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Corrections Officers guard inmates in prisons according to established rules, policies, and procedures to prevent disturbances and escapes.  

JOB DUTIES      

Corrections Officers may:  

Observe inmates to ensure that they are orderly and that they obey rules  

Check locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates for tampering  

Search inmates and cells for weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items  

Supervise inmates during work assignments  

Settle disputes between inmates and enforce discipline  

Prepare reports of problems and unusual occurrences  

Serve as guards on towers and at gates  

Escort inmates to and from cells and other areas, and escort lawyers, doctors, or other outsiders to see inmates  

Make fire, safety, and sanitation inspections  

Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates  

Tools and equipment used may include:  

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES     

372.667-018 CORRECTION OFFICERS work in prisons according to established rules, policies, and procedures to prevent disturbance and escapes. They guard inmates, inspect inmates' mail for forbidden items, administer first aid, or assist police authorities by investigating crimes committed within the institution and by searching for escaped inmates. They may also do informal counseling to help inmates adjust to institutional life, prepare for civilian life, and avoid future criminal activity. Corrections Officers must always be on the lookout for inmates who might try to injure themselves or others who have other problems that are best referred to doctors, psychiatrists, or psychologists.  

Generally, only Officers on tower duty or outside patrol or who are searching for escaped prisoners carry guns. Corrections Officers may be known by the type of institution they work in such as Corrections Officer, city or county jail or Corrections Officer, prison.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS    

Corrections Officers work under the supervision of corrections sergeants or corrections supervisors. Officers may work alone or in small groups.  

Corrections Officers may work indoors or outdoors, depending on their assignment. Indoor areas may be well lighted, heated, and ventilated, or may be overcrowded, hot, and noisy. Officers working outdoors are subject to all kinds of weather. Officers may spend most of their shift standing and walking. Their work is very stressful because of the potential danger, while all prison employees take every possible step to prevent violent outbreaks.  

The normal workweek is 5 days, 40 hours. Since prison security must be provided 24 hours a day, Officers may be assigned to any shift, and work schedules including weekends and holidays. Many Officers work rotating shifts. Since inmates sleep in locked cells at night, fewer Officers are required for this shift than for the day or afternoon shifts. Officers may work overtime during emergencies.  

Some must buy their uniforms, but most receive uniforms or a uniform allowance.  

Many Correction Officers are represented by unions, such as the Michigan Corrections Organization of the Service Employees International Union. Union members must pay dues. Officers may also join professional associations, such as the International Association of Correctional Officers of the American Correctional Association. Officers belonging to these organizations must pay periodic membership fees.  

You Should Prefer:  

• Activities involving business contact with people  

• Activities concerned with communication of information/ideas to  

people  

You Should Be Able To:  

• Make decisions based on personal judgment  

• Deal effectively with people beyond giving and receiving instructions  

• Work well under pressure when faced with critical/unexpected  

situations  

• Communicate well with others  

• Recognize and remember faces and names  

• Tolerate verbally-expressed hostility  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:  

If there are three rows of 35 inmates, how many inmates are there in total?  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:  

Since these are individually owned polices, Officers may maintain their coverage even if their employment terminates by continuing to pay the premiums directly to New York Life.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:  

They should be able to write a report to your supervisor explaining any discipline problems that might have occurred during the day.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:  

You should be able to decide the best way to break up a physical altercation that might occur between two inmates on your shift.  

 The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click  here  for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Correctional Officer, State for specific licensing information.  

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES    

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a Certificate (program of up to one years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.  

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***  

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES  

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***  

052 PUBLIC SAFETY/PROTECTIVE SERVICES  

Approved vocational education programs in Public Safety & Protective  

Services prepare students in security, corrections, law enforcement, firefighting, and/or emergency medical technology. The 2 phase program teaches foundation skills as well as a set of common public safety & protective service skills that are generic to all like occupations.  

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***  

091 LAW ENFORCEMENT & CORRECTIONS  

Programs in Law Enforcement and Corrections provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment in protective services, local police forces, county sheriff departments, Michigan State Police, the Michigan Department of Corrections, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  

Courses within this program vary but may include:  

159 SECURITY TRAINING  

Programs in Security Training offer opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills used in protecting property against fire, theft, vandalism, illegal entry, and other unauthorized or illegal occurrences.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:  

  Search for a College and/or Instructional Program     

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***  

Although individuals might enter this occupation through apprenticeship training, currently no apprenticeship programs for this occupation are available in Michigan. For more information, contact the Bureau or Apprenticeship and Training found in the Sources Of More Information below.  

An extensive listing of other information sources can also be found in the "What Is An Apprenticeship?" document found under the MOIS Supports Menu Item.  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com  

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SPECIALISTS  

The military services have their own law enforcement and security specialists. These specialists investigate crimes committed on military property or that involve military personnel. They also guard inmates in military correctional facilities.  

What They Do  

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:  

• Investigate criminal activities and activities related to espionage, treason, and terrorism  

• Interview witnesses and question suspects, sometimes using polygraph machines (lie detectors)  

• Guard correctional facilities and conduct searches of inmates, cells, and vehicles  

• Perform fire and riot control duties  

Training Provided  

Job training consists of 5 to 12 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:  

• Civil and military laws  

• Investigation procedures and techniques  

• Prisoner control and discipline  

Helpful Attributes  

Helpful attributes include:  

• Interest in law enforcement and crime prevention  

• Willingness to perform potentially dangerous work  

• Ability to remain calm under pressure  

Work Environment  

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military work mainly indoors; they may work outdoors while conducting investigations or guarding prisoners in exercise yards.  

