Correctional Officers And Jailers: Schools and Careers

About Correctional Officers And Jailers

Correctional Officers (also known as Jailers, Detention Officers, Jail Guards, and Prison Guards) are individuals responsible for the oversight, safety, and security of prisoners in a jail, prison, or similar type of secure custodial facility. The prisoners that they oversee are either people who have been arrested, charged with a crime, and are awaiting trial while in custody; or individuals who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time at the facility. Correctional officers are also responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the facility itself. The majority of officers are employed by some level of government; local, state, or Federal. Some, however, are employed by private companies.

The scope of a correctional officer's authority extends within the boundaries of the institution where he or she works. Officers have no law enforcement responsibilities outside these boundaries. If a crime is committed within their institution or if an inmate escapes, however, officers are expected to assist the responsible law enforcement authorities in conducting an investigation or searching for the escapee.

Correctional Officer Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a correctional officer are to maintain order within the institution and to enforce the institution's rules and regulations. In order to carry out these responsibilities, there are several various duties that officers are required to perform. Officers continually monitor the daily activities of inmates and supervise their work assignments. When disputes arise between inmates, officers must resolve them so that discipline is maintained and order is restored. From time to time, officers are required to conduct searches of inmates and of their living quarters, looking for contraband such as weapons or drugs. They also need to conduct periodic inspections of the institution itself, checking cells and other areas of the facility for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and any evidence of rule infractions. Routine inspections are also conducted on locks, window bars, doors, and gates for signs of tampering. In addition, incoming mail and incoming visitors always need to be inspected for prohibited items.

Part of a correctional officer's job is to file reports. Officers are usually required to keep a daily log or record of their activities. In addition, officers need to report orally and in writing on inmate conduct and on the quality and quantity of work done by inmates. Reports also need to be filed whenever there are disturbances, security breaches, rule violations, or any unusual developments.

Officers employed in jails or prison facilities with direct supervision of cell blocks generally work unarmed. They are almost always equipped with communications devices so that help can quickly be summoned when needed. In these types of settings, one or two officers are generally assigned to monitor a cell block containing several dozen inmates. The primary tactics officers utilize to enforce regulations are the implementations of progressive sanctions; for example, removing one or more inmate privileges at a time. To the extent they are able, officers also rely heavily on their interpersonal communication skills in dealing with inmates.

Officers who work in high-security facilities often monitor prisoner activity from a centralized control center containing closed-circuit television cameras and a computerized surveillance system. Contact with inmates in these settings is usually in the form of escort duties, where officers often have to restrain inmates in handcuffs and leg irons to safely lead them to and from their cells and other areas. Generally speaking, prisoners in high-security institutions are allowed to leave their cells only for showers, solitary exercise, or to see visitors. They would normally be escorted outside of the institution only if they needed to appear in court or needed to visit a medical facility.

Some of the other duties a correctional officer might have include the following:

• Screen visitors at entrances to the facility
• Assign duties to inmates and provide instructions as needed
• Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to prisoners
• Drive vehicles to transport inmates to courtrooms, hospitals, work sites, and other institutions
• Provide tactical response for ongoing emergencies (e.g., riot, hostage taking, etc.)

Most correctional officers work 40-hour workweeks, broken down into 8-hour shifts five days a week. Because prison and jail security is needed around the clock, however, the shifts may include evenings or nights, and the workdays may include weekends and holidays. Since many correctional facilities face sporadic or continual officer shortages, paid overtime is a common requirement in this profession.

The daily work environment varies by institution. Some jail and prison facilities are modern, well lit, and air-conditioned; while others are old, hot, overcrowded, and/or noisy. The work itself can be both hazardous and stressful. Inmates often attempt to disrupt the controlled environment that officers strive to achieve, leading to confrontations that result in many injuries to officers on a yearly basis. There is a high degree of burnout in this profession. In addition, there can also be a high level of fatigue and low morale caused by officers being required to put in extra hours.

It takes a special kind of individual to be a good corrections officer. First of all, officers must be in good health. In addition, they need to have good judgment along with an ability to think and act quickly. They are also expected to be able to control their emotions in conditions where many individuals might easily lose emotional control.

Employment Outlook

Based on projections by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL BLS), employment in this field will grow faster than the average growth rate of all occupations through the upcoming decade. General population growth combined with higher incarceration rates will sustain a high demand for correctional officers. Thousands of job openings are expected to be generated each year, fueled not only be high demand but also by difficulty in attracting and keeping qualified candidates for jobs.

There are some factors which could moderate job growth. Some states are reconsidering mandatory sentencing guidelines due to budgetary constraints and other reasons. In addition, the Supreme Court recently issued a ruling which is likely to result in fewer mandatory Federal sentencing guidelines for judges. Although it is unclear how long it will be before these developments have any effect, it is possible that they could cause a long-term slowdown of increases in the prison population and consequently, could cause employment of correctional officers to grow more slowly than expected.

Correctional Officer Schools, Certification, and Licensing

The minimum educational qualification for this profession is a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, for some jobs, the requirement is more stringent. The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have at least a bachelor's degree and/or 3 years of full-time experience in a field providing assistance, counseling, or supervision to individuals. Some corrections agencies at the state and local levels require applicants for jobs to have either some college credits or experience in either the military of in civilian law enforcement.

The lion's share of a correctional officer's training occurs on the job. Most departments of corrections provide some level of formal training for officers based on guidelines established by the American Correctional Association and the American Jail Association. In some states, there are regional training academies that are available to both state and local agencies. Academy trainees generally receive instruction in a number of subjects, including custody and security procedures, regulations, and institutional policies. Formal training is later supplemented by on-the-job training, where officer-trainees typically receive several weeks or months of training in an actual job setting under the supervision of an experienced officer.

At the Federal level, new correctional officers are required to complete 120 hours of specialized training at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons residential training center at Glynco, GA, within 60 days of their appointment. In addition, they must undergo 200 hours of formal training within their first year of employment. Thereafter, all officers receive annual in-service training to keep abreast of new procedures and developments.

Resources for Correctional Officers

• American Correctional Association
• American Jail Association
• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Corrections Connection
• National Association of Female Correctional Officers (NAFCO)

Major Employers of Correctional Officers

Approximately 60% of all correctional officer and jailer jobs are in state correctional facilities. These include state prisons, prison camps, and youth correctional institutions. A much smaller percentage work in Federal correctional institutions or in privately owned prisons. Most others are employed by local governments, working in city and county jails.

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