How2Day: The Duties & Requirements of Federal Corrections Officers

Prison officers prevent inmates from escaping. prison wire image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
A federal corrections officer works as a supervisor in a jail or prison run by the United States federal government. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. federal corrections officer receives a salary of over $53,000, significantly higher than those employed by state and local government. It offers a well-paid career, with opportunities for advancement, but the job comes with weighty responsibilities and demands that require mental and physical strength.

Federal prisons have an age minimum of 18 for corrections officers. New applicants must be below the age of 37, have U.S. citizenship and a clean criminal record with no felonies. Employees must undergo physical examinations to determine good health and fitness and pass a written test.

Federal corrections officers need a minimum of a bachelor's degree. They must have at least three years' full-time work experience in a role relevant to correctional work, such as counseling or supervision. Military service is considered the strongest experience for the job. Federal-level jobs have much higher requirements than state and local level.

Training takes place on the job. Federal institutions require 200 hours of training during the first year of employment. In the first 60 days of employment, corrections officers fulfill 120 hours of training at the Federal Bureau of Prisons training center in Glynco, Georgia.

The job of a corrections officer carries stress, so officers must have the ability to cope emotionally, mentally and physically. The job carries physical risks as inmates may become aggressive or violent. Officers maintain order primarily through interpersonal skills, such as the ability to negotiate and assert authority, rather than through physical force.

A federal corrections officer supervises inmates held by the federal government in a jail following arrest and before a trial, or in a prison or detention facility following a conviction. Officers oversee the daily running of the center, keeping it secure, preventing and dealing with disturbances, monitoring activity, enforcing rules and protecting the well-being of both inmates and staff.

Conditions vary, depending on the age and location of the facility. Older prisons may have overcrowding problems and lack modern ventilation. Prisons operate around the clock, so officers typically must work five days a week in eight-hour shifts, at different times, including overnight, according to a rota. Paid overtime is common.

Practical duties include escorting inmates within the facility, supervising work and leisure, inspecting cells, searching inmates for contraband such as drugs and weapons, and maintaining a safe environment. Officers receive training in using equipment such as handcuffs, CCTV and communication systems, as well as physical techniques for restraint and self-defense.

Federal prisons require officers to keep written records of their daily work and write reports of any incidents that take place, such as verbal and physical abuse, disturbances and rule breaches. Officers should expect to have to spend time at the end of each shift fulfilling these requirements.

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