What does a correction officer do?
A correction officer is responsible for monitoring the daily activities of individuals serving time in prison, enforcing the standard rules and regulatory procedures to maintain safety and security within the premises. Correction officers' duties include searching for restricted items, inspecting the facilities' condition, observing unusual and suspicious behaviors, generating incident reports, and providing assistance during counseling and trial schedules. Correction officers must be highly knowledgeable of legal regulations. They must also cooperate with court procedures for any investigations within their place of work.
Correction officer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real correction officer resumes:
- Manage behavior modification and offender restoration rehabilitation.
- Implement defensive tactics and physical restraints to maintain the safety and security of the general public.
- Conduct NCIC background reports on all new inmates within the facility.
- Collect felony DNA enter finger prints into live scan for NCIC.
- finger prints and background information and placement in to the pod )
- Feed, book-in inmates, control movement and supervise medical treatment.
- Assist in the training of new officers in daily operations as a pod officer.
- Maintain required level of proficiency in the use of firearms, and evasive action/driving skills.
- Certify in less than lethal methods of control, including OC spray, X26 tasing unit.
- Work dispatch room, dispatch deputies, fire, ems, and city police officers to various emergencies.
- Patrol streets in mark patrol vehicle, respond to citizen complaints, issue citations and make arrests as warranted.
- Dispatch calls for service to police, fire, and ems responders using specialize radio and telephone communications systems.
- Complete paperwork including but not limit to: booking, medication, release records, fingerprinting, reports and logs.
- Patrol assign areas for evidence of forbidden activities, infraction of rules, and unsatisfactory attitude or adjustment of detainees.
- Used in house computer programs to book-in, release, maintain inmate information, and run controls in the jail.
Correction officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Correction Officers are proficient in Public Safety, Correctional Facility, and Emergency Situations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Interpersonal skills, and Physical strength.
We break down the percentage of Correction Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Public Safety, 27%
Job responsibilities-Protect public safety, I supervise approximately 144 inmates, maintain prison security and inspect the integrity of prison walls.
- Correctional Facility, 11%
Preserved integrity and security of correctional facility
- Emergency Situations, 9%
Communicated security/safety related information, responded to emergency situations; and collaborated with staff and inmates to prevent or resolve problems.
- Security Checks, 5%
Perform supervisor security checks in all offender housing areas to include: general population, and administrative segregation.
- Incident Reports, 5%
Supervised resident behavior management system and wrote incident reports for infractions as well as maintained daily logs of shift activity.
- CPR, 5%
Assessed traumatic situations administering CPR or manipulating the inmate to ensure the sustainability of life.
Common skills that a correction officer uses to do their job include "public safety," "correctional facility," and "emergency situations." You can find details on the most important correction officer responsibilities below.
Detail oriented. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a correction officer to have is detail oriented. Their role and responsibilities require that "correctional officers and bailiffs follow and enforce procedures in correctional facilities and courts to ensure safety." Correction officers often use detail oriented in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed detailed reports of all inmate and law enforcement activities to include all inmate movement throughout the facility"
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling correction officer duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "correctional officers and bailiffs must be able to interact and communicate effectively with people in custody, visitors, and other officers of penal institutions and the court to maintain order." According to a correction officer resume, here's how correction officers can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "recognized for outstanding interpersonal communication skills used in diffusing several difficult situations within the warren county jail. "
Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of correction officers is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday correction officer duties, as "correctional officers and bailiffs must be able to physically subdue people as necessary, including those in or visiting penal institutions and those attending court proceedings." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided security of inmates, civilians and staff during visitation, physical recreation and other inmate movements. "
The three companies that hire the most correction officers are:
- State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia129 correction officers jobs
- State of Ohio42 correction officers jobs
- Management & Training40 correction officers jobs
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Compare different correction officers
Correction officer vs. Criminal investigator
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between correction officers and criminal investigator. For instance, correction officer responsibilities require skills such as "public safety," "correctional facility," "emergency situations," and "security checks." Whereas a criminal investigator is skilled in "investigative reports," "resourcefulness," "firearms," and "treasury." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Criminal investigators earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $52,921. On the other hand, correction officers are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $40,354.On average, criminal investigators reach higher levels of education than correction officers. Criminal investigators are 7.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Correction officer vs. Deputy
The duties of a deputy vary on their line of work or place of employment. In law enforcement, a deputy is primarily in charge of conducting investigations on crimes and arresting criminals, performing regular patrols on streets, responding to calls of distress, and assisting citizens in calamities, disasters, accidents, or any forms of threat. There are also instances when a deputy must serve court documents, transport detainees or suspected criminals, and monitor courtrooms. Furthermore, a deputy reports to higher-ranking officers such as a sheriff.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real correction officer resumes. While correction officer responsibilities can utilize skills like "direct supervision," "control room," "head counts," and "disciplinary actions," deputies use skills like "patrol," "federal laws," "law enforcement agencies," and "motor vehicle."
Deputies may earn a higher salary than correction officers, but deputies earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $53,877. On the other hand, correction officers receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,354.In general, deputies achieve higher levels of education than correction officers. They're 9.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Correction officer vs. Police cadet
Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a correction officer is likely to be skilled in "correctional facility," "security checks," "direct supervision," and "control room," while a typical police cadet is skilled in "patrol," "traffic control," "police academy," and "parking enforcement."
Police cadets make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $38,178. On the other hand, correction officers are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $40,354.Most police cadets achieve a similar degree level compared to correction officers. For example, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Correction officer vs. Detective
A detective is responsible for conducting in-depth investigations for criminal activities, potential threats, and other law-violating incidents, coordinating closely with law-enforcement agencies and crime intelligence analysts. Detectives often work on the field, gathering data and related evidence to support claims and connect the timeline of events. They keep an organized record of their findings for further validation before reporting it to the authority. A detective must have excellent investigative and critical-thinking skills, especially on solving puzzles and security solutions.
Types of correction officer
Updated January 8, 2025
