Correctional / Detention Officer
Quick Facts
Median Salary$58,116
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+12.47%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Correctional Officer, Detention Officer, or Jailer supervises people being held in correctional facilities, including those awaiting trial, in detention, and inmates who are serving sentences. Maintains order and security within a jail or prison, conducts inspections and searches, enforces regulations, and supervises activities and visits.
Core Tasks:
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- 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.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
- Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
- Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
- Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
- Participate in required job training.
- 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.
- Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
- Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
- Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
- Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
- Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
- Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
What to expect as a Correctional / Detention Officer
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
67% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Correctional / Detention Officer related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
1348 openings for Correctional / Detention Officers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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