Job Profile and Career Opportunities for Correctional Officer

Contrary to the popular belief that career opportunities are confined to urban areas alone, there are several job opportunities that can give substantial financial compensation in rural sectors. One such career is that of the correctional officers many of whom usually work with small inmate population in rural jails instead of the highly populated urban jails.

Job Features

While the job of correctional officer are usually related to jail administration, they are available in urban as well as in rural areas. Many jails are located in rural areas and correctional officers are entrusted with the duty of reformation not only in jails but also of the inmates.

Some of the basic job features are –

Job of correctional officer is based on the principle that jail is a reformatory and not a place for oppression of the inmates.
Such jobs could be demanding as well as dangerous.
Since number of rural jails are much more than the urban ones, many correctional officers have to work in rural areas.
The career offers bright employment prospects though these jobs are mostly available in the public sector only.
Duties Entrusted

Correctional officers are concerned with –

Convicted criminals serving sentence imposed in the jails and their physical, psychological, and social reformation;
Looking after the well being of under trial prisoners who are still not convicted for commitment of crimes.
They work to avert attacks and all types of disturbances including escape.
They also ensure inmate accountability and security.
However, they do not have any policing duties.
Such officers working for the police and sheriffs in counties where there are over 3,300 jails are also known as detention officers.
Over eleven million people are processed through the jails in United States every year and the job of correctional officer is always strenuous in nature as they have to take care of legal requirements of jails and inmates as well.
Qualifications and Training

To be a correctional officer a person must be –

At least 18-21 years old depending on the specific system of the state or county concerned;
He should have a school diploma or GED;
Must be a citizen of United States; andr
Two years of experience in the job.
A candidate with higher educational degrees will have better job prospects and employment opportunities are normally available in public sector only. Annual earnings in the career could range from $25,000 to $80,000 depending on experience and proficiency of the candidate.