Learn How to Become a Correctional Officer
Read about your training and career options.
Career Overview
Correctional officers oversee individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in prison.
They maintain security and ensure inmate accountability to prevent disturbances, assaults or escapes. They also provide reports on inmate conduct and on the quality and quantity of work done by inmates. Correctional officers periodically inspect the facilities, checking cells and other areas of the institution for unsanitary conditions, contraband, fire hazards, and any evidence of infractions of rules.
In addition, they routinely inspect locks, window bars, doors and gates for signs of tampering. Officers also report security breaches, disturbances, violations of rules, and any unusual occurrences. They normally keep a daily log or record of their activities.
Where You'll Work
Most correctional officers work in the following locales:
- Local, state and federal jails and prisons, watching over the incarcerated offenders
- A relatively small number oversee individuals being held by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service before they are released or deported
- Correctional institutions that are run by private for-profit organizations
Prerequisites to Become a Correctional Officer
To be a correctional officer, you'll need to meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen over 18 years old
- Not be a convicted felon
- Have a GED or high school diploma
- Pass several competitive written and physical examinations
These are minimum requirements. Specific entry requirements and on-the-job training vary widely from state to state and agency to agency.
Correctional Officer Training
All states and local correctional agencies provide formal instruction and on-the-job training. However, earning your bachelor's degree, especially in a criminal justice-related field, will increase your chances of promotion.
Academy trainees generally receive instruction on a number of subjects:
- Institutional policies
- Regulations
- Operations
- Custody and security procedures
As a condition of employment, new federal correctional officers must undergo 200 hours of formal training within the first year of employment. They also must complete 120 hours of specialized training at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons residential training center at Glynco, Georgia within the first 60 days after appointment.
Corrections Officer Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary of corrections officers was $39,040 in 2010, but the highest 10 percent earned more than $67,250. The average annual wage in the public sector was $52,140 in the federal government, $43,680 in state government, and $41,730 in local government.
The states with the highest salaries for correctional officers were the following:
- New Jersey – $66,590
- California – $65,500
- New York – $56,480
- Nevada – $55,760
- Illinois – $51,700
Legal and Criminal Justice Specialties At a Glance
Learn about the careers below to see which one suits you best.
- Paralegal
- Legal Secretary
- Law Office Manager
- Mediator
- Court Reporter
- Legal Nurse
- Police Officer
- Federal Law Enforcement
- Detective
- Criminologist
- Forensics
- Corrections Officer
- Correctional Administration
- Probation Officer
- Security Guard
Interviews
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- Employment Paralegal
- Insurance Paralegal
- Subpoena Paralegal
- Law Office Manager
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- FBI Agent
- Forensic Scientist
- Criminal Justice Degree: Professor Interview
- Online-Teacher Interview
- Computer Forensics Analyst
- Private Investigator
- Corrections Officer
- Security Guard
- History of Women Police Officers
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