If you can get it then GRAB it. But many child sex offenders will not, because many do not want you to get that priviledge, and also it IS a highly sought after job, so many newbies also do not get it. It is different with every jail, in two jails I was in, every newbie HAD to work there, in the shit jobs, but food preperation is what you want, not cleanup, and that was hard to get for most. Also, food is money, like ciggarrettes, but then everything in there is money, even typing a letter for someone who cannot type. But food is also power, and you have open access to the food, money, and so you will have people coming to you for it if you work there, but be very careful, as it can also land you in trouble if you are caught and once you start it they will NOT let you stop.
ANY skill is money.
If you can type, then you can type letters for those who cannot, and earn favors for that, if you can write a good letter FOR someone, to a loved one for example, then that is also money, and if you can do research for someone else, that is money. I think you get the point. Find your skills and put them to use to buy you respect and protection, as soon as you get the chance. But be careful of cons, I mean con artists, who will trick you, and I do not mean try, they WILL, there is no escaping that. My skills were typing, cleaning, and electronics.