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Correctional Officers and Jailers

Also called: Correctional Officer, Corrections Officer (CO), Detention Officer, Jailer

What they do:

Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

On the job, you would:
  • Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
  • Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
  • Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
On the job, you'll need:

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • customer service
  • management

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time

Endurance

  • exercise for a long time without getting out of breath

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Cooperation

Data base user interface and query software

  • 3M Electronic Monitoring
  • Microsoft Access

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $49,610

Education

High school diploma/GED is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the Government industry.