pabloesqobar –
Perhaps CA prisons are different. But what you describe is NOT what happens in the prison my family member worked in.

And he quit 2 years from his pension because of the stress… and basically had a nervous breakdown. He’s working at a private prison now… but it’s not the cushy job you describe. At least not in AZ where he works.

I’ve had long talks with him when he was working with the state, when he was trying to figure out his next step (mid breakdown) and saw him recently.

As mentioned – the turnover is high. And part of the reason for that is that dealing with inmates on a day in day out basis is stressful. You can describe it as sitting behind a computer all day – but that’s not the description I got from my family member.