Correctional officers, also known as detention officers, are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or penitentiary.
The jail population changes constantly as some are released, some are convicted and transferred to prison, and new offenders are arrested and enter the system. Correctional officers in local jails admit and process about 12 million people a year, with about 700,000 offenders in jail at any given time. Correctional officers in State and Federal prisons watch over the approximately 1.5 million offenders who are incarcerated there at any given time.
Correctional officers maintain security and inmate accountability to prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes. Officers have no law enforcement responsibilities outside the institution where they work.
Regardless of the setting, correctional officers maintain order within the institution and enforce rules and regulations. To help ensure that inmates are orderly and obey rules, correctional officers monitor the activities and supervise the work assignments of inmates. Sometimes, officers must search inmates and their living quarters for contraband like weapons or drugs, settle disputes between inmates, and enforce discipline. Correctional officers periodically inspect the facilities, checking cells and other areas of the institution for unsanitary conditions, contraband, fire hazards, and any evidence of infractions of rules. In addition, they routinely inspect locks, window bars, grilles, doors, and gates for signs of tampering. Finally, officers inspect mail and visitors for prohibited items.
Correctional officers report orally and in writing on inmate conduct and on the quality and quantity of work done by inmates. Officers also report security breaches, disturbances, violations of rules, and any unusual occurrences. They usually keep a daily log or record of their activities. Correctional officers cannot show favoritism and must report any inmate who violates the rules. If a crime is committed within their institution or an inmate escapes, they help the responsible law enforcement authorities investigate or search for the escapee. In jail and prison facilities with direct supervision of cellblocks, officers work unarmed. They are equipped with communications devices so that they can summon help if necessary. These officers often work in a cellblock alone, or with another officer, among the 50 to 100 inmates who reside there. The officers enforce regulations primarily through their interpersonal communication skills and through the use of progressive sanctions, such as the removal of some privileges.
In the highest security facilities, where the most dangerous inmates are housed, correctional officers often monitor the activities of prisoners from a centralized control center with closed-circuit television cameras and a computer tracking system. In such an environment, the inmates may not see anyone but officers for days or weeks at a time and may leave their cells only for showers, solitary exercise time, or visitors. Depending on the offenders' security classification within the institution, correctional officers may have to restrain inmates in handcuffs and leg irons to safely escort them to and from cells and other areas and to see authorized visitors. Officers also escort prisoners between the institution and courtrooms, medical facilities, and other destinations outside the institution.
Bailiffs, also known as marshals or court officers, are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms. Their duties, which vary by location, include enforcing courtroom rules, assisting judges, guarding juries from outside contact, delivering court documents, and providing general security for courthouses.
Work environment. Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and hazardous. Every year, correctional officers are injured in confrontations with inmates. Correctional officers may work indoors or outdoors. Some correctional institutions are well lighted, temperature controlled, and ventilated, but others are old, overcrowded, hot, and noisy. Although both jails and prisons can be dangerous places to work, prison populations are more stable than jail populations, and correctional officers in prisons know the security and custodial requirements of the prisoners with whom they are dealing.
Correctional officers usually work an 8-hour day, 5 days a week, on rotating shifts. Because prison and jail security must be provided around the clock, officers work all hours of the day and night, weekends, and holidays. In addition, officers may be required to work paid overtime.
| 1. | Take, receive, and check periodic inmate counts. |
| 2. | Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws. |
| 3. | Respond to emergencies such as escapes. |
| 4. | Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations. |
| 5. | Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates. |
| 6. | Restrain, secure, and control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, and other weapons of force as necessary. |
| 7. | Supervise and perform searches of inmates and their quarters to locate contraband items. |
| 8. | Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public. |
| 9. | Complete administrative paperwork, and supervise the preparation and maintenance of records, forms, and reports. |
| 10. | Instruct employees, and provide on-the-job training. |
| 11. | Conduct roll calls of correctional officers. |
| 12. | Supervise activities such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, and institutional tours. |
| 13. | Carry injured offenders or employees to safety, and provide emergency first aid when necessary. |
| 14. | Supervise and provide security for offenders performing tasks such as construction, maintenance, laundry, food service, and other industrial or agricultural operations. |
| 15. | Develop work and security procedures. |
| 16. | Set up employee work schedules. |
| 17. | Resolve problems between inmates. |
| 18. | Read and review offender information to identify issues that require special attention. |
| 19. | Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings. |
| 20. | Transfer and transport offenders on foot, or by driving vehicles such as trailers, vans, and buses. |
| 21. | Examine incoming and outgoing mail to ensure conformance with regulations. |
| 22. | Convey correctional officers' and inmates' complaints to superiors. |
[Back to Top]