| Are you looking for a challenging career? Do you want | | | | including custody and security procedures, institutional |
| to protect innocent people, work with convicted | | | | regulations and policies, and the constitutional rights of |
| offenders, and oversee suspects who have been | | | | prisoners. |
| placed under arrest? Then you may want to consider | | | | How about advancement? The United States |
| a career as a correctional officer. | | | | corrections system is a significant employer. Every |
| Correctional officers are employed in a variety of | | | | year 12 million people are processed through local jails, |
| institutional settings. Employers include state and | | | | and there are approximately 700,000 offenders held in |
| federal correctional institutions such as prisons, prison | | | | jails at any given time. State and federal prisons house |
| camps, and youth correctional facilities; city and county | | | | 1.5 million offenders. In order to oversee the |
| jails or in other institutions run by local governments; | | | | incarcerated population, about 518,000 corrections |
| and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. | | | | officers including court bailiffs were employed in 2008. |
| Employers may be either government agencies or | | | | Entry-level officers may advance to the position of |
| private companies that run detention facilities under | | | | correctional sergeant, and supervise correctional |
| government contract. | | | | officers. There are additional supervisory and |
| What are the duties of a correctional officer? | | | | administrative positions all the way up to warden. |
| Generally, correctional officers maintain order within the | | | | Related jobs include probation officer, parole officer, |
| institution and enforce rules and regulations. They | | | | and correctional treatment specialist. |
| oversee the activities of inmates and prevent | | | | As in every field, advancement can be competitive |
| disturbances, assaults, and escapes. The job may | | | | and promotion prospects may be enhanced by |
| require hands-on activities such as searching inmates | | | | attending college. |
| and their living quarters, enforcing discipline, and settling | | | | Job growth is expected to be as fast as average. |
| disputes between inmates. Correctional officers escort | | | | According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau |
| inmates during transfers, court appearances, and visits, | | | | of Labor Statistics, during the current decade from |
| and inspect the inmates' cells and mail for prohibited | | | | 2008 through 2018, career opportunities for correctional |
| items. | | | | officers are expected to be favorable. It is anticipated |
| Training is extremely important. Correctional officers | | | | that during this decade over 48,000 new correctional |
| must be well-trained in order to both perform their | | | | jobs will be added. |
| duties and preserve the constitutional rights of inmates. | | | | Training Is Key. Think you have what it takes to |
| The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level | | | | become a correctional officer? A career college may |
| correctional officers to have at least a bachelor's | | | | be a good place to find out, and with the right training |
| degree, while state and local agencies typically require | | | | you might have the competitive edge. But how do you |
| at least a high school diploma or GED. While most | | | | find the right college? Getting started is easy. |
| institutions provide training for new hires, applicants | | | | 1. Log onto a reputable college directory website. |
| who have prior experience or specialized training at a | | | | 2. Enter the search terms that apply to your situation, |
| college may have the edge. | | | | like "criminology" and your home town. Don't forget to |
| The American Correctional Association and the | | | | search for online schools, too. |
| American Jail Association have established guidelines | | | | 3. The website should present you with several |
| for training for correctional officers. Some states have | | | | colleges or career schools that meet your |
| regional training academies, and new federal | | | | requirements. |
| correctional officers must first complete 200 hours of | | | | 4. You can compare colleges and their programs. |
| training and then 120 hours of additional specialized | | | | Contact the ones that interest you and request free |
| training at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons residential | | | | information. You can do all of this online in minutes, and |
| training center at Glynco, Georgia. Correctional work | | | | the service should not cost you a penny or obligate |
| can be stressful and physically dangerous, and people | | | | you do do anything. |
| who work in prisons and jails need to be highly | | | | 5. When you receive more detailed information, apply |
| qualified, not only for their own safety but to provide a | | | | to the schools that best fit your needs. Don't forget to |
| safe environment for the inmates. | | | | ask about financial aid, especially if you are a veteran. |
| Most prison and correctional systems require | | | | 6. That's all! In less time than you think you could be |
| self-defense skills and firearms proficiency. Academy | | | | training for a rewarding career as a corrections officer. |
| trainees receive instruction in a variety of subjects | | | | |