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Wikipedia

Prison officer

March 20, 2023

A prison officer or corrections officer also known as a Correctional Law Enforcement Officer is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation of prisoners. They are responsible for the care, custody, and control of individuals who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment. They are also responsible for the security of the facility and its property as well as other law enforcement functions. Most prison officers or corrections officers are employed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate, although some are employed by private companies that provide prison services to the government.

Prisons officer
A turnkey of a Paris prison, 19th century
Occupation
NamesCorrectional officer,

Correctional Law Enforcement Officer, Corrections officer, Correctional Police Officer, Detention officer,

Detention deputy.
Occupation type
Employment
Activity sectors
Law enforcement
Description
CompetenciesSee Working environment
Education required
See Training
Fields of
employment
Prisons, jails
Related jobs
Police officer
"Jailer" redirects here. For the film, see Jailer (film).

Terms for the role

 
A prison guard on lookout in the watchtower at Parramatta Gaol.
 
A sort of Russian jail with a prison guard, 1915

Historically, terms such as "jailer" (also spelled "gaoler"), "guard" and "warder"[1] have all been used.

The term "prison officer" is now used for the role in the UK[2] and Ireland.[3] It is the official English title in Denmark,[4] Finland,[5] and Sweden.[6]

The term "corrections officer" or "correction officer" is used in the U.S.[7][8] and New Zealand.[9]

The term "Correctional Police Officer" or "CPO" is used in New Jersey. Due to the law enforcement status and authority of New Jersey's officers, New Jersey's officers employed by the Department of Corrections are classified as "Police Officers".[10][11]

"Correctional officer" is used in Australia,[12] Canada,[13][14][15] Jamaica,[16] and the U.S.[17]

In Australia, prison officers were known as turnkeys until the 19th century after which they were known as warders until the late 20th century. Additionally, a slang term used as an insult or form of group endearment during this period was 'screws'. Following this period they were known as prison officers and later correctional officers.[18]

"Detention officer" is used in the U.S.,[19] as is the term "penal officer".[20]

The official who is in charge of a specific prison is known by various titles, including: "warden" (US and Canada), "governor" (UK and Australia), "superintendent" (South Asia) or "director" (New Zealand), respectively "Direktor" or "Gefängnisdirektor" (Germany).

Duties

 
US Marshals and prisoners on board a Con Air flight

Prison officers must maintain order and daily operations of the facility and are responsible for the care, custody, and control of inmates. A correction officer has a responsibility to control inmates who may be dangerous, and that society themselves do not wish to accommodate. An officer must always prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates. Officers have a responsibility to protect themselves, other officers, inmates, and the public from assault by other inmates. Correctional officers must also protect inmates from harming themselves or committing suicide. An officer must be alert and aware of any and all movement taking place inside the facility.

Prevention is one of the key components of an officer's duties. Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons, drugs, or other contraband. Officers should remain assertive and in most situations refuse to back down. An officer shall hold offenders who violate facility policy accountable for their actions when rules are violated. This is usually done through on the spot corrections, a formal disciplinary process, or through the legal process in extreme circumstances. Correction officers must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility. Officers check for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. Fire and severe weather drills may be common. Officers may screen all incoming and outgoing mail for select high risk offenders.

All prison staff, regardless of position, volunteers, visitors, new court commit, and offenders returning from off ground, are searched prior to entry. This aides in the reduction of contraband being introduced into the facility. These routine searches often employ hand held or walk through metal detectors, and baggage x-ray machines. Under certain instances, a canine, pat/frisk, full strip, and vehicle (if parked on facility grounds) search may be conducted. Correction officers are responsible for transporting inmates to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances, and other approved locations. In the US, these trips are most often local, but may be across the entire country. Correction officers may assist police officers on/off duty depending on their peace officer status and jurisdiction.[21]

Training

Corrections officers' training will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility depending on the legislated power given, the nature of the facilities, or even the socioeconomics of the region. Training may be provided by external agencies or at the facility with a peer-group or supervisor instructor.

In North America, standard training usually includes:

Many jurisdictions have also, in recent years, expanded basic training to include:

Most institutions in the United States have a crisis resolution team of some sort, though these vary in name (i.e., Crisis Resolution Team or CRT, Special Response Team or SRT, Correctional Emergency Response Team or CERT, Crisis and Emergency Response Team also CERT, Special Security Team or SST, Disturbance Control Team or DCT, Special Operations And Response Team or SORT). These teams take on a role similar to a police SWAT team, but are tailored to the prison setting. Though these vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, they typically must pass a very physically demanding course lasting a week or more.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "warder, n.1". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ "Working for HMPS". UK Government. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  3. ^ Irish Prison Service – Recruitment 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 November 2011
  4. ^ The Danish Prison and Probation Service – General Information, page 5 17 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012-07-07
  5. ^ The Training Institute for Prison and Probation Services, Finland 5 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011
  6. ^ Swedish Prison and Probation Service – Fact Sheet. Retrieved 29 November 2011
  7. ^ Indeed: Corrections Officer Salary Retrieved 2012-07-07
  8. ^ Yukon Department of Justice website Retrieved 29 November 2011
  9. ^ New Zealand Department of Corrections – Job Description 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Corrections.govt.nz Retrieved 29 November 2011
  10. ^ NJ Civil Service: Correctional Police Officer Retrieved 2021-06-13
  11. ^ NJ Civil Service: County Correctional Police Officer Retrieved 2021-06-13
  12. ^ Queensland Corrective Services – Employment Information Retrieved 2012-07-07
  13. ^ Correctional Service Canada – Correctional officer job profile 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011
  14. ^ Ontario Correctional Services – Careers Retrieved 29 November 2011
  15. ^ British Columbia Corrections – Employment Information Retrieved 29 November 2011
  16. ^ Jamaica Department of Correctional Service – Roles of Correctional Officer 21 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011
  17. ^ US Department of Labor – Correctional Officer job statistics Retrieved 29 November 2011
  18. ^ Dawson, Christopher. "Screw!". Inside Boggo Road. Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society. from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  19. ^ FBI Atlanta: Former Fulton County Detention Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison Retrieved 2012-07-07
  20. ^ Career Occupational Profile for: Penal Officer Retrieved 2014-03-17
  21. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011.

Sources

  • Davenport, D. K. (2001). State of Arizona Office of the Auditor General Performance Audit: Arizona Department of Corrections. Sunset Factors Retrieved 8 March 2008 from http://www.auditorgen.state.az.us/Reports/State_Agencies/Agencies/Corrections[permanent dead link]
  • Tracy, S. J. (2004). The construction of correctional officers: Layers of emotionality behind bars. Qualitative Inquiry, 10, 509–533.
  • Tracy, S. J., Meyers, K., & Scott, C. (2007). Cracking jokes and crafting selves: Sensemaking and identity management among human service workers. Communication Monographs, 73, 283–308.
  • Correctional Service of Canada; Correctional Officers and Their First Year: An Empirical Investigation

