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What does a correctional officer (CO) do? Job duties, what it’s like and more

Correctional officers (COs) oversee people in jail who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in prison. Although the level of supervision may vary depending on the type of facility, there’s always a necessity for people to maintain the security and safety of correctional facilities and the people within it.

Key takeaways

• Correctional officers maintain safety and security in jails and prisons while supervising inmates, enforcing rules, responding to incidents and serving as positive role models.
• Requirements vary by agency, but most correctional officers need a high school diploma or GED, must pass physical and background evaluations, and complete formal and on-the-job training.
• The career requires mental resilience, physical fitness, sound judgment, critical thinking and a willingness to work demanding schedules, while certifications and experience can create opportunities for advancement.

Correctional officer career overview

After several years of experience, some officers train to work up the chain of command. They may even rise to the position of warden or assistant warden, the person who helps develop, implement and supervise standards, policies and guidelines for the facility.

A CO’s job isn’t just to perform security, however. COs are important role models for inmates and hold them accountable for their actions when necessary. They get to make an impact on the lives of incarcerated individuals and hopefully get to see them successfully reenter their community. 

Some people may refer to correctional officers as detention officers (DOs). These terms usually mean the same thing, though detention officers may have a slightly different job duties than correctional officers depending on their individual agency or facility. Both positions fall under the corrections umbrella.

What do correctional officers do?

Correctional officers can work in different capacities within a correctional facility. Depending on the size of the facility and the scope of your position, you may receive assignments to a specific post such as transportation or recreation, or you may work in a variety of posts. COs may have to carry a firearm while on the job.

It’s also common for facilities to have a tiered system of correctional officers, in which COs with more experience advance to a higher position which comes with more responsibilities, all the way up to sergeants, lieutenants and captains. Some facilities have Community Correctional Officers (CCOs) as well, which focus more on providing support programs to inmates returning to the community.

Correctional officer duties

Your exact responsibilities as a CO can vary, but you can generally expect to perform the following duties as a CO:

• Assist in monitoring and directing the activities and movements of inmates within a facility
• Maintain security and ensure inmate accountability to prevent disturbances, assaults and escapes
• Inspect the facility by checking cells and other areas for contraband, fire hazards, unsanitary conditions and any evidence of infractions of the rules
• Utilize interpersonal skills and physical force when necessary to deescalate potentially violent situations with inmates
• Write reports on inmate behavior and the quality of inmate work
• Act as a positive role model to inmates

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Where do COs work?

Most correctional officers work in the following types of correctional facilities:

• Local, state and federal jails and prisons
• Private, for-profit correctional institutions
• A relatively small number oversee people being held by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) before they are released or deported

You’ll want to also decide whether to work in a jail, or a minimum, medium or maximum-security prison. This hierarchy is based on the perceived public safety risk posed by the inmates and the severity of their crimes.

• Jails are short-term facilities that hold inmates awaiting trial or sentencing, or they are for inmates sentenced to a term of less than one year, usually for misdemeanors.
• Prisons are long-term facilities run by the state or federal government that normally hold felons and inmates with sentences of more than a year. They’re broken down into the following categories:
• Minimum security prisons have non-secure dormitories which are patrolled by correctional officers. There is less supervision and control over inmates in these prisons than at other facilities. Inmates in minimum security prisons generally pose the least risk to public safety.
• Medium security prisons normally have secure dormitories that are locked at night with a group toilet and shower. Inmates sleep in military-style double bunks. Correctional officers directly supervise the inmates and sleeping area. These prisons usually have a double fence perimeter with armed watch towers or armed patrols. There is less supervision here than at maximum security prisons.
• Maximum security prisons have cells with sliding cell doors that are remotely operated from a secure control station. They are for the most dangerous inmates who are a severe threat to public safety, correctional staff and other inmates.

Shifts and post rotations

Shift work is any work schedule that falls outside the traditional Monday through Friday, eight-hour day. By and large, it’s common in prisons and jails where they require round-the-clock staff. Some critics of shift work say it causes physical and mental stress due to the lack of a predictable and regular sleep schedule.

The BLS states that correctional officers usually work full time on rotating shifts. Jails and prisons never sleep and security must be provided around the clock, so officers work all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays, and overtime is often mandatory.

Considering correctional officers need to be alert and able to make quick decisions, the ability to do the job well may be impacted by a rotating shift. If you are looking for a job that has a stable, 40-hour a week, nine-to-five schedule, you may want to think about a correctional administration or probation officer career path instead.

COs may also rotate duty posts, often every few weeks. This kind of shift rotation is designed to prevent any CO from getting too comfortable in one area or with one set of wards. Post rotations can keep things fresh, always providing COs with new challenges and new environments to engage with.

What do I need to become a correctional officer?

