If you presently work at a correctional facility or detention center you should immediately contact the United Federation LEOS-PBA - CO to find out how we can help you and your co-officers improve your wages, benefits and working conditions under a United Federation LEOS-PBA - CO union contract. 

 

Correction Officer positions are located throughout the United States in various facilities of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. As a Correction Officer, under the direct supervision of a higher-ranking officer, you would be responsible for the custody and security, as well as the safety and well-being, of criminal offenders in State Correctional Facilities. You would supervise the movement and activities of inmates; make periodic rounds of assigned areas; conduct searches for contraband; maintain order within the facility; and prepare reports as necessary. You would advise inmates on the rules and regulations governing the operation of the facility and assist them in resolving problems. You would have a high degree of responsibility for your actions and decisions.  You would play a large role in the rehabilitative process related to the incarcerated population.  You may also be required to carry firearms in the performance of certain duties and to perform other related work as required.

 

 Correctional Officer Salaries

 

Correction Officer Trainee (First 26 Weeks)

 $39,014

Correction Officer Trainee (Final 26 Weeks)

 $41,037

Correction Officer

 $46,990

 

 

As a Correction Officer you will be required to participate in, and satisfactorily complete, all requirements of a 12-month training program before you can advance to Correction Officer. As part of the program, you will attend the Correctional Services Training Academy for a minimum of EIGHT weeks of formal training. Paid training at the Academy will include academic courses in such areas as emergency response procedures, interpersonal communications, legal rights and responsibilities, security procedures, and concepts and issues in corrections. You will also receive rigorous physical training to develop fitness, strength and stamina. To physically qualify, it is necessary to perform seven sequential job related tasks in two minutes and fifteen seconds or less. Failure in any of the tasks will result in the recruit failing to meet the agency qualification standards and, accordingly, being dismissed from the Academy. The test is administered during the final week of the training program at the Academy. A thorough explanation and demonstration of the course, and an opportunity for a trial run, will precede the final test.

 

The role of a corrections officer is primarily to maintain safety, security, and inmate accountability within a jail, prison, or detention facility.

These officers are responsible for guarding people that have been arrested, or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a correctional facility, usually operated by a particular state’s department of corrections.
 
Corrections Officers are also tasked to maintain order and enforce the rules and regulations they are sworn to uphold.

 

General Duties
Correctional duties involve the supervision, custody, treatment, and training of inmates confined in a correctional facility. Duties are performed under the supervision of higher ranking staff and in accordance with operated procedures of the assigned facility.
 
Essential Functions
Builds and maintains rapport with inmates.
 
Defuses disruptive behavior by verbal interventions.
 
Controls disruptive behavior by appropriate verbal orders and/or appropriate use of phsyical force.
 
Uses verbal and listening skills to determine potential inmate problems, such as suicide risk, intoxication, drug usage, assaultive behavior, etc.
 
Informs and explains institutional rules to inmates.
 
Communicates information regarding security, safety and operations through the chain of command.
 
Monitors inmates, watching closly for unusual behavior, improper conduct or signs of conflict.
 
Monitors visits between inmates and personal visitors.
 
Supervises periods of recreational activity.
 
Searches inmates, by pat or strip method, to detect and confiscate contraband or unapproved items.
 
Searches cells or living quarters, recreational areas, visiting areas and other areas in buildings or on the grounds for contraband and unapproved items.
 
Searches the perimeter of an area by making checks on foot, by car, or from a watchtower to ensure there are no security breaches or contraband.
 
Conducts security checks of locks, doors, bars and windows, etc.
 
Prepares inmates for transportation through search and application of appropriate restraining devices, depending on security level, and ensures all related materials to be transported with inmate are ready and in order.
 
Transports inmates outside the facility to and from court, lawyer's office, medical appointments, work sites, other facilities, etc.
 
Communicates with other staff and/or main control to inform about inmate behaviors, incidents and/or to request assistance.
 
Performs head counts to visually ensure the presence of all inmates.
 
Coordinates unit head counts to confirm total population.
 
Checks IDs to ensure only authorized persons enter or leave facility.
 
Processes new admissions and transfers.
 
Responds to emergency situations according to facility procedures, such as medical, fire, security, etc.
 
Writes narrative reports describing events that have happened, such as confidential reports, incident reports, disciplinary reports, special observation reports, etc.
 
Reads and writes short notes in a log book as a means of possing information about daily events from one shift to another, such as inventory logs, post logs, narrative logs, etc.
 
Uses protable two-way radio.
 
Opens and closes gates or doors to restricted areas to allow vehicles/people to enter and exit.
 
Issues logs and inventories facility keys.
 
Attends and participates in required training.
 
Reads policy and procedure manuals, directives and memos.