Correctional Officers and Jailers

• 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.
• Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
• Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
• Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
• Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
• Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.
• Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
• Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
• Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
• Settle disputes between inmates.
• Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
• 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.
• 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.
• Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
• Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
• Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment such as a computer.
• Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
• Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
• Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
• Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Correctional Officers and Jailers.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Correctional Officers and Jailers.