1) What are the requirements to become a corrections officer? There are over two
million offenders that are currently incarcerated in United States, and most prisons
demands more correctional officers. However, to become a correctional officer, you
have to meet at least the minimum requirements. Although, each states and federal
corrections have their own different types of hiring process. The federal minimum
qualifications are including; U.S. citizenship, have bachelor’s degree in teaching,
counseling, management, emergency response, have no criminal convictions, have
a good financial history, and you have to be in the age group between 20 and 37
years old. Though the state requirements are not as severe as the federal
correction, and one of the major differences are the schooling. In some states
qualifications; you don’t need to have a bachelor’s degree, you just have to have
either a high school diploma or GED, you must be at least 18 and some states
requires 21, must have a valid driver’s license, and be physically and mentally skilled
of doing the job.
2) What training is given to new officers? Correctional officers required to go through
rigorous drill that is the same of what they used for police recruits. They have to be train
for both the classroom and hands-on skills training. The hands-on skill training that the
correctional officers must do includes; strength, endurance and agility which would help
defend themselves when they get attack by the prisoners. The officers in training must
continually improve their physical and mental skills, and they must do a procedural
training the same methods used in prisons or jails including: restraint techniques,
recognizing/discovering smuggled goods, searches and strip search, cell search, riot
control, booking/receiving, prisoner transport, ethics, emergency operations, first aid
and CPR. The officers are required to do a firearms training using different types of
weapons. It’s necessary for the correctional officers to carry the firearms while on duty.
They also train correctional officers with rehabilitation methods, legal training, and
specialized populations training like the juvenile and death row corrections.
3) What are the starting pay and benefits for corrections officers? U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports that in 2011 correctional officers earned an average annual salary of
$43,550 but the lowest ten percent earned about $27,000, and the top percent earned
up to $69,610. Having a degree and experiences can also improve the officers’ salary.
4) Would you consider working as a corrections officer in your state prison system?
Why, or why not? Probably not, because those jobs could be really demanding,
stressful and dangerous. Our states have a lot more violent inmates, especially with the
jail that its overcrowded. The correctional officers do not earn as much salary as they
should, especially the types of work and people they have to deal with every single day.
A prison warden pursues to sustain the reasonable and safe procedure of the prison at
all times. He or she implements guidelines, rules, policies and laws concerning
confinement and employee behavior, and keeps records of violations by staff or
prisoners. I believe that the warden has very difficult and demanding positions to
uphold. They make sure that the safety and security of their prison is in good standing
million offenders that are currently incarcerated in United States, and most prisons
demands more correctional officers. However, to become a correctional officer, you
have to meet at least the minimum requirements. Although, each states and federal
corrections have their own different types of hiring process. The federal minimum
qualifications are including; U.S. citizenship, have bachelor’s degree in teaching,
counseling, management, emergency response, have no criminal convictions, have
a good financial history, and you have to be in the age group between 20 and 37
years old. Though the state requirements are not as severe as the federal
correction, and one of the major differences are the schooling. In some states
qualifications; you don’t need to have a bachelor’s degree, you just have to have
either a high school diploma or GED, you must be at least 18 and some states
requires 21, must have a valid driver’s license, and be physically and mentally skilled
of doing the job.
2) What training is given to new officers? Correctional officers required to go through
rigorous drill that is the same of what they used for police recruits. They have to be train
for both the classroom and hands-on skills training. The hands-on skill training that the
correctional officers must do includes; strength, endurance and agility which would help
defend themselves when they get attack by the prisoners. The officers in training must
continually improve their physical and mental skills, and they must do a procedural
training the same methods used in prisons or jails including: restraint techniques,
recognizing/discovering smuggled goods, searches and strip search, cell search, riot
control, booking/receiving, prisoner transport, ethics, emergency operations, first aid
and CPR. The officers are required to do a firearms training using different types of
weapons. It’s necessary for the correctional officers to carry the firearms while on duty.
They also train correctional officers with rehabilitation methods, legal training, and
specialized populations training like the juvenile and death row corrections.
3) What are the starting pay and benefits for corrections officers? U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reports that in 2011 correctional officers earned an average annual salary of
$43,550 but the lowest ten percent earned about $27,000, and the top percent earned
up to $69,610. Having a degree and experiences can also improve the officers’ salary.
4) Would you consider working as a corrections officer in your state prison system?
Why, or why not? Probably not, because those jobs could be really demanding,
stressful and dangerous. Our states have a lot more violent inmates, especially with the
jail that its overcrowded. The correctional officers do not earn as much salary as they
should, especially the types of work and people they have to deal with every single day.
A prison warden pursues to sustain the reasonable and safe procedure of the prison at
all times. He or she implements guidelines, rules, policies and laws concerning
confinement and employee behavior, and keeps records of violations by staff or
prisoners. I believe that the warden has very difficult and demanding positions to
uphold. They make sure that the safety and security of their prison is in good standing
