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

Job Description

Correctional Officers Supervisors directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers. They also maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.

Other tasks include:

• Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
• Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
• Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
• Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
• Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.
• Resolve problems between inmates.

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

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76% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Correctional Officers Supervisors complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports. They conduct roll calls of correctional officers.

A typical day for a Supervisor of Correctional Officer will also include:

• Set up employee work schedules.
• Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public.
• Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
• Instruct employees or provide on-the-job training.
• Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.

We asked some Correctional Officers Supervisors 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?	67% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	70% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	47% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	74% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	65% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Correctional Officers Supervisors also respond to emergencies, such as escapes. They may also convey correctional officers’ or inmates’ complaints to superiors.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Correctional Officers Supervisors Supervise activities such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours. They might also Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings.

In addition, they Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Examine incoming or outgoing mail to ensure conformance with regulations.

To some Correctional Officers Supervisors, it is also their responsibility to Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

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

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to 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..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm

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