Duties of a Correctional Officer

Correctional officers, also called corrections officers or prison guards, work in jails or prisons performing daily routine tasks, along with watching for and dealing with the unexpected. Their job duties vary greatly depending on the type and size of the facility where they work, from minimum to maximum security prisons, state or federal penitentiaries, or county jails.

Supervision of Inmates

The main duty of a correctional officer is providing direct supervision of inmates, whether they are in their cells, the dining room, or activity rooms. Correctional officers also supervise prisoners during outside activity and when they have visitors.

Security Checks

Correctional officer duties include performing random and scheduled security checks, including cell searches.

Outside Activity

Correctional officers supervise work crews, and they escort inmates to parole hearings, court appearances and appointments with physicians.

Emergency Response

They must be able to respond quickly to emergencies such as assaults in the prison, riots, fires, hostage situations and any other disturbances.

Communication

Correctional officers must be able to communicate with people from different ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds, including with those who do not speak English well, and people with psychiatric or developmental disorders.

Resources

• Read an interview with a correctional officer