Ernest Mendoza is a retired Correctional Sergeant with the California Department of Corrections. He started as a Correctional Officer at Calipatria State Prison (Imperial County) in 1997 and promoted to Correctional Sergeant in 2006 at Richard J Donovan State Prison (San Diego County). He medically retired as a Correctional Sergeant in 2014 due to injuries sustained on duty.

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0:14 In search of SomeViet conversation guests 0:22 Ernest Mendoza introduction 8:39 Career Regrets? 10:31 Advice before deciding to become a correctional officer 15:59 Application process for correctional officer 18:30 Regrets specifically to the career path inside the institution 19:40 1-2 years prior to first day as prison guard 21:39 Why did you become a prison guard 28:39 First day as a prison guard 32:50 Was the training enough? 34:48 First time in over your head 36:47 Violent is a way of life 39:10 Basic level of respect; you reap what you sow 43:43 Prison riots - how often and why 49:30 Smaller incidents amongst inmates 50:14 Drugs & inmates 55:32 Racial issues 1:00:27 Toughest moments as a prison guard 1:07:03 Prison guards and inmates both can't back down 1:09:41 Worse stories 1:14:33 Appreciating the uneventful days 1:15:45 What type of person should or should not become a prison guard 1:21:09 Are female guards at more risk? 1:22:55 Molesters and "R" suffix inmates 1:29:43 Jeffery Epstein and wealthy treatment 1:36:23 Preventing getting shanked and raped 1:38:42 Sagging pants, then and now 1:41:33 Drug legalization, regulation and recidivism  1:47:33 Cannabis legalization and inmate incarceration 1:48:04 Inmates doing good to get out early; percent of life sentences? 1:54:52 State prisons vs prisons for profit 1:55:32 Hi to Emmett 1:55:48 Losing a cousin to covid; having skin in the game 2:08:07 Trinh: what about mental illness 2:11:47 Dealing with negative side affects of the job 2:15:10 Renee: is there true rehabilitation?  2:21:27 Emmett: Inmates and weight training for yokeness 2:22:26 Quan: Hollywood portrayal 2:26:48 Nhung: What prisoner jobs are there? 2:28:15 Prisons holding tanks mentally ill, chronically homeless and poor? 2:31:06 How do you feel about recidivism rate? 2:33:53 How to help inmates prevent reincarceration? 2:35:07 Mental healthcare to help inmates? 2:36:59 Habits that greatly impact life? 2:38:42 Favorite Vietnamese dish? 2:39:31 Cryptocurrency 2:39:50 Biggest national/global problem for humans 2:42:02 Emmett: If I'm in jail, do I have to join a race gang? 2:42:37 Closing thoughts - part 2 will be more detailed and/or graphic