skills.

“It’s a hostile job, and you should be aware of that,” Robertson said. “But no one should fear coming in this place. Fear adds to stress, and stress adds to not doing your job.”

Starting a career

Before coming into law enforcement, Robertson said he felt marginalized in some of his prior positions. He felt like he was just a number. His position in the DOC, though, is a career.

“There’s a camaraderie among people who come here,” he said. “We look out for one another, and all the higher-ups are really concerned about how you’re doing. I don’t know many other jobs where everyone goes so far out of their way make sure everyone’s okay.”

Another reason he’s chosen to stay on this path, he said, were the positive things that take place inside a prison. Besides watching people develop skills and trades, daily interaction connects you with those in the system that work to improve.

“What people don’t see are the positive things happening here. For every bad inmate there are 20 good ones. And most of these guys, when you sit down and talk to them, you find out their backgrounds have been pretty terrible. They’ve been harassed and abused. Their parents sold drugs. No one’s ever taken the time to sit down and talk to them.

“It’s amazing to watch them graduate.”

The St. Clair County Job Fair will take place on Jan. 15 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Ashville City Hall. Participating companies will include DOC, Trinity Meyer Utility Structures of Gadsden, Unipres in Steele, Valmont Coatings in Ashville and Real Alloy from Steele. Health care companies have also signed up, including Noland Health Services and Always There Home Care.

The St. Clair County Commission and the St. Clair County Economic Development Council are hosting the fair through a combined effort, as local leaders said they saw the benefit of filling the positions with county residents as well.

The State of Alabama Career Center will also provide services during the St. Clair County Job Fair. Registration for the event is free. For more information, visitstclairedc.com.

For those interested in starting the process in working for the DOC before the fair, more information is available at doc.alabama.gov or by calling (866) 293-7799.

Correctional Sgt. Kenneth Robertson, a 34-year-old St. Clair County resident, stands in the administration building of the St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville. With multiple violent incidents reported at the site this year, Robertson acknowledges the facility’s negative reputation and that the job has it’s risks. However, he said there’s another side to his job, one that helps him define it as a highly rewarding career.

Friday, Jan. 15

Ashville City Hall

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Participating

• Department of Corrections

• Trinity Meyer Utility Structures (Gadsden)

• Unipres (Steele)

• Valmont Coatings (Ashville)

• Real Alloy (Steele)

• Noland Health Services

• Always There Home Care

Employment at St. Clair Correctional

Requirements

• Minimum age of 19

• High-school diploma or GED

• No felony convictions

• Valid license

• Must pass background check and written and physical tests

Benefits

• Starting salary of $28,500

• BC/BS Medical and Dental Insurance

• Military leave for active-duty

• Hazardous duty pay of $12 / hour

• 13 days paid leave annually

• State retirement

• Advancement opportunities up to Warden 3 ($97,000 salary)