Although each agency’s requirements can vary slightly, almost all correctional officers need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen over 18 or 21 years old, depending on your state
• Have a high school diploma or a GED
• Pass written exams and physical fitness tests
• Some agencies require some college education or relevant work experience
• Have no felony convictions
• Pass a background investigation
• Pass a medical and psychological evaluation

These are minimum requirements—agencies may choose to have additional requirements beyond the minimum. For instance, to work in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, entry-level personnel must have at least a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience providing counseling or supervision. Specific requirements and on-the-job training vary from state to state and agency to agency, so check requirements early to see what you need to do to become a correctional officer.

Correctional officer training

All correctional agencies require and provide formal instruction and on-the-job training for hired correctional officers. This usually involves attending an intensive academy (similar to the types of academies new police recruits attend) to learn how to execute the tasks of the job successfully. Typical correctional officer training takes around 300 hours over several weeks, and covers many of the following topics:

After completing this basic training, correctional officers usually must complete additional on-the-job training for a certain period of time, often known as a probation period. In most cases, continued employment hinges on the successful completion of all necessary training requirements. 

Some facilities, like the one that Murray works at, operate a little differently. She didn’t attend a formal training academy once she got hired, but received and continues to receive extensive on-the-job training. “It’s a lot of training, a lot of learning.”

Certifications and certifying bodies for corrections

There are numerous national, voluntary certifications available to correctional officers. A professional certification can be a boon to your resume and distinguish yourself in the field—it could also be the key to landing a more senior position and a higher salary.

American Correctional Association

The American Correctional Association (ACA) recently modified its certification program. Previously, the organization had separate certifications for correctional officers, supervisors, managers and executives which have been incorporated into a new Certified Corrections Professional (CCP) framework, with specialized credentials available in areas such as administration, executive leadership, security, behavioral health, community corrections and juvenile corrections. Professionals holding active certifications from the previous program may have their credentials converted under ACA’s current certification structure.

“A corrections professional of any discipline that has completed all of their agency’s training requirements to date is qualified and equipped for the examination,” the ACA states.

In addition, the ACA offers a Certified Correctional Industries – Manager (CCI-I) credential for correctional managers.

American Jail Association 

The American Jail Association (AJA) also offers its own tiered certifications for correctional officers. To earn any of these qualifications, you have to pass an exam. The exams are multiple choice and vary in length depending on what certification you are testing for. You must get a grade of at least 80% to pass.

These certifications must be renewed every four years. You have the option to either demonstrate that you’ve taken a certain amount of training relevant to your position to recertify, or take the exam again to earn your recertification.

National Institute of Jail Operations

The National Institute of Jail Operations (NIJO) also has certifications for jail officers, supervisors and executives.

Unlike the other certifications which require passing a test, you can obtain NIJO certifications by completing a certain number of NIJO-certified training hours (plus having a specified number of years of work experience for supervisors and executives). You can obtain these training hours through NIJO’s Detention and Correction’s Online Training Academy (DACOTA) or NIJO-approved training seminars or conferences.

To maintain your certification, you must complete an additional 20 hours of NIJO-approved continuing education hours annually.  

Is becoming a correctional officer right for you?

Like most occupations, not just anyone can thrive as a correctional officer. Murray said there are some essential qualities that you should have if you want to be successful.

Character traits and soft skills useful for COs

• Mental fortitude: When you’re working in a correctional facility, you aren’t necessarily seeing people at their best. Murray experienced this working in the medical field too, which is why she emphasized the importance of being mentally resilient and not taking things that people say too personally. “They need to have really good mental strength so they don’t let what anybody says get to them,” Murray said. “To work in this area, you learn to have better control of your emotions and know not to act upon them.”
• Physical strength: Although you can expect to receive physical fitness training once you are hired, you’ll still need to be physically fit enough to pass any initial standardized fitness tests. For good reason, too—you may need to defend yourself or restrain inmates in the event of a physical altercation. “They need to be good physically, have some strength just in case because that’s very much needed,” Murray said.
• Quick learner: Murray said she receives a lot of on-the-job training to continue gaining new skills. “In each setting, each jail or prison, they’re all fast-paced and you’ve really got to grasp onto things as fast as you can.”
• Good judgement: You may need to make a decision quickly in order to ensure your, or another officer’s or inmate’s safety. Knowing what to do and when is critical in this role.
• Critical thinking: You’ll need to be able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses in your approaches to problems.

Hard skills for COs

Some hard skills that you’ll need and can develop on the job include:

• CPR and first aid: In the event of an accident, emergency or intentional (or unintentional) violence, you may be first on the scene and must to be able to administer CPR or temporary first aid quickly.
• Computer and monitoring systems software skills: Jails and prisons use computerized databases and different software applications that help manage case files, security, surveillance, inmate profiles and behavioral and health records. Knowledge of applications and systems such as 3M Electronic Monitoring, Guardian RFID, jail management software and Microsoft Access are likely to be part of the job.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)