Correctional Officers Career

Correctional officers are also called detention officers. They are primarily responsible for supervising individuals who are arrested, awaiting trial, convicted of crime, and sentenced to prison, penitentiary, or reformatory. The jail population is not constant as some prisoners are released, transferred to prison, convicted, and new criminals are arrested and enter the system.

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Job Prospect The work of correctional officers in local jail is to admit and process approximately twelve million people a year. A correctional officer who is working in federal and state prisons watch over about 1.5 million offenders. The responsibility of a correctional officer is to keep and maintain security and convict accountability in order to prevent assaults, disturbances, and escapes. Officers do not have law enforcement duties outside the institutions where they perform work. In spite of the setting, correctional officers retain order within the institution and implement rules and regulations. A correctional officer supervise and activities and monitor the work assignments of offenders to ensure that they follow established rules. Sometimes, officers should search convicts and their living quarters for illegal imports such as drugs or weapons, enforce discipline, and settle disputes between inmates. Correctional officers occasionally scrutinize the facilities by assessing cells and other regions of the institution for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, contraband, and any evidence of breaking of rules. Additionally, these officers regularly inspect locks, grillers, window bars, gates, and doors for signs of tampering. Correctional officers examine mails and visitors for strictly prohibited items.

The job of correctional officers is to report orally. They prepare report on inmate conduct and on quantity and quality of work performed by offenders. Officer may report security breaches, violations of rules and regulations, disturbances, and any curious occurrences. Generally, they keep records of inmates' activities. Correctional officers do not show favoritism and ought to report any prisoner who breaks the rules.

When a crime is committed within their institution, they report and help concerned law enforcement authorities and investigate the crime. In prison and jail facilities, correctional officers are well equipped with communication devices in order that they can ask for help when needed. Generally, these officers have to work alone in a cellblock.

The most dangerous offenders are housed in the highest security facilities. The work of correctional officers is to watch over the activities of prisoners from a centralized control center with the help of closed-circuit-television cameras. The highest security facilities are well equipped with advanced computer tracking system with the intention of watching over the inmates' activities.

Work Environment
Sometimes, working in a correctional institution may be hazardous and stressful. Correctional officers may get injured while confrontation with inmates. A correctional officer may work outdoors and indoors. Some of the correctional institutions are specious, ventilated, and temperature controlled whereas others are over crowded, old, noisy, and sometimes hot. However, both prisons and jails may be unsafe places to work.

Generally, a correctional officer work eight hours a day and five days a week. They may need to work on rotating shifts because jail and prison security should be provided uninterrupted. Correctional officers have to serve all hours of the day, weekends, nights, and holidays. Additionally, officers may need to work paid overtime. Correctional officers have to carry out following responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Examine conduct of prisoners as per the established policies, regulations, rules, and procedures to prevent violence and escape
• Supervise conditions of window bars, locks, gates, and doors, at correctional facilities to make sure that they will prevent escapes
• Search cells, prisoners, and vehicles for valuables, weapons, and drugs
• Watch over facility entrance with the intention of screening visitors
• Recapture escapees and scrutinize mail for the presence of illegal imports
• Take prisoners into detention and guide to locations outside and within the facility such as courtroom, visiting room, and airport
• Keep and document information such as prisoner charges, identification, incidence of convict disturbance
• Use handcuffs, weapons, and physical force to maintain order and discipline among inmates
• Conduct safety, sanitation, and fire inspections
• Equip supervisors with written and oral reports of the quantity and quality of work executed by prisoners, unusual occurrences, rule violations, and inmate disturbances
• Settle down disputes and arguments between prisoners
• Drive passenger trucks and vehicles used to transport prisoners to courtrooms, institutions, work sties, and hospitals
• Organize daily schedules for prisoners comprising of work assignments, library visits, counseling appointments, and family visits
• Assign tasks to prisoners and provide instructions as required
• Issue tools, clothing, and other authorized items to prisoners
• Prepare and serve meals and allocate commissary items to prisoners

Educational Qualification
Many employers offer on-the-job training to their employees. These employees are trained in every area of their job. Educational qualification may vary by agency; however, all agencies need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some of the agencies require candidates with college education or an extensive experience in their respective field.

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