Correctional Officers

There are almost 500,000 correctional officers in the United States, who are responsible for the safety and security of over 2 million prison and jail inmates. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world and continues to grapple with an effective and cost-efficient means of punishing or correcting those who violate the law. Prisons and jails are overcrowded, underfunded, and understaffed. Those who work as correctional officers receive minimal training and low salaries to perform the vital role of keeping prisoners in correctional facilities and enhancing public safety. This entry explores the correctional officer professional, beginning with basic qualification standards and training requirements, and then moves to a discussion of the mental and physical challenges of working in prisons and jails.