What Does a Correctional Officer Do?

By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski  |  03/17/2026

Correctional officers are an important pillar in the criminal justice system. To many, their work on a daily basis is not well understood, but it remains critically important to ensure public safety.

The Responsibilities of Correctional Officers

The U.S. jail system encompasses county or municipal jails, state prisons, federal prisons, and private prisons. However, the role of a correctional officer may differ, depending on the type of facility that employs correctional officers.

For example, correctional officers enforce rules based on the type of facility. County jails typically serve as a temporary holding facility where police officers drop off suspects following an arrest. A correctional officer who works in a county jail may process inmates by:

• Taking photographs
• Collecting fingerprints and contraband such as illegal drugs or weapons
• Ensuring that paperwork is properly completed and regulations are followed to accept a prisoner

Also, a correctional officer in a county jail may be responsible for transporting an inmate to court hearings and medical appointments. Typically, prisoners bail out of county or municipal jail, so the time a correctional officer may interact with an inmate may be limited.

Law enforcement typically works very closely with correctional officers. In addition to providing transportation for offenders going to jail, law enforcement officers may respond when prison emergencies occur. For example, law enforcement officers and law enforcement support staff such as forensic investigators may respond to a facility if assistance is needed following an incident.

Alternatively, correctional officers work at other correctional institutions such as state or federal prisons. A correctional officer working at these prisons may have tower guard duty and other duties.

State and federal prisons are typically meant to house someone following a conviction. Often, an inmate may be in state or federal prisons for a substantial amount of time.

The Process to Become a Correctional Officer

A high school diploma is typically required for employment as a corrections officer. Applicants can expect to go through a thorough background check prior to employment, certifications, and training.

Correctional officer applicants may receive basic and specialized certifications as a part of their staff development. Specialized training may include (but not be limited to):

• Hostage negotiation
• Cell extraction
• Riot control
• Gang intelligence collection

This training can lead to different certifications.

In addition, applicants should have a basic understanding of the law. Laws and agency policies typically guide correctional officers through their daily responsibilities.

Employment in this field may require a probationary period on the job for up one year. This employment may be terminated if the correctional officer responsibilities are not met. This policy ensures that applicants and new hires can handle work assignments during their entire shift, work overtime as needed, and manage their daily responsibilities.

During a shift, these responsibilities can include:

• Monitoring inmate activities
• Maintaining security
• Enforcing rules
• Responding to violent confrontations

Correctional officers must closely monitor the living quarters of offenders to ensure everyone’s safety. Disciplinary action can occur if people do not adhere to rules.

Job Training Is Essential for Proper Law Enforcement

In corrections, proper training is crucial. Officers in this field typically go through a training academy and also have on-the-job training. Some law enforcement agencies may require prior security or military experience or a college education.

Ongoing training in this field is part of the job and helps to ensure that facilities remain secure. This training commonly consists of:

• Learning self-defense techniques
• Gaining a knowledge of first aid
• Ensuring prisoner and officer wellbeing
• Responding to emergency situations
• Writing reports
• Conducting searches
• Inspecting facilities to prevent escapes

Once properly trained, officers are responsible for monitoring inmate conduct for rule violations and protecting the safety of inmates. They also ensure that contraband and other prohibited items do not enter a facility and closely monitor inmate activities.

The risk of violent confrontations and threats to both officer and inmate personal safety is an ongoing threat in correctional facilities. Correctional officers must continue to train, even after their initial academy and field training.

Inmates constantly study officers. They observe:

• Which correctional officers conduct proper searches
• Who exposes their vulnerabilities and compromises safety
• Which correctional officers are more likely to bend prison rules

Bending prison rules can result in severe disciplinary action. A failure to follow prison rules jeopardizes the safety of other officers and inmates, and it can lead to security failures.

In the corrections field, security failures can result in escapes, riots, and hostage-taking situations. To maintain security and safety, correctional officers must consistently monitor inmates and the facility for any indicators of tensions, manipulation by inmates, or anything that could result in a safety or security concern.

Manipulation by inmates may occur when officers:

• Provide counseling
• Provide opportunities for inmates
• Violate prison regulations

However, consistent training can help to mitigate the risk of inmate manipulation.

For some time, I have provided correctional officer training. I explain to correctional officers that prison inmates have nothing but time to study the daily performance and behaviors of officers.

As soon as a correctional officer exhibits limited knowledge on responsibilities or procedures, inmates are likely to exploit that lack of knowledge. Consequently, correctional officers must always operate a high level of performance, strengthen their knowledge in the career field, and enforce regulations covered extensively in training.

Correctional officers maintain discipline in correctional facilities through ensuring a secure environment. This type of environment is created through:

• Detecting any contraband
• Having knowledge of gang activity within the prison system
• Monitoring for gang tension
• Ensuring policies and procedures are always followed by personnel and inmates

Proper supervision is essential in this field. Correctional officers have a large amount of control over prisoners. They monitor inmates for long periods of time and also manage when inmates are released from their cells to go to medical facilities, recreation areas, or visitation rooms.

Correctional officers can expect to frequently fill out forms and reports. Proper documentation and daily logs of incidents increase officer and inmate safety, as well as facility safety.

Work assignments may vary within a prison. Some correctional officers may be assigned to inmate intake who process offenders when they arrive in custody. That correctional officer is responsible for offenders in custody at all times. Some correctional officers may be assigned to other areas of the facility, and their daily responsibilities can vary widely.

Correctional officers have an important job. Working in this field is demanding, but it remains critically important to ensure public safety.

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at APU

For students interested in criminal justice and the corrections field, American Public University (APU) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. This bachelor’s degree in criminal justice offers courses in corrections and incarceration, U.S. law enforcement, and ethics in criminal justice. Other courses include criminal law and constitutional law.

The B.A. in criminal justice offers four concentrations so that students can tailor their education to meet their professional needs. These concentrations are:

• Entrepreneurship
• General
• Maritime law enforcement
• Organizational law enforcement leadership

For more details about the B.A. in criminal justice, visit APU’s security and global studies degree program page.

Note: This degree program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any country, state, province or other jurisdiction. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional licensure.