What makes a great correctional officer

Each officer will have the same basic set of skills necessary to do the job, but some may have other skills that will be beneficial to the department. To make a well-rounded force, different strengths from different officers are necessary. There are always some people who can communicate better than others. Having an officer know how to talk a situation down instead of escalating it is as important as having officers who are physically stronger than others.

One officer may have an excellent memory for criminal statutes while another has excellent investigative skills. No one officer can possess all these traits. It takes a blending of each type to make an effective force. When investigating a potential candidate for corrections officer there are many phases of the hiring process the candidate will go through.

The first phase will likely be a written test. Those scoring above an acceptable level will be invited to a physical agility test. The passing candidates will have participated in an oral board.

This board will consist of supervisors in the prison and other respected correctional officers. From there, the recommended candidates will meet with the highest ranking officer for an interview and proceed with a background check.

Many people feel if there is anything that pops up on your background check you will be disqualified for the position. This may not be true. A law enforcement agency is looking for someone who is honest and has integrity. Explain the indiscretion and it may not hurt your chances for the job. If the background check is successful a job offer will likely occur.

The candidate will then go through a physical exam, drug testing and a psychological exam. When all phases of this process are completed and satisfactory, the candidate will begin his employment. The two opportunities a candidate has to make an impression with his superiors will be during the oral board and in any interviews.

Supervisors look for a professional appearance and being well dressed. A corrections officer needs to be confident so appearing confident in the hiring process will show them you can handle yourself.

There are several red flags that any Department of Corrections will look for when investigating a potential correctional officer. Any failure of the psychological exam would be a red flag not to hire that person. Being dishonest on the background check or in an interview will be a good reason not to hire you. Frequent moving from job to job is a sign of trouble. Being turned down by other corrections agencies is another red flag.

Correctional departments, like other branches of law enforcement, are para-military organizations. Appearance and conduct play an important part of the image. In order to be respected and emit an air of authority and confidence a correction officers must adhere to a strict dress code and conduct. Hair must be neat and the officer clean shaven. The uniform must be neat and clean and free of unauthorized accessories. Sloppiness and unkemptness does not portray the image of someone who cares about the job.

Inmates may attempt to take advantage of an officer they feel they can push around. An officer must follow a code of conduct.

This code is enforced on the job as well as off the job. The officer should use the corrections uniform for his or her own gain. Corrections Officers as well as Police Officers are held to a higher standard of conduct because of their profession. If the professionalism that is required is not adhered to the officer may be let go. A speeding ticket may not mean a janitor gets disciplined at work, but a corrections officer is expected to obey the laws. Williams lives in Brady, Texas and has worked in corrections since She was recognized for her exemplary work with juvenile females and her outstanding work ethic.

She has an outstanding work ethic and displays loyalty and integrity on a daily basis. The youths in this program are paired with a shelter dog. The dogs are cared for and trained in appropriate behavior to ready them for adoption while the youths learn responsibility, empathy and caring.

She listens to the youths with interest and sets out to come up with solutions to their problems. She always puts safety and security first. Martin began his career in corrections in The award for Corrections Officer of the Year was given to Martin because of an event that occurred in May The letter led prison investigators to several prisoners who possessed the illegal drug.

He asked to be part of the elite investigative team and was instrumental in locating more secret compartments in the prison where the drug was hidden.

Together, Officer Orgazan and Blue-Zen have stopped numerous attempts of smuggling contraband into the prison. CDCR Undersecretary of Operations Martin Hoshino stated, "Last year alone, Officer Orgazan and Blu-Zen were directly involved in the seizure of approximately 88 grams of methamphetamines, grams of marijuana, 49 grams of heroin and 3 grams of cocaine.

And for those of you who aren't familiar with quantities, I can tell you that's a hell of a lot of dope. Because she works with a partner, Officer Orgazan credits their accomplishments to her partner. She also stated that she is not the only one working to stop illegal drugs in prison and would like to acknowledge the teamwork from the rest of her unit. Bureau of Prisons has established standards for vision and hearing screening, mental and emotional stability and infectious disease.

Results of a hearing booth test must show the applicant can hear a conversational voice in at least one ear, with or without a hearing aid, when measured in the decibel ranges of , and , according to the U. Office of Personnel Management. Active, infectious diseases that normally spread by skin-to-skin contact or breathing must be absent or no longer at risk of spreading.

Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. See disclaimer. Related Articles. They should be attentive to inmates' concerns and make them feel comfortable sharing information.

Related: 7 Tips for Improving Communication Skills. Correctional officers should be open to new perspectives and ways of doing things. They should have a flexible mentality that allows them to adapt to changes and new challenges.

This quality allows them to react to new situations. When correctional officers are open-minded, they also avoid letting bias and stereotypes affect their work. Being a correctional officer can be stressful, and high levels of stress can affect an individual's functioning. Correctional officers should have strong stress management skills so they can avoid becoming overwhelmed and, instead, react positively during intense situations. Correctional officers should have the self-discipline to focus only on their work and to react to situations logically rather than emotionally.

If conflict arises in a facility, they should resolve it professionally. Correctional officers with self-discipline also continually learn and develop new skills to improve at work. Correctional officers should have the analytical skills to identify patterns, trends and unusual activities. These skills help them form meaningful conclusions from the information and take proper action.

Analytical skills also help correctional officers solve problems and prevent them from recurring. Correctional officers should work together and support each other in their work. Teamwork gets the job done more efficiently and makes work more enjoyable.

Knowing your colleague is supporting you and ready to help if you need it can encourage not just one officer but the entire team. Teamwork and cohesiveness allow the officers to approach mental health issues with the support of their team.

The job can be stressful at times, but that stress is easier to manage with a supportive team's help. Good problem-solving allows officers to evaluate and assess situations and develop effective strategies for resolving issues.

Correctional officers should consider all factors and parties involved in a potential problem and find a solution that benefits everyone. Correctional officers need to be aware of everything happening at their workplace.

They should watch for security breaches, contraband, strange behaviors and illegal activities. Excellent observational skills help officers identify and address concerns before they become major issues. By intervening early, they can keep themselves and the inmate population safe. Being a correctional officer is physically demanding and might involve restraining inmates. Many correctional officers choose to learn a type of combat such as martial arts. They should also have the stamina to be standing and walking much of the day.

A correctional officer who is committed to what they do earns respect from colleagues and inmates and motivates those around them to work hard, as well. An officer's dedication to keep a facility operating smoothly can motivate them to do their job well.

Correctional officers must be neutral in all their interactions with inmates. They should show no signs of favoritism and should treat all inmates similarly.

They must report all rule violations to superiors, no matter who broke that rule, and enforce any disciplinary actions. If external law enforcement needs to perform an investigation, correctional officers must cooperate, regardless of their feelings about an inmate. For this reason, hiring managers at correctional facilities often use hypothetical scenarios to test an officer's judgment skills.

Related: What Is Favoritism in the Workplace?