Physical Demands  

Normal color vision is necessary to enter some specialties in this area. Some specialties have minimum age and height requirements.  

Civilian Counterparts  

Civilian law enforcement and security specialists work in federal, state, and local prisons, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and private security companies. They perform similar duties to those performed in the military. They may be called detectives, private investigators, undercover agents, correction officers, or guards.  

Opportunities  

The military has about 5,050 law enforcement and security specialists. On average, the services need about 250 new law enforcement and security specialists each year. After job training, they work under the direction of more experienced specialists. In time, they may supervise and train new workers or lead investigations. Eventually, they may become chiefs of detectives or superintendents of correctional facilities.    

E-Learning Courses and Programs    

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY     

There are few opportunities to gain experience in this occupation. Serving as a police cadet will provide an opportunity to experience a similar work setting and become familiar with the law enforcement system. Postsecondary programs in law enforcement and corrections or security training may offer co-op or work experience. Military service may offer some opportunities for experience also.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:  

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Corrections Officer employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Corrections Officer employer  

community service work with an agency  

Many Michigan colleges offer an accelerated program for Corrections Officers. Completers who earn their Corrections Certificate receive priority placement with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Applicants who take individual classes, as opposed to the accelerated program, must take 15 semester hours or 23 quarter hours of designated courses. Individuals enter this occupation by applying to federal, state, and local civil service or personnel offices. Applicants may have to take written and oral exams and undergo interviews. Assistance in applying is available from local federal job information centers, Michigan Works!, and school placement offices. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Talent Bank (  www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage ) 

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Classifieds Employment (  www.classifieds2000.com )

Michigan Department of Career Development (  www.michigan.gov/mdcd )

Michigan Works! (  www.michiganworks.org)  

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT     

Earnings vary by level of government, size of the employer, and union affiliation. Correction Officers employed by the federal government begin at the GS-6 level. The starting annual salary for this level was $25,344 in 2002. After successfully completing one year of work, Officers are promoted to the GS-7 level at an annual beginning salary of $28,164.

The maximum salary at the GS-7 level was $36,615. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  The median yearly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $31,044 in 2001.  

Corrections Officers employed by county governments in Michigan had annual salaries (2000) of:  

Detention Facility Officers employed by the City of Detroit had annual salaries ranging from $26,100 to $31,500 in mid 2002. Annual salaries for Corrections Officers employed by the State of Michigan ranged from $27,123 to $40,382 in mid 2002. In addition to their regular pay, Corrections Officers who work nights receive a shift differential. Officers who work holidays receive holiday pay.  

Corrections Officers may receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; sick leave; and retirement plans. Some receive dental and optical insurance and prescription drug plans. Meals may also be provided while on duty. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Corrections Officers usually begin as trainees. With experience, they may advance to specialist positions and be assigned to cell blocks, work areas, or recreation areas. Some may advance to supervisory positions. Experience and individual ability are the most important factors in advancement. Supervisors may advance to administrative positions. With the appropriate education, Corrections Officers may become correctional counselors or parole officers.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK     

Approximately 413,800 Corrections Officers were employed nationally in 2000. Employment is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010. The industry distribution for Corrections Officers looked like this:  

More prisons and jails are being built to house the rising numbers of criminals. Employment opportunities for Corrections Officers will continue to increase to fill new jobs as well as to replace Officers who retire or leave their jobs for other reasons. Corrections Officers are rarely laid off because security must be maintained in correctional institutions at all times. Difficult working conditions contribute to a particularly high turnover rate.  

There are about 12,725 Corrections Officers employed in Michigan. They worked in local, state, and federal facilities, such as prisons, county or city jails, institutions for the criminally insane, reformatories, and detention centers.

Employment of Corrections Officers in Michigan is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008. An average of 580 annual openings is expected in that time period, with 230 due to growth and 350 due to replacement of workers who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers transfer to other jobs or occupations.  

Employment of Corrections Officers is not usually affected by changes in economic conditions on the overall level of government spending because security must be maintained in correctional institutions at all times. Even when corrections budgets are cut, Corrections Officers are rarely laid off. With the high turnover in this occupation, staffs can be cut quickly by not replacing those who leave.

MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008  

 EMPLOYMENT                               NUMBER                   PERCENT               PROJECTED YEARLY  REGION                                            EMPLOYED              GROWTH                JOB OPENINGS  

  Ann Arbor Area                                865                              32.9                        53  

  Battle Creek Area                             65                                24.6                         4  

  Benton Harbor Area                         80                                 27.5                        4  

  Central Michigan                              1,465                             23.9                       75  

  Detroit MSA                                   1,990                             13.1                        80  

  East Central Michigan                      375                                28.6                       21  

  Flint Area                                        170                                25.0                       9  

  Grand Rapids Area                          630                               16.4                       27  

  Jackson Area                                  2,255                             19.2                      105  

  Kalamazoo Area                             65                                  28.8                       4  

  Lansing MSA                                  270                                33.5                      16  

  Muskegon Area                              320                                18.8                      15  

  Northeast Lower Peninsula             465                                26.0                       25  

  Northwest Lower Peninsula            660                                26.8                      36  

  Saginaw MSA                               375                                 29.7                      21  

  Thumb Area                                  615                                 20.1                      29  

  Upper Peninsula                            2,010                              25.6                     106  

  West Central Michigan                  215                                 19.6                     10    

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area    

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION     

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.  

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MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2002, Michigan Occupational Information System