So, you're in the slammer and you need a way to pay for bingo night and
toiletries. I've been there before. It's tough sitting behind bars and not having
an income to pay for the things you want and need. As your bail bonding agent has
explained, every state, county and city
jail provide several opportunities to work while you're in jail. There are so
many different positions within a jail it can be downright overwhelming to fit
the perfect fit for your skill set. As a
three time convicted felon turned bail bonding agent, I know the ins and outs
of interviewing for a jail jobs and how to find the right job for you. In my three part series, Behind Bars, I'll
give you the insider knowledge to get that
dream job behind bars.
Dress to Impress
In jail, you'll be given a jumpsuit to be worn at all times. However, what jail deputies won't tell you
is you can change into a suit and tie
when interviewing for various positions through the prison. Your bail bondsman should be able to secure a
nice suit and shoes the next time he or she visits. Once you have the suit, keep it nicely
pressed and ready to be worn at all times.
You never know when a position in the kitchen, salon or library is going
to work out. If possible, your bail
agent will print out daily jail job listings and provide you with a copy by
breakfast. This will help you submit
your resume and appy for the job before anyone else. While most inmates will wear a jumpsuit to
the interview, your bail bondsman provided suit will set you apart from the
other candidates.
In House Bail Bondsman
This is perhaps one of the best and highest paid positions in the
jail. As an in house bail bonding agent,
you will work directly with inmates on the daily basis, helping them get out of
jail. You also have access to a petty
cash drawer to help inmates post their bond.
However, it should be noted if you're charged with theft or embezzlement
you can not apply to be an in-house bail bonding agent. To become a bail bondsman, you'll need to
study extensively the best practices and principals of the profession. Study materials can be checked out in the
main jail library. This job pay between
$1.50- 3.00 /hr.
Kitchen Crew
Do you love food? Yep. I thought so.
Who doesn't love a juicy steak and baked potato? If you're as passionate
about food as I am, then you will fit right in as a member of the jail kitchen
crew. This is such an incredible opportunity, perhaps more than a bail bondman,
that these positions rarely become available.
If a kitchen position is open, you will be required to complete a three
part exam and a hands on kitchen recipe demonstration. The judges of your dish include a bail
bonding agent, the jail superintendent and a corrections officer. If you make
it to the kitchen test, you want to go bold.
We're talking spicy tex mex or thai food. I'm sure you've noticed by now, jail food is
a bit on the bland side. If you want to
make the kitchen crew cut, you're going to need to be innovative with your
dishes. You'll also need to pass a
kitchen budget questionnaire. With state
budget cuts across the board, you're going to need to know how to turn a can of
cream of mushroom into a masterpiece.
Library Duty with a Bail Bondsman
Another highly coveted job is the lead jail librarian. As a librarian, you will work along side the
in-house bail bonding agent. Plus,
you'll have access to an incredible wealth of information. All those hours surrounded by books and
you'll be able to go to law school once you get out of the slammer. Inmate's who land a lead librarian job, often
go onto to change the world. While this job doesn't pay nearly as much as an
in-house bail bonding agent, the experience is truly priceless.
It's clear you have several options when it comes to finding the perfect
jail job. The skills and experience you
gain behind bars will better help you adjust to the real world once you are
released. Good luck and please email
with any other jail job suggestions!
