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How to Become a Correctional Officer
Correctional officers supervise inmates in state prisons, local jails or federal correctional facilities. Correctional officers help to maintain security in the facilities as well. Read on for more information about how to become a corrections officer. -
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Become a Correctional Officer
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a correctional officer, this video will give you an overview of what you might expect over the course of any given day on the job. Duties highlighted include being able to maintain order -- ensuring the safety and security of the nation's correctional facilities, supervising inmate activities, occasionally breaking up fights, and searching prisoners and their cells for drugs, weapons, and other forbidden items. The video also suggests that correctional officers should have good jusgement, be able to think and act quickly and have a strong character.
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Introduction
- Corrections or detention officers are responsible for providing security for and supervision over inmates in a variety of correctional institutions. A correctional officer's job often involves processing new inmates. Correctional officers must also ensure the safety of others who work at the facility.
Step 1: Decide If It's Right for You
- The job of a correctional officer is a demanding one. Correctional officers often work in maximum-security prisons, guarding criminals who have been convicted of violent crimes. It is the job of the correctional officer to maintain order in these facilities, and to restore order, if necessary. Direct confrontation with criminals is a very real possibility, as correctional officers truly are on the front lines in America's prisons.
- Job demand for correctional officers is on the rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for correctional officers is favorable—employment is expected to increase by 16% through 2016.
Step 2: Before You Apply for a Job
- A high school degree or GED is typically required to work as a correctional officer, though educational requirements may vary between states. Experience in law enforcement or in the military may circumvent the need for a college education in some states.
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires that entry-level correctional officers have either a bachelor's degree, three years of field work, or a combination of the two.
- All correctional officers must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have no felony convictions
- Be in good health
- Many states offer special training courses for correctional officers, including field and classroom work. However, much of a correctional officer's training will come on the job. Entry-level correctional officers often begin their careers under close supervision of a senior officer. In some states, training continues well after a correctional officer is hired.
Step 3: Find a Job
- Once you have made the decision to become a correctional officer and completed any necessary training, it is time to begin your new career. If you have graduated from a correctional officer training academy, you will then be assigned to facilities where you will be most needed. As a correctional officer, you may work in:
- Prisons
- Prison camps
- Youth correctional facilities
- City or county jails
Conclusion
- Correctional officers are responsible for the security of both inmates and prison staff in a variety of correctional facilities. The nature of the job exposes correctional officers to a variety of risks, as they interact with and supervise potentially dangerous criminals. By maintaining order and supervising inmates, correctional officers play a key role in the rehabilitation of the incarcerated population in the U.S.
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