What Are the Duties of a Corrections Officer?
A corrections officer has the duty of securing the correctional facility he works for. Monitoring an inmate and his activity is routine for a corrections officer, as well as inspecting the property and cell of an inmate. Keeping the inmates and the environment safe is the main duty of the corrections officer.
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Training and Education
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To become a corrections officer, a person needs to have at least a high school diploma, depending on the institution. Federal prisons require a bachelor's degree and experience while local and state prisons and jails may require a corrections officer to have college credits or experience in the military or law enforcement. Federal, state and local agencies provide corrections officers with training on institutional policies, regulations and operations through training academies. Training in self-defense skills and firearm proficiency also may be required, depending on the type of correctional institution.
Security
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All corrections officers oversee inmates who are incarcerated for a criminal conviction or those who are standing trial for a crime. A corrections officer is responsible for preventing disturbances and maintaining security for the correctional facility he works for. The corrections officer maintains security by preventing incidents such as inmate assaults or attacks and inmate escapes.
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Search and Inspections
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Searching inmate's cells and property is a duty of the correction's officer. Inmates have contraband, such as drugs, weapons and other illegal possessions their position very often. When an inmate receives a visit, it is the responsibility of the corrections officer to thoroughly search an inmate ensuring no contraband has been snuck into the facility. It is also the responsibility of the officer to report any contraband found. The bars on cells and locks of inmates could be picked or broken when an inmate is planning to escape. It is the responsibility of the corrections officer to inspect these bars, locks and doors to prevent the escape.
Abusing Inmates
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A corrections officer is not allowed to abuse an inmate. Physical force of an inmate should be used only when a corrections officer is protecting himself or others. A corrections officer must report to higher authorities, either orally or in writing, the conduct of the inmates. The corrections officer will keep a daily log of what the inmate has done, whether it is positive, such as quality work or negatives, like security breaches and violation of rules. Corrections officers may not favor an inmate over another and must report any inmate that violates the rules of the prison.
Monitoring Dangerous Inmates
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Correctional facilities are categorized by the type of inmates housed. For instance, those inmates who have committed more serious crimes are considered dangerous and are housed in facilities equipped to monitor them. The corrections officers who work in these dangerous environments will monitor inmates through centralized control centers equipped with closed circuit television cameras and computer tracking systems. These environments isolate the inmates from the rest of the inmate population and often allow the inmate out of his cell only for showers, meals or visits.
Escorting Inmates
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Some inmates travel outside the correctional facility to work, seek medical treatment or for court appearances. In these cases, the corrections officer has the duty to oversee the inmate while he is outside the facility. A corrections officer will keep the inmate from escaping or causing harm to anyone in the community. Corrections officers are responsible for properly placing shackles and handcuffs on inmates to prevent escape attempts.
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