I respect correctional officers -- but wouldn't do their job. They do 20 years inside, just like the prisoners. I think that's one of the reasons (along with low pay, crappy treatment, and little respect) that there seems to be more corruption in the ranks of COs than cops...
A buddy of mine took a hit on vacation time and a reduced hourly rate just to get away from corrections and go to the streets in a different city..2 years later he was promoted to Sgt...