How much is safety an overall concern at the maxi prison? If safety is a major concern I would say the money is more of a moot point.
Also - do you have a wife and or kids in the near future? That stuff takes a lot of time and I wouldn't base your life around that just yet.
I'm sure someone will chime in with more help, but overall I just wanted to thank you for your work as your job can be as dangerous, yet as important as much of the military or police, yet it seems to always be under the radar.
It is a concern, but probably not as much of a concern as an outsider would believe. I am not security, I am with healthcare, my interactions with the inmates are typically pretty brief and while they can be confrontational there is not a ton of face to face time. The officers are at much greater risk. I would classify it as a minor concern.
Of course there is the risk of blood born pathogen exposure but that will be the same at the other facility. This is much more a quality of life discussion to me. Shorter commute, less mandates (I was mandated 3 times in the last two weeks) healthier population of patients, ect.. downfalls being less hours. I know I could survive but my savings rate will be affected until I can get a full time position which could potentially be years.
As for the wife an kids, I expect to get married within the next 2 years (she currently works outside the home and would continue to) and kids in 4-5 years.