Correctional Officer and Jailer

Also called: Booking Officer, Certified Detention Deputy, Civilian Jail Officer, Community Corrections Officer, Community Services Officer

Correctional Officer and Jailer

Varies

estimated salary

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

  • 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.
  • Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
  • Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
  • Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.
  • Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
  • Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
  • Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
  • Settle disputes between inmates.
  • Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
  • Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
  • Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
  • Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
  • Participate in required job training.
  • Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
  • Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
  • Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
  • Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
  • Search for and recapture escapees.
  • Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
  • Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
  • Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
  • Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
  • Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
  • Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.
Work Context
  • Contact With Others — 94% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 75% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 83% responded "Extremely important".
  • Telephone — 84% responded "Every day".
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 71% responded "Very high responsibility".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 70% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 54% responded "Extremely important".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Count prison inmates or personnel.
  • Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
  • Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
  • Record information about suspects or criminals.
  • Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
  • Search individuals for illegal or dangerous items.
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Knowledge

Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
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