What is the remuneration package for a correctional officer?

• The salary for a correctional officer depends on a number of factors such as experience in the industry, geographical location of employment, type of industry etc.
• However it is seen that the pay package for this professional is high considering their contribution and job position in a prison.
• The average median salary for a correctional officer is estimated to be around $47,805 annually.
• The top ten professionals in this profession earn salary up to $43,830 per annum while the lowest ten percentile of the professionals as correctional officer receive an income of $35,105 per annum.
• They are also given bonus amount for their overtime in the work that ranges around $1.14 – $4,983 annually.
• Correctional officers with experience of less than one year in the industry receive salary ranging around $19,923 – $48,322 annually while on the other hand professionals with experience of one to five years in the industry earn salary ranging around 22,994 – $45,677 per annum.
• Salary varies with industry too.
• It is seen that correctional officers who are employed in the industry of Prison Correctional facilities receive an income ranging around $24,276 – $60,507 for a year.
• The same professionals employed in the industry of Law Enforcement earn salary ranging around $25,629 – $66,657 per annum and the industry of Security gives its correctional officer an amount ranging around $20,121 – $279,774 as salary for a year.
• Professionals who are employed in the state of Florida earn salary ranging around $23,186 – $44,330 per annum as correctional officers compared to the state of Texas that pays its correctional officers a salary ranging around $23,404 – $45,652 annually.
• Apart from the traditional salaries, these professionals are also given incentives such as said sick leaves, health and life insurance policies etc. as part of his employment in an organization.

What is the certification and licensure required for the post of a correctional officer?

• There is no formal certification or licensure given to a correctional officer.
• However, if applicants for this post obtain certifications from the American Correctional Association it would prove beneficial as it gives an edge over the others.
• This certification is given after passing an examination that measures your knowledge about this field.
• Apart from the certification, if the candidates successfully complete their college education combined with on-the-job training sessions it would prove sufficient.
• It is mandatory that all applicants who are applying for the post of a correctional officer clear the physical examination that tests the physical abilities of an individual.
• This physical fitness examination plays a crucial part for being trained in the profession as it shapes the candidates about equipment handling.

An overview of the job of a Correctional Officer:

Correctional officers are professionals who are employed inside prisons at federal, state and local prisons to secure and monitor the inmates in the prison and also the operations of the juvenile detention centers. These professionals are also referred to as detention officers as they may be employed to private detention centers also. It forms the responsibility of this professional to counsel groups and individuals about the prison rules by lending an ear to listen to their needs and complaints. Correctional officers are in-charge of overseeing the needs of the people waiting for trial combined with those who have been sentenced for crime.

The essential duty of a correctional officer is to keep the prison secure without any malpractice being taken place inside the jail. This professional must catch hold of inmates and make them accountable for their actions so as to reduce prison disturbances, assaults and escapes. A correctional officer does not possess any kind of authority outside the jail or prison. These professionals are hired by wardens in order to help them enforce the regulations and procedures of the institution. They are further involved in maintaining all the facilities in the prison by monitoring the work assignments and activities of the inmates.

Correctional officers are given the task to escort inmates around the boundary lines of the prison by making them to do community jobs that are ordered by the court trips. They are also involved in bringing back criminals who escaped from the prison and also those who have violation charges on them. They keep an eye over the people who have been arrested and waiting for a stand in a trail. These professionals are trained for using handcuffs, guns and other equipment. Correctional officers may also be involved in the stages of law enforcing possessing an upper hand but they do not hold and power outside the premises of the prison where they are employed. This professional must report their daily routine activities to the Head of the Prisons. In short, they are held responsible to stop disputes, fights and scuffles that place in the prison among the inmates. They are empowered with the degree in criminal justice and their remuneration package is high with wide employment opportunities. The employment outlook for this profession is very bright upto year 2014 as the existing positions are expected to expand with the growing number of houses for prisoners.

What skills does a correctional officer need?

Apart from the educational requirements these professionals require a certain set of skills and abilities which would help them to perform the tasks given to them as part of their job role in the prison.

If a candidate can develop these skills and abilities they can excel in the profession thus, allowing them to rise to higher positions.

