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Correctional Officers and Jailers Occupation Detailed Description

Correctional Officers and Jailers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Correctional Officers and Jailers

The main tasks and work activities of Correctional Officers and Jailers are to guard facilities, apprehend criminal suspects, inspect cargo to identify potential hazards, escort prisoners to courtrooms, prisons, or other facilities. In general, for the Correctional Officers and Jailers, speaking, social Perceptiveness, active Listening, monitoring and other 14 skills are required.
Correctional Officers and Jailers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs. 88.75% of Correctional Officers and Jailers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 9.48% of Correctional Officers and Jailers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
88.75%
Post-Secondary Certificate
9.48%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
1.78%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
-0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Correctional Officers and Jailers

  • Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
  • Search for and recapture escapees.
  • Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
  • Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
  • Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
  • Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
  • Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
  • Settle disputes between inmates.
  • Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
  • Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
  • Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
  • Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
  • Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
  • Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
  • Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
  • Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.
  • Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
  • Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
  • Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
  • Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Guard facilities.
  • Apprehend criminal suspects.
  • Inspect cargo to identify potential hazards.
  • Escort prisoners to courtrooms, prisons, or other facilities.
  • Use weapons or physical force to maintain security.
  • Inspect facilities for cleanliness.
  • Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
  • Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with fire regulations.
  • Discuss performance, complaints, or violations with supervisors.
  • Resolve interpersonal conflicts.
  • Drive vehicles to transport individuals or equipment.
  • Prepare activity or work schedules.
  • Supervise inmate activities.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Investigate crimes committed within organizations.
  • Record information about suspects or criminals.
  • Direct operations of correctional facilities.
  • Count prison inmates or personnel.
  • Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
  • Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.

Skills and Abilities for Correctional Officers and Jailers

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Explosive StrengthThe ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Response OrientationThe ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessoriese.g. Air-supplying respirators
  • Anti cut glovese.g. Cut resistant gloves
  • Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizerse.g. Data collectors
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Handgunse.g. Electroshock weapons
  • Fire extinguisherse.g. Emergency fire extinguishers
  • Fire hoses or nozzlese.g. Emergency fire hoses
  • Riot batonse.g. Expandable batons
  • Fire breathing apparatuse.g. Firefighting respirators
  • Ear plugse.g. Hearing protection plugs
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Flashlighte.g. Law enforcement flashlights
  • Handgunse.g. Law enforcement handguns
  • Military riflese.g. Law enforcement rifles
  • Police or security shotgunse.g. Law enforcement shotguns
  • Extremity restraintse.g. Leg irons
  • Body armoure.g. Lower body armor
  • Handcuffse.g. Metal handcuffs
  • Two way radiose.g. Mobile radios
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.