What Does A Correctional Officer Do?
Correctional or detention officers do not only guard or monitor detainees and prisoners in jails, reformatories and penitentiaries. Along with this hazardous and dangerous job are numerous duties and responsibilities. If you are aspiring to become one, continue on and find out what correctional officers do.
Below is a brief list of what correctional officers do in a day:
- Supervise and train confined inmates in prisons.
- Prevent disputes and riots between inmates.
- Guard gates and check facilities for safety purposes.
- Observe inmates who show good behavior and recommend parole.
- Maintain peaceful rapport with inmates and co-workers.
- Protect and provide security to inmates who are threatened by fellow prisoners.
- Reprimand and control disturbing behaviors through physical and verbal orders.
- Be able to identify potential problems between inmates including personality problems such as: suicidal behaviors and drug abuse.
- Discuss rules and regulations to inmates.
- Maintain open communication with the chain of command regarding security threats, safety conditions and operational obstacles.
- Search and make sure there is no presence of unapproved items inside the detention facility.
- Confiscate contrabands and hazardous materials.
- Conduct and supervise inmates during recreational activities such as: workouts and sports.
- Security checks should be performed for door locks, windows and bars.
- Transport detainees securely to court, hospitals and other places outside the facility.
- Perform routine head counts to ensure complete presence of inmates and coordinate with higher officials regarding the total population.
- Assist new admission or transfer to other correctional.
- Attend and respond immediately to medical and security emergencies.
- Undergo required trainings and continuing education programs.
- Attend meetings and seminars as instructed.
- Monitor persons who enter and leave the facility by checking their nametags and id’s.
- Create incidental and disciplinary reports accordingly in an unbiased manner.
Correctional officers are required to work eight hours per day. However, they follow a rotational schedule which brings a possibility of being assigned in graveyard shifts. There are also high risks of experiencing occupational hazards due to the nature of their work and hostility of inmates. Working conditions might also be stressful sometimes so you must be flexible and dedicated to your job. We hope this article was informative and beneficial for your career plans. Knowing what are the tasks and duties of being a correctional officer would certainly direct you towards the right path to take in reaching your goals.
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