Occupation · SOC 33-3012
Correctional Officers and Jailers
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
Median wage
$57,970
$41,750–$93,000
Projected growth
-7.8%
Declining
Annual openings
-3,010
per year
Employed (US)
365,380
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
252 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionCoordinationPersuasion
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and Management
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareDocument management softwareData base management system softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities.Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.Participate in required job training.Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.Settle disputes between inmates.Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.Arrange daily schedules for prisoners, including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.Search for and recapture escapees.Process or book convicted individuals into prison.Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.Take fingerprints of arrestees, prisoners, or the general public.Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.Sponsor inmate recreational activities, such as newspapers and self-help groups.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Head counts — conduct at scheduled intervals under direct officer supervision in a housing unit.Facility locks, bars, and gates — inspect visually using a provided checklist during supervised security rounds.Prisoner conduct — observe and report behavioral concerns to a senior officer during monitored recreational periods.Cell shakedown procedures — assist a senior officer in searching assigned cells for contraband following established protocols.Facility entrance — screen visitors by verifying identification and logging arrivals under direct supervision.Incident log entries — record basic prisoner identification and disturbance details into a daily paper or electronic log with guidance.Inmate mail — inspect envelopes and packages for prohibited items alongside a training officer using facility guidelines.Prisoner identification records — enter charge and personal data into a database management system under supervisor review.Radio and intercom communications — transmit clear status reports using standard codes on the facility telecommunications system.Facility policies and regulations — read and reference written post orders to guide routine duties during a shift.
developing
Head counts — complete independently at all required intervals and reconcile discrepancies before notifying a shift supervisor.Security hardware conditions — inspect locks, window bars, doors, and gates on an assigned post and document findings in the facility log without prompting.Prisoner behavior monitoring — apply social perceptiveness skills to identify early signs of tension in a housing unit and take preventive action per policy.Vehicle and prisoner searches — conduct thorough pat-downs and vehicle inspections using practiced search techniques during routine intake or transport operations.Visitor screening and access control — evaluate visitor eligibility, enforce contraband prohibitions, and manage entry flow at the facility gate independently.Daily activity logs — maintain accurate, detailed records of prisoner movements, incidents, and counts using office suite or document management software each shift.Mail contraband detection — inspect incoming and outgoing inmate mail systematically, flag suspicious items, and complete required documentation without supervisory prompting.Prisoner charge and identification records — update and maintain inmate files in the facility database, ensuring accuracy across booking, housing, and release stages.Verbal de-escalation — use active listening and calm speaking techniques to diffuse low-level inmate conflicts in a housing unit setting.Time management on post — organize shift tasks including counts, inspections, and reporting to meet all deadlines across an eight-hour correctional facility shift.
proficient
Emergency head counts — initiate and coordinate unscheduled counts during a lockdown or escape alert and report verified results to command staff.Comprehensive security inspections — assess the full range of physical security features across multiple posts, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend corrective actions to supervisors.Complex inmate behavior — apply critical thinking and inductive reasoning to detect patterns of organized misconduct or gang activity within a general population unit.High-risk cell shakedowns — plan and lead thorough cell and common-area searches for weapons, drugs, and contraband following elevated security alerts.Incident documentation and reporting — author detailed, legally defensible incident reports using word processing software, capturing all relevant facts for administrative or judicial review.Contraband intelligence — analyze mail inspection findings and cell search results to build an informational picture of contraband introduction methods within the facility.Inmate rights and legal compliance — apply knowledge of law, government regulations, and facility policy to ensure all search, monitoring, and custody procedures meet constitutional standards.Crisis negotiation support — use persuasion and negotiation skills to assist in resolving hostage or standoff situations in coordination with specialized response teams.Cross-unit coordination — coordinate handoffs, inmate movements, and information sharing across multiple housing units to maintain facility-wide security continuity.Technology utilization — leverage database query tools, electronic mail, and spreadsheet software to compile shift statistics, track repeat offenders, and support administrative reporting.
advanced
Facility security policy — develop, revise, and implement post orders and security protocols that govern all officer conduct across the correctional facility.Officer training and development — design and deliver on-the-job training programs covering counts, searches, documentation, and de-escalation for new and incumbent correctional staff.Institutional security strategy — assess systemic vulnerabilities in physical infrastructure and inmate management practices and present improvement plans to facility leadership.Organizational incident response — lead the facility response to major disturbances, escapes, or emergencies by directing personnel, coordinating with law enforcement, and managing communications.Performance standards and accountability — establish measurable competency benchmarks for officer monitoring, record-keeping, and inspection duties and evaluate staff against them.Cross-agency public safety coordination — represent the facility in interagency meetings with courts, law enforcement, and community corrections partners to align custody and release practices.Complex problem solving at scale — identify recurring patterns in inmate misconduct, contraband trends, and security breaches and implement facility-wide corrective programs.Administrative records governance — oversee the integrity, retention, and security of all prisoner identification, charge, and incident records in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.Staff well-being and stress management — implement programs that build stress tolerance, integrity, and self-control among correctional officers working in high-pressure custodial environments.Technology adoption and oversight — evaluate and champion new database management, document management, or surveillance technologies that improve facility safety and operational efficiency.
Also known as
125 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Critical Skills Operator (Marine Corps 0372)Corrections CorporalLight Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Operations Chief (Marine Corps 0393)Infantry Unit Leader (Marine Corps 0369)JailorDetention DeputyRifleman (Marine Corps 0311)JailkeeperSpecial Investigations (Air Force 7S0X1)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Craftsman (Air Force 1Z371)Juvenile Corrections OfficerJuvenile Correctional OfficerConfinement OfficerDetention OfficerStation JailerSpecial Reconnaissance Apprentice (Air Force 1Z431)Correctional Officer SpecialistSecurity Forces (Air Force 31PX)Master-At-Arms (Navy MA)Gate GuardSpecial Investigations Helper (Air Force 7S011)Individual Augmentation (IA) Support Assignment-Basic Combat (BC) Unit Member (Navy 800G)Correctional MonitorJailerCivilian Jail OfficerCorrections SpecialistCamp/Convoy Security Specialist (Navy 002649)Prison GuardMarine Safety Specialist Deck (Coast Guard MSSD)Law Enforcement and Security Officer, Afloat (Navy 2771)Booking OfficerGate WatchmanSpecial Reconnaissance Helper (Air Force 1Z411)Nuclear Weapons Security Specialist (NWSS) (Navy P10A)Convict GuardSpecial Investigations Craftsman (Air Force 7S071)Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice (Air Force 1Z331)Special Investigations Journeyman (Air Force 7S031)Jail OfficerTactical Air Control Party (TACP) Journeyman (Air Force 1Z351)