Following are some of the skills required for a correctional officer:

Skill Set:

• Excellent written and oral skills: One of the essential skills for a correctional officer is to have excellent amount and also written skills as these professionals are given the responsibility to prepare detailed reports about the actions and events that take place inside the person.
• Knowledge of Jurisdiction Policies: A correctional officer must have knowledge about the laws, procedures and regulations of the jurisdiction of his area which would help him to prepare rules for the prison and he will also know his constraints of his job. A correctional officer must be updated with the latest rules of the jurisdiction that would help him know his job duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to manage Stress: This professional must have the ability to confront high amount of stress which can go overwhelming at times. He needs to have the skill to stay emotionally stable so as to maintain his authoritative position with the inmates. If the inmates see the officer vulnerable to stress they look at it as his weakness and can target him and try to escape from the prison. Thus, this professional must have the ability to work with high amount of stress from the higher authorities at any given time.
• Knowledge of First-Aid methods: A correctional officer must be quick to situations and must have the skill to help out in providing first-aid facilities inside a prison. He must be ready and quick while acting to any kind of emergency situations with the inmates.
• Other Skills Includes:
• Ability to work in a team possessing leadership skills.
• The professional must have clarity which means he must be clearly understood by others.
• Must have the ability to clearly explain the rules and regulations of the prison.
• Must have reasonable amount of law enforcement skills.
• Must be attentive to all the needs of the inmates.

How to be trained as a correctional officer?

A post of a correctional officer requires a certain set of educational qualifications which would help the professional to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to him as part of his job role in the organization.

There are criteria’s that have to be met in order to become a correctional officer so as to be appointed by any prison house.

Following are the educational requirements of a correctional officer:

Educational Requirements:

• The minimum qualification for a correctional officer is to obtain a high school diploma or a GED.
• High school course for a correctional officer must include communications and government studies which would help them to ground basic knowledge about this field.
• Certain colleges also offer a two-year associate degree in field of correctional science which proves helpful to gain entrance to the entry-level positions of this field.
• An associate degree includes subjects such as administration of justice, the court system, sociology, psychology and also classes on delinquency and crime.
• However, the Federal Bureau of Prisons prefers candidates with a three-year bachelor’s degree in related fields such as law, psychology, sociology etc.
• Apart from the educational requirements, applicants who apply for this post must be atleast eighteen years of age and they should not have convicted any crime.
• However, the age requirements may vary according to the state.
• Students must undergo rigorous training after their completion of college education in order to be selected for the post of a correctional officer.
• The training periods for this professional may vary depending on the size of a prison.
• Training sessions may be conducted in the department of correction which is the academy itself or in a prison.
• Training teaches the students about the terminology, principles, rules and practices of the modern correctional operations.
• They also educate them in handling guns and other personal defense equipments.
• A number of prisons emphasize that correctional officers know how to operate a rifle.
• A training session gives thorough education about the position of a correctional officer counseling them about the new regulations according to the U.S Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• After the training session is completed, the candidate has to pass an examination that tests their physical abilities.
• Only after passing this exam, they are eligible for the post of a correctional officer.
• They may also take up job while at college with law enforcement agencies or military training.
• These part-time jobs prove useful for the role of a correctional officer as it grooms the individual by giving a better understanding of the profession.
• Prior experience gives an edge over the other candidates applying for this position.
• Experience enables the applicants to obtain enhanced supervision skills that enable them to tackle any major problem in the prison.

What does a correctional officer do?

The duties and responsibilities handed to a correctional officer are wide spread and this professional is vested with some innumerable number of administrative as well as supervision work to perform.

The duties and responsibilities of correctional officer remains the same in every prison house be it for criminal or civil cases.

Following are the basic duties and responsibilities given to a correctional officer:

Duties:

• The main duty of a correctional officer is to supervise the activities of the inmates whether they are in the dining rooms, activity centers of in their respective cells.
• They should also monitor the inmates when they have their personal visitors watching closely for any unusual behavior or improper code of conduct.
• It is the duty of a correctional officer to monitor and ensure the health conditions if the prisoners by keeping the atmosphere clean and germ-free.
• They are involved in preparing rules and regulations for the prison and also to see that the prisoners follow these rules and procedures while their stay in the prison.
• It forms the duty of a correctional officer to write narrative reports that describe the events that happen inside the prison like, incidental reports, special field observational reports, disciplinary reports of the inmates etc.
• And all these reports must be kept confidential by the correctional officer.
• It is the duty of a correctional officer to supervise the schedule for recreational activities and conduct security checks of bars, windows, locks, doors etc at frequent intervals.

Responsibilities:

• A correctional officer is responsible for searching the visiting areas, living cells, recreational areas and other building grounds for unapproved items.
• They are responsible for maintaining complete control and security inside the prison and also for the safety of the prisoners in the jail.
• It is the responsibility of a correctional officer to conduct head counts in order to ensure the presence of all the members of the inmates and to check their identity cards to make sure that the authorized prisoner is present.
• They are responsible for processing admissions of new prisoners into the jail by transferring the old prisoners to other places.
• They are responsible for participating in the required training programs which would help the professional to guide the inmates with their activities.
• Correctional officer are responsible for reading the procedures and policies manuals, memos, and directives of the jail in order to educate the inmates about the restrictions imposed on them.