Supervisors of Correctional Officers

Supervisors of correctional officers oversee and coordinate the activities of correctional officers and jailers. They maintain security and inmate accountability in order to prevent assaults, escapes and disturbances. They ensure the rules and regulations are enforced. Correctional officer supervisors also make sure that correctional officers monitor the inmates' activities and oversee the inmates' work assignments.

Responsibilities

  • Maintain order, discipline and security in assigned areas
  • Enforce institutional policies, procedures, rules and regulations
  • Perform and check periodic inmate counts
  • Oversee correctional officers
  • Instruct employees and provide on-the-job training
  • Respond to emergencies
  • Supervise and perform searches on inmates and their living quarters to locate contraband items
  • Monitor the behavior of subordinates to ensure they are behaving properly
  • Complete administrative paperwork and supervise the preparation and maintenance of reports, records and forms

Job Characteristics

Supervisors of correctional officers usually have to meet standards of physical fitness, hearing and eyesight. Many jurisdictions utilize standard tests in order to determine if candidates are suitable to work in a correctional setting. Good judgement and the ability to think and act quickly are very important for the occupation.

Working in correctional institutions can be stressful and hazardous. Correctional officer supervisors are at risk for injuries. Some correctional facilities are well lit, well ventilated and temperature-controlled, whereas other correctional institutions are hot, noisy and overcrowded.

Employment Outlook

Employment growth for first-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers is projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be 9 percent from 2008 to 2018 which is as fast as the average for all occupations. An increase in demand for correctional officers and correctional officer supervisors will occur due to population growth and rising rates of incarceration.

The median annual earnings for first-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers in 2008 was $57,380. The highest paid 10 percent earned more than $86,970.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Correctional officer supervisors typically receive most of their training on the job. All agencies require correctional officer supervisors to have a high school diploma and some agencies require some college coursework or related work experience. Most correctional officer supervisors began their careers as correctional officers.

Resources

Major Employers

The primary employers are state and local governments in correctional institutions including prisons, youth correctional facilities and prison camps. The Federal government also employs supervisors of correctional officers.

Supervisors Of Correctional Officers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be supervisors of correctional officers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening43.88
Coordination44
Critical Thinking44
Monitoring44.12
Social Perceptiveness43.88

Supervisors Of Correctional Officers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be supervisors of correctional officers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Problem Sensitivity4.254
Deductive Reasoning43.88
Inductive Reasoning43.88
Oral Comprehension44
Oral Expression44

Supervisors Of Correctional Officers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be supervisors of correctional officers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Public Safety and Security4.234.95
Law and Government3.933.9
English Language3.924.05
Administration and Management3.733.9
Psychology3.434.39

Supervisors Of Correctional Officers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being supervisors of correctional officers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.85.28
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.535.06
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.465.44
Getting Information4.434.1
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.415.13

Supervisors Of Correctional Officers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being supervisors of correctional officers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Integrity4.6
Dependability4.59
Self Control4.45
Stress Tolerance4.4
Attention to Detail4.38

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Supervisors Of Correctional Officers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Supervisors Of Correctional Officers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson1,040$63,770
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale960$58,200
Richmond630$53,880
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario620$105,390
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell590$51,800
Baton Rouge580$56,710
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach570$77,830
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade570$111,530
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land530$53,250
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson350$46,750

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Employment
Salary

Total employment and salary for professions similar to supervisors of correctional officers

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Supervisors Of Correctional Officers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.