The job of a Correctional Officer is to oversee individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial. Oversight will extend to inmates sentenced to time in jail, reformatories, or penitentiaries. The role of the officer is to maintain security and inmate accountability. Preventing disturbances, assaults and escapes make up a large part of the correctional officers duties. Because the officer plays such a valuable part in maintaining order within the institution the job can be stressful and sometimes even hazardous. Enforcing rules and regulations is not always effortless and can become very demanding.
Since it is the primary responsibility of the correctional officer to ensure inmates are orderly and obey rules, it is essential that applicants be in good physical condition and have exceptional interpersonal skills. Officers that are in cellblocks work unarmed with only a radio to call for help in the event that confrontations with inmates become too dangerous. Settling disputes between inmates and enforcing discipline can be complicated, so good communication skills are necessary.
Enforcement of regulations can usually be achieved by the threat or enforcement of progressive sanctions. When an officer has spent enough time with inmates, however, a mutual respect is generally established. Most inmates will respond to warnings to avoid losing privileges. Even though officers may inevitably have more positive exchanges with one inmate as opposed to another, it is never appropriate for a correctional officer to display favoritism. They will be required to report any and all inmates that choose to violate rules. In order to keep track of violations, officers usually keep a daily log and will be required to report those finding to superiors. These logs will consist of inmate activities such as quality and quantity of work done, security breaches, disturbances, violation of rules and any other unusual occurrences.
The officer will also be expected to monitor the activities and supervise the work assignments of inmates. Another priority of the correctional officer would be to carry out various types of searches. As a rule inmate cells are searched for weapons or drugs. These types of items are referred to as “contraband”. The officer will also be expected to conduct periodic inspection of the facilities. This is utilized to identify unsanitary conditions, contraband, fire hazards, and any evidence of infractions of rules. Routine inspection of locks, window bars, grilles, doors and gates are performed to search for signs of tampering. Finally, mail is inspected as well as visitors for the possibility that they may hold prohibited items.
The officer will not have law enforcement responsibility outside of institution they work. The only exception would be in the event they are helping law enforcement to investigate a crime committed within the institution in which they work. Also in the may become necessary to assist law enforcement in the search for an inmate who escaped from the facility that they work.
Jail Populations are always changing. As a result correctional officers frequently process new offenders, releases, and transfers. The most dangerous phase of the incarceration process for correctional officers is when individuals are first arrested and the staff may not yet know if there is a need to place violent inmates in appropriate facilities. Consequently they may be wrongly placed in the general population. Although both jail and prisons are dangerous; prison populations are considered more stable then jail populations. This is mostly due to the fact that correctional officers in prisons already know the security status of the prisoners that they deal with.
The most dangerous inmates are housed in the high security facilities. The activates of inmates in these facilities are monitored from a centralized control center as opposed to having physical contact in the cell block. Depending on the individuals history of violence it may become necessary to use handcuffs and/or leg irons to guarantee safe transfers. This situation only comes into play when inmates are transported to courtrooms, medical facilities, to see visitors and in various other destinations inside and out of the institution.
Because inmates must be monitored around the clock work schedules and job conditions can be unpredictable. Correctional officer may work indoors or outdoors, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week on rotating shifts. Sometimes it becomes necessary to work paid overtime or holidays. Layoffs are rare and officers are entitled to join bargaining units but are not allowed to strike.
