Corrections Officer: Duties & Job Market

by Barbara Bellesi

Corrections officers, also known as detention officers or correctional officers, supervise individuals who have been arrested for crimes and are awaiting trial as well as individuals who have been convicted of crimes and have subsequently been sent to jail, penitentiaries, or reformatory institutions.

Duties of a corrections officer

A corrections officer works to maintain security within a jail or prison facility. He or she upholds order by ensuring that inmates follow all rules and by supervising inmate work assignments. Correctional officers are required to report to their superiors on the conduct of inmates. Outside of the prison facility, however, a corrections officer has no law enforcement responsibilities.

Where to find corrections officer jobs

Corrections officers are most often hired by jails and prisons at the local and state government levels. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 60 percent of correctional officer jobs are found at prisons, prison camps, and youth correctional facilities.

Corrections officer programs

Most correctional facilities require a high school diploma or GED for employment. However, to rise up in the ranks of a prison facility, a corrections officer can earn an associate or Bachelor's degree; many colleges offer degree programs in criminal justice. Some positions, such as those at the supervisory level, do require some college credit, but most positions will accept previous work in law enforcement or military experience instead.

Demand for corrections officers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for corrections officers is projected to increase by 16 percent by the year 2016. The demand for this correctional supervision is dependent on both population growth and rising incarceration rates. The rate of incarceration is not necessarily due to an increase in crime; rather, stricter sentencing guidelines require that inmates spend more time in jail and have fewer options for parole. Therefore, the opportunities for employment as a corrections officer in both the public and private sector will remain excellent for the next decade.