Capstone Course Prep (Chapter 12)
In the United States of America, correctional officers are estimated to constitute approximately 60 percent of all prison and jail staff in state and federal institutions (US Dept. of Labor, & Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004). As a matter of fact, correctional officers play the most critical role in the day-to-day running of prisons. Correctional officers therefore contribute greatly to the accomplishment of a prison’s mission through control and maintaining order in prison.
The officers are specifically responsible for maintaining security together with inmate accountability through such actions as curbing disturbances, assaults, or escape. They are tasked with monitoring and controlling of inmate behavior and gives both oral and written behavior about inmate behavior. In the execution of their duties, the correctional officers have to remain fair and not show any favoritism whatsoever (Seiter, 2004). They are always equipped with communication devices by which the use to call for reinforcement when needed. However, they lack law enforcement responsibilities whilst outside the institutions in which they work.
Within the institution, correctional offers render services in a number of varied departments. To this effect, a correctional officer may pose as a housing unit officer, industrial shop officer, work detail officer, yard officer, perimeter security officer, or even as school officer (Seiter, 2004). While this change of responsibilities enables the correctional officers to break an otherwise monotonous work setting, each of the positions often presents unique challenges and responsibilities to them.
As it would be imagined, the working environment of correctional officers is one of the most stressful and dangerous. It is common knowledge that prisons, especially maximum security prisons, house the most dangerous convicts (US Dept. of Labor, & Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004). Among other safety concerns, correctional officers in prisons or jail as constantly vulnerable to physical confrontations from such inmates. As a result, correctional officers are victims of high stress that results from constant contact with prisoners who are greatly antagonistic toward them. There are genuine threats to the individual safety of the officers in addition to the obviously unpleasant surroundings. They work in noisy and disruptive environments typically for 8 hours daily for five days a week on rotating shifts (Seiter, 2004).
Furthermore, they may be obliged to work on shifts during weekends and holidays, day and night. In this respect, there are plenty of organization sources of stress which include understaffing, overtime and shift work. External sources of stress that correctional officers often have to endure are poor remuneration as well as poor public image. Therefore, correctional officers face the challenge of remaining flexible and ensure that their work stress does not interfere with their personal lives (DeAngelis & Petersons’s, 2010).
Gaining compliance of inmates
This is an area that provides particular challenge for correctional officers. Comparatively, winning the compliance of inmates remanded or locked up in jails is more difficult than those in prison. This is because officers usually have familiarity of prison inmates but less knowledge of the more transient populations in jails. In order to realize success, correctional officers must develop skills to gain compliance of inmates without violence or coercion (Seiter, 2004). On this they need to be supported by effective prison disciplinary systems together with inmate classification systems. As such, individual correctional officer are not obliged to take responsibility for bringing inmates to comply with rules.
References:
DeAngelis, Therese, & Petersons’s. (2010). Master the Corrections Officer Exam. Peterson’s.
Seiter, P. Richard. (2004). Corrections: An Introduction. New Jersey, Pearson Prentice Hall.
US Dept. of Labor, & Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2004). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005. Los Angeles, Claitor’s Law Books and Publishing.
