It's looking like I will get a job to change some lights at a state prison.

From those of you who have done such work....any pointers?

Leave you wallet at home.

Don't drop any tools.

Sorry... I couldn't resist!

We knew that one was comin' didn't we!!

A.D

If you are unfortunate enough to have dropped a tool think twice before you bend over to pick it up.

Be prepared for a lot of down time (no pun)...check in w/guard, tool count, pass from one gate to next - another guard, and so on...same procedure on way out.

Anything and everything you bring in can be made into a weapon...

John,

Not to worry, i removed my watch while working on a panel, in a correction center, before i left, an officer notified me that an inmate, found the watch, and turned it in, i worry more, working on some construction sites. then in a correction center, just remember staging for the job, may take a lot longer because of access, you will be better able to plan, after your first visit.

Just finished a jail last month. The prisoners are really not a problem. Most of them are guys like you or I who got caught. You might as well go ahead and pick up an assortment of tamperproof bits to go in drill to save some time. I will assume that you will be installing Kenall fixtures. the screws that hold the lens' are long and will strip out very easily. My word of advise is to go ahead and pick up extra hardware because you are going to strip some out. My advise is to start the hardware by hand and finish with the drill.If you are adding new ones be aware of the rough-in dimensions of a 2x2 and a 2x4 as they are not what you would think. Had a problem on my job due to the fact that the framers used the acoustical style ceiling framing which would work for a regular 2x4 or 2x2 rough opening but not Kenall fixtures. They will need to modify the ceilings to accomodate them so expect a huge fuss from them but that is going to be between them and the G.C. Also a heads up that the fixtures need 1/4" rods(4) from the structure above to hold them. These are labor intensive units and I hope that your estimator accounted for them. If you have any questions or would like some tips feel free to email me.

For the Bits and driver this is what i use http://www.megapro.net/products/productline.html

I have worked in many prisons and local detention centers in the last 11 years. Take as few tools as needed into the place. Tool lists and counts take time. Lost time is a major problem with these jobs.When we bid these projects we figure 5 1/2 productive hours out of an 8 hour day The fixtures are heavy and require extreme mounting methods . Getting from one place to another can turn into a real experience. Keep track of every thing; tools, materials , even tape.If I have a lot of items ; drills, lights, tools, ladders etc. I will use a flat cart or two. If you only have 1 escort, making more then 1 trip to get things does not work, AN officer must be with you and the tools / materials at all times. So if you must leave to retrieve something everything must go with you and your escort unless you are lucky to have 2 escorts.( I've never been that lucky )
I bought a set of tamper proof tips on e-bay for $6.00. 33 tips in all - fit every light and screw in the prison. (Type in security tips in the search box at ebay)
The officers do not like to be called Guards, they are correctional officers and like to be referred to as officer.
Prison work is not that bad really. Just remember the inmates are human beings just like you. Some will sense if your nervous and razz you others you will find to be extremely smart !
The company I work for during the week has made a ton of money off the prison system in Maryland. For the last 11 years we always have at least 1 project going at a prison.I spent 1/2 of- 2002 , all of 2003 & 2004 , and 1 /2 of 2005 working between 2 prisons.

You may want to look into working at night when the 'locals' are in lockdown, it makes it easier to get around because the secutity is slightly lax.

"a heads up that the fixtures need 1/4" rods(4) from the structure above to hold them. These are labor intensive units and I hope that your estimator accounted for them."

John,

We encountered all sorts of problems that we were not prepared for, it may pay to contact elektrikguy before your visit, we ran into more then just 1/4" rods, and i would say 4 hours, out of 8 were productive, due to a lot of waiting time.

Yep, I'll second, or third that. A LOT OF WAITING/ DOWN TIME. Every tool must be counted and accounted for. Other than that, I haven't encountered any problems. The staff is usually very cooperative, although sometimes a bit too talkative.

Don't forget the "No Hostage" Policy.

I spent an hour locked in the main electrical room because of not enough escorts.

The women are more vocal with catcalls than the men, and the women like to show off - enough said.

Not trying to get into the politics of it...
But I find it odd that so many have worked in a prison before?

Who said they were working there?

I see rules in US prisons are much tougher than here. I have worked in an Austrian prison for some time and it wasn't that bad. We only got as far as the garage, so we didn'T see much of the inmates.
In the morning we had to hand in an ID or drivers license, got a visitor badge we had to wear visible while inside, dragged in our tools all at once (no tool counts or anything, we just dragged in our tool boxes, bags and buckets of stuff). In theory we'dhave to be accompanied all the time, but in fact we worked alone most of the time.The correction officers are a kind of people on their own...
The company I worked for does all service work for the local prison (which is quite large given Vienna's 1.6 million inhabitants). Small things like changing fluorescents are done by the inmates.

I've been with the federal prison system for 10 yrs. and agree with what everyone else has said. These comments pertain to where I work, and may or may not help you. Each person you have going inside the fence with you, will have to have a N.C.I.C. background check done beforehand. Anyone with a past record will not be going in. Make sure you all have your picture ID with you. Evey tool will be itemized on a tool inventory sheet. If you have tools and tool boxes, they are inventoried and enter/leave through the rear drive in gate. This gate is only open during the dayshift, 7:30 to 3:30. The inmates are not allowed to converse with you, or you with them. If an inmate approaches your work area, the officer should tell the inmate to leave. Our fixtures open with different size torx bits, and some with a #2 security phillips bit with a hole in the center, and some with the security allen with the hole in the center. And as said already, you'll have some that will strip out. I always keep extra screws and cage nuts on hand. We have many different styles of fixtures here. Some are better than others. If you're lucky, you'll have an escort that will have access to the mechanical rooms and breaker panels. Not everyone has access to these areas.

The Florida Corrections system is a little less structured than the feds. Inmates will be doing most of the electrical work. I never saw an electrician who didn't have blue pants with a stripe on the leg.
One piece of advice, if you see a little dissagreement or people acting in some determined way, move toward the gate. I did see a guy get killed in the yard once. Two big guys just sidled up behind him, picked him up and rammed his head into a concrete curb. Everyone just walked away and left him bleeding on the sidewalk. The COs hustled me out the gate before the place got locked down.
Make sure your contract specifies you are on the clock when this happens. I have been stuck in a sally port for an hour or more.

They always took anything pointy away from me when I went in but the inmates were carrying tool belts. ;(

I'm at Coleman Fed. in Sumter County. We have 5 prisons here at our complex. I'm in our new U.S. penn. right now. Since Sept., we've had inmates from Louisiana, that were displaced after the storms. We started shipping them back a couple of weeks ago. Now we're getting some of the bad boys from Atlanta penn. since it's being shut down. I've heard a few war stories from the La. inmates. Some of them were in Angola.