External links

  •   Media related to Prison guards at Wikimedia Commons

March 20, 2023
prison, officer, prison, officer, corrections, officer, also, known, correctional, enforcement, officer, uniformed, enforcement, official, responsible, custody, supervision, safety, regulation, prisoners, they, responsible, care, custody, control, individuals,. A prison officer or corrections officer also known as a Correctional Law Enforcement Officer is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody supervision safety and regulation of prisoners They are responsible for the care custody and control of individuals who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to imprisonment They are also responsible for the security of the facility and its property as well as other law enforcement functions Most prison officers or corrections officers are employed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate although some are employed by private companies that provide prison services to the government Prisons officerA turnkey of a Paris prison 19th centuryOccupationNamesCorrectional officer Correctional Law Enforcement Officer Corrections officer Correctional Police Officer Detention officer Detention deputy Occupation typeEmploymentActivity sectorsLaw enforcementDescriptionCompetenciesSee Working environmentEducation requiredSee TrainingFields ofemploymentPrisons jailsRelated jobsPolice officer Jailer redirects here For the film see Jailer film Contents 1 Terms for the role 2 Duties 3 Training 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Sources 6 External linksTerms for the role Edit A prison guard on lookout in the watchtower at Parramatta Gaol A sort of Russian jail with a prison guard 1915 Historically terms such as jailer also spelled gaoler guard and warder 1 have all been used The term prison officer is now used for the role in the UK 2 and Ireland 3 It is the official English title in Denmark 4 Finland 5 and Sweden 6 The term corrections officer or correction officer is used in the U S 7 8 and New Zealand 9 The term Correctional Police Officer or CPO is used in New Jersey Due to the law enforcement status and authority of New Jersey s officers New Jersey s officers employed by the Department of Corrections are classified as Police Officers 10 11 Correctional officer is used in Australia 12 Canada 13 14 15 Jamaica 16 and the U S 17 In Australia prison officers were known as turnkeys until the 19th century after which they were known as warders until the late 20th century Additionally a slang term used as an insult or form of group endearment during this period was screws Following this period they were known as prison officers and later correctional officers 18 Detention officer is used in the U S 19 as is the term penal officer 20 The official who is in charge of a specific prison is known by various titles including warden US and Canada governor UK and Australia superintendent South Asia or director New Zealand respectively Direktor or Gefangnisdirektor Germany Duties EditThe examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this section discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new section as appropriate March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message US Marshals and prisoners on board a Con Air flight Prison officers must maintain order and daily operations of the facility and are responsible for the care custody and control of inmates A correction officer has a responsibility to control inmates who may be dangerous and that society themselves do not wish to accommodate An officer must always prevent disturbances assaults and escapes by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates Officers have a responsibility to protect themselves other officers inmates and the public from assault by other inmates Correctional officers must also protect inmates from harming themselves or committing suicide An officer must be alert and aware of any and all movement taking place inside the facility Prevention is one of the key components of an officer s duties Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons drugs or other contraband Officers should remain assertive and in most situations refuse to back down An officer shall hold offenders who violate facility policy accountable for their actions when rules are violated This is usually done through on the spot corrections a formal disciplinary process or through the legal process in extreme circumstances Correction officers must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility Officers check for unsanitary conditions fire hazards and or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks bars grilles doors and gates Fire and severe weather drills may be common Officers may screen all incoming and outgoing mail for select high risk offenders All prison staff regardless of position volunteers visitors new court commit and offenders returning from off ground are searched prior to entry This aides in the reduction of contraband being introduced into the facility These routine searches often employ hand held or walk through metal detectors and baggage x ray machines Under certain instances a canine pat frisk full strip and vehicle if parked on facility grounds search may be conducted Correction officers are responsible for transporting inmates to other facilities medical appointments court appearances and other approved locations In the US these trips are most often local but may be across the entire country Correction officers may assist police officers on off duty depending on their peace officer status and jurisdiction 21 Training EditCorrections officers training will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility depending on the legislated power given the nature of the facilities or even the socioeconomics of the region Training may be provided by external agencies or at the facility with a peer group or supervisor instructor In North America standard training usually includes Use of force and restraints i e handcuffs leg irons belly chains etc Weapons firearms taser pepper spray baton etc Self defense First aid and CPR Report writing Giving testimony in court Defusing hostility Interpersonal communication Correction law Criminal law Criminal procedure law Case work and criminal investigations Hostage negotiation Gang intelligenceMany jurisdictions have also in recent years expanded basic training to include Suicide prevention crisis intervention Mental health awareness Critical incident stress management Occupational Safety and Health Act U S or Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Canada Gang awareness and intervention Crisis or hostage negotiation Drug abuse training Rehabilitation programs Rapid response training Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 Diversity Equity and Inclusion DEI Staff wellnessMost institutions in the United States have a crisis resolution team of some sort though these vary in name i e Crisis Resolution Team or CRT Special Response Team or SRT Correctional Emergency Response Team or CERT Crisis and Emergency Response Team also CERT Special Security Team or SST Disturbance Control Team or DCT Special Operations And Response Team or SORT These teams take on a role similar to a police SWAT team but are tailored to the prison setting Though these vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction they typically must pass a very physically demanding course lasting a week or more See also EditPolice officer Bailiff Ontario Canada Correctional Emergency Response Team Correctional Service of Canada Federal Bureau of Prisons U S His Majesty s Prison Service UK Irish Prison Service Justizwache Austria Law enforcement officer Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Ontario Canada New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision New Zealand Police Negotiation Team Northern Ireland Prison Service Probation and Parole officer Psychiatric technician Punjab Prisons Pakistan Scottish Prison Service Deputy Sheriff United States Texas Department of Criminal Justice Wisconsin Department of CorrectionsReferences EditCitations Edit warder n 1 Oxford English Dictionary Online ed Oxford University Press Subscription or participating institution membership required Working for HMPS UK Government Retrieved 18 November 2015 Irish Prison Service Recruitment Archived 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011 The Danish Prison and Probation Service General Information page 5 Archived 17 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2012 07 07 The Training Institute for Prison and Probation Services Finland Archived 5 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011 Swedish Prison and Probation Service Fact Sheet Retrieved 29 November 2011 Indeed Corrections Officer Salary Retrieved 2012 07 07 Yukon Department of Justice website Retrieved 29 November 2011 New Zealand Department of Corrections Job Description Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Corrections govt nz Retrieved 29 November 2011 NJ Civil Service Correctional Police Officer Retrieved 2021 06 13 NJ Civil Service County Correctional Police Officer Retrieved 2021 06 13 Queensland Corrective Services Employment Information Retrieved 2012 07 07 Correctional Service Canada Correctional officer job profile Archived 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011 Ontario Correctional Services Careers Retrieved 29 November 2011 British Columbia Corrections Employment Information Retrieved 29 November 2011 Jamaica Department of Correctional Service Roles of Correctional Officer Archived 21 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 November 2011 US Department of Labor Correctional Officer job statistics Retrieved 29 November 2011 Dawson Christopher Screw Inside Boggo Road Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society Archived from the original on 27 January 2023 Retrieved 27 January 2023 FBI Atlanta Former Fulton County Detention Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison Retrieved 2012 07 07 Career Occupational Profile for Penal Officer Retrieved 2014 03 17 Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 11 Edition Archived from the original on 28 June 2011 Retrieved 25 June 2011 Sources Edit Davenport D K 2001 State of Arizona Office of the Auditor General Performance Audit Arizona Department of Corrections Sunset Factors Retrieved 8 March 2008 from http www auditorgen state az us Reports State Agencies Agencies Corrections permanent dead link Tracy S J 2004 The construction of correctional officers Layers of emotionality behind bars Qualitative Inquiry 10 509 533 Tracy S J Meyers K amp Scott C 2007 Cracking jokes and crafting selves Sensemaking and identity management among human service workers Communication Monographs 73 283 308 Correctional Service of Canada Correctional Officers and Their First Year An Empirical InvestigationExternal links Edit Media related to Prison guards at Wikimedia Commons Portal Law Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prison officer amp oldid 1142221803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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