How Does a Correctional Officer Spend a Workday?

General Overview

A correctional officer is responsible for arrested individuals who are awaiting trial or those who have been convicted and sentenced to some type of jail or reformatory. Correctional officers are responsible for maintaining the security, structure and decorum of a prison setting and the thousands of detained individuals under their supervision. Officers must make sure that all of the inmates obey the rules of the institution and conduct themselves in an orderly manner without getting into fights or arguments with the officers and other inmates.

Typical Workday

A correctional officer arrives to work early in the morning around 6 o'clock when the inmates are first waking up and starting their day as well. The officer checks in with all of the inmates under his immediate jurisdiction to make sure that all inmates are abiding by the day's rules in an orderly fashion. If any inmate is out of line or refuses to follow the daily schedule, the officer must take disciplinary action which may include solitary confinement. Other daily duties include checking the inmates' cells for any contraband such as drugs or weapons, checking that the cells are sanitary and checking locks and bars for any signs of being tampered with.

Other Daily Duties

Officers are required to keep a daily record of all the events that occur during a typical workday. They also must provide written reports to supervisors about the inmates under their supervision and immediately report any arguments, disturbances, scuffles and any other disruptive occurrences to the proper authorities. Additionally, correctional officers must inspect mail and visitors for any contraband substances that the prisoners are not allowed to possess.