What Do Correctional Officers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Correctional Officers guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions. They also conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.

Other tasks include:

• Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
• Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
• Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
• Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
• Maintain records of prisoners’ identification and charges.
• Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.

We asked Correctional Officers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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55% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Correctional Officers inspect mail for the presence of contraband. They monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.

A typical day for a Correctional Officer and Jailer will also include:

• Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
• Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
• Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
• Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
• Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.

We asked some Correctional Officers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	92% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	79% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	83% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	67% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Correctional Officers also investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates. They may also settle disputes between inmates.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Correctional Officers Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences. They might also Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.

In addition, they Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.

To some Correctional Officers, it is also their responsibility to Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Correctional Officer and Jailer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm

http://www.aca.org/

http://www.bop.gov/

http://www.aja.org/