Correctional Officer Careers – Training is the Key to Success
Are you looking for a challenging career? Do you want to protect innocent people, work with convicted offenders, and oversee suspects who have been placed under arrest? Then you may want to consider a career as a correctional officer.
Correctional officers are employed in a variety of institutional settings. Employers include state and federal correctional institutions such as prisons, prison camps, and youth correctional facilities; city and county jails or in other institutions run by local governments; and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Employers may be either government agencies or private companies that run detention facilities under government contract.
What are the duties of a correctional officer? Generally, correctional officers maintain order within the institution and enforce rules and regulations. They oversee the activities of inmates and prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes. The job may require hands-on activities such as searching inmates and their living quarters, enforcing discipline, and settling disputes between inmates. Correctional officers escort inmates during transfers, court appearances, and visits, and inspect the inmates’ cells and mail for prohibited items.
Training is extremely important. Correctional officers must be well-trained in order to both perform their duties and preserve the constitutional rights of inmates. The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have at least a bachelor’s degree, while state and local agencies typically require at least a high school diploma or GED. While most institutions provide training for new hires, applicants who have prior experience or specialized training at a college may have the edge.
The American Correctional Association and the American Jail Association have established guidelines for training for correctional officers. Some states have regional training academies, and new federal correctional officers must first complete 200 hours of training and then 120 hours of additional specialized training at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons residential training center at Glynco, Georgia. Correctional work can be stressful and physically dangerous, and people who work in prisons and jails need to be highly qualified, not only for their own safety but to provide a safe environment for the inmates.
Most prison and correctional systems require self-defense skills and firearms proficiency. Academy trainees receive instruction in a variety of subjects including custody and security procedures, institutional regulations and policies, and the constitutional rights of prisoners.
How about advancement? The United States corrections system is a significant employer. Every year 12 million people are processed through local jails, and there are approximately 700,000 offenders held in jails at any given time. State and federal prisons house 1.5 million offenders. In order to oversee the incarcerated population, about 518,000 corrections officers including court bailiffs were employed in 2008. Entry-level officers may advance to the position of correctional sergeant, and supervise correctional officers. There are additional supervisory and administrative positions all the way up to warden. Related jobs include probation officer, parole officer, and correctional treatment specialist.
As in every field, advancement can be competitive and promotion prospects may be enhanced by attending college.
Job growth is expected to be as fast as average. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the current decade from 2008 through 2018, career opportunities for correctional officers are expected to be favorable. It is anticipated that during this decade over 48,000 new correctional jobs will be added.
Training Is Key. Think you have what it takes to become a correctional officer? A career college may be a good place to find out, and with the right training you might have the competitive edge. But how do you find the right college? Getting started is easy.
1. Log onto a reputable college directory website.
2. Enter the search terms that apply to your situation, like “criminology” and your home town. Don’t forget to search for online schools, too.
3. The website should present you with several colleges or career schools that meet your requirements.
4. You can compare colleges and their programs. Contact the ones that interest you and request free information. You can do all of this online in minutes, and the service should not cost you a penny or obligate you do do anything.
5. When you receive more detailed information, apply to the schools that best fit your needs. Don’t forget to ask about financial aid, especially if you are a veteran.
6. That’s all! In less time than you think you could be training for a rewarding career as a corrections officer.
Thinking about training for a new career as a correctional officer? To make the best decision, you need the right information. Log onto http://www.Education-For-Careers.com and compare colleges. Get information about career training programs, degrees, online education, financial aid opportunities, job placement services, and much more.
Author: Thomas Hauck
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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