Career Profile: Correctional Officer

A correctional officer, or corrections officer, is a representative of law enforcement who is primarily responsible for the custody, supervision, administration and security of prisoners in prison, jail or any similar form of custody. The commanding officer of a military installation usually appoints a correctional officer to ensure the order and safety of the prison facility as well as enforce the rules and policies of the institution. He also supervises the people awaiting trial while in a correctional facility. A corrections officer is also called detention officer, jail guard, prison guard, prison warden, or prison officer.

A person who wants to work as a correctional officer must have a high school diploma or an equivalent graduation degree. New correctional officers are required by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to have at least a bachelor's degree in law enforcement, counselling and psychology or related field, a 3-year full-time experience in assistance, counselling, or supervision to individuals, or a combination of both.

The American Jail Association and the American Correctional Association established guidelines so that Federal, State and local departments of corrections can provide training for both new and experienced correctional officers. Some States also offer regional training academies available to different local agencies. External agencies may provide training or it can be conducted at the facility with a peer-group or supervisor instructor.

New Federal correctional officers must undergo 200 hours of formal training within the first year of employment. Academy trainees generally receive instructions in several subjects, including institutional policies, regulations, and operations, as well as custody and security procedures. The standard correctional officer training in North America usually includes use of force and restraints, firearms proficiency, skills on self-defense, first aid and CPR, writing of reports, submitting evidence in courts, diffusion of hostility and state/criminal law.

An experienced officer supervises the on-the-job training of an office trainee. The on-the-job training usually goes from several weeks to months and covers training on legal restrictions and interpersonal relations. However, on-the-job training varies widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility.

At the end of the formal instruction, correctional officer trainees must complete another 120-hour specialized training within the first 60 days of appointment. This training is held at the residential training center of the US Federal Bureau of Prisons at Glynco, GA.

Experienced officers receive annual in-service training to keep abreast of new developments and procedures. In recent years, many jurisdictions have also expanded the basic training to include gang and suicide awareness, critical incident stress management, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, and crisis or hostage negotiation.

Being a corrections officer is not only physically dangerous but also emotionally stressful. Working with prisoners is very challenging, especially in prisons with large populations of prisoners with life or long term sentences. A good correctional officer should establish clear boundaries and strong relationships with the people under his or her care, maintaining control and discipline without becoming brutal.

Upon completion, you will have the skills you need to become a Parole or Probation officer, or if you're looking for a Management position, your training will qualify you to work as a Corrections Administrator. Incarcerating and rehabilitating criminals is one of America's most important professions, and you can help fulfill this critical need with an online Corrections degreee. After graduating, you will know the history and development of the Criminal Justice System and its effect on society.

The following schools offer criminal justice degrees which can help you gain the skills to become a Correctional Officer:

If you are seeking to begin a career as a corrections officer, explore these online criminal justice degree programs that can get you there and request free no obligation information from any that interest you. We recommend getting information from several colleges so you can compare the programs, costs, time commitments and financial aid options.

• B.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections
• M.S. in Criminal Justice/Corrections

Kaplan University

The Kaplan University Criminal Justice - Corrections programs help further your expertise in the administrative and operational aspects of the U.S. correctional system, both institutional and community based.

American InterContinental University Online

• Criminal Justice - Special Populations (BSCJ)

The concentration in Special Populations focuses on the philosophies and processes of the juvenile justice system; the impact of diversity on the criminal justice system as a whole; and the policies and enforcement of drug-related crimes.

Find out more about your criminal justice degree online.

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