Pros
Great retirement plan if you can vest, decent (but expensive) health care, job security once you're covered under civil service, decent pay
Cons
The inmates have more freedom and get more respect than the officers. Inmates, the public, and many coworkers are openly hostile. Morale is horrible, turnover is high.Terrible work conditions and bad supervision have driven out a lot of people. Dangerously understaffed. The "good ole boy" system is very much in evidence. Decisions are reactive, not proactive. Employee concerns are frequently disregarded. Some supervisors have never worked the department they're supposed to be in charge of. Decisions that come down the line attest to the fact that the people in charge are completely out of touch with what the average officer really deals with. Recent changes "at the top" have thus far created more problems than they've solved.