In Depth Guide to Working in Corrections

Which Types of Jobs are Available in Corrections

With millions of prisoners passing through U.S. correctional facilities each year, jobs abound in the corrections industry. Correctional treatment specialists work with prisoners both during and after their jail sentence. For instance, you could work at a prison giving psychological tests to inmates or help determine whether or not an inmate is likely to commit a crime if released. Or you may work with probation officers to create parole and release plans. Work with parolees or at probation agencies may involve establishing education or training programs so offenders' can develop job skills. Similarly, you may need to provide anger management, coping, and drug and sexual abuse counseling. Depending on the type of offenders you work with, and in which agency jurisdiction, you could have anywhere from 20 to over 100 active cases at any given time.

This job does have challenges, such as working with possibly dangerous criminals and angry family members. You might have to do fieldwork in a high-crime area. Some correctional treatment specialists carry firearms for protection. Yet you can also derive tremendous satisfaction from helping a former inmate become a valuable member of the community.

Other jobs in this industry include probation officers, who supervise people placed on probation instead of sent to prison, and parole officers, who fulfill a similar role for people who have already served a prison sentence. You could also become a pre-trial services officer, investigating suspects to determine whether or not they should be held in jail prior to their trial or released on bail. Finally, correctional officers monitor those people who have been convicted and sent to a correctional facility.

Formal Training Required to Work in Corrections

Most people working in corrections need a bachelor's degree. To become a correctional treatment specialist, parole officer, or probation officer, you should consider majoring in criminal justice, social work, or psychology. Some employees obtain a master's degree in one of those subjects as well, which is particularly useful if you don't have any relevant work experience.

Before you can start work, you often need to take oral, written, psychological, and physical exams. Jobs with the state or federal government may include an initial training program followed by a one year probationary period before you receive a permanent position.

Correctional officers differ from the other careers, since you tend to only need a high school diploma to enter a training academy. If you do want to work in federal jails, however, you need a bachelor's degree or three years of full-time work in a related field.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Working in Corrections

Employers typically look for applicants with a firm grasp of the laws and regulations of the department of corrections. You need strong interpersonal skills in order to work well with offenders and other corrections officers. Excellent writing skills can help you with the many reports you need to prepare and file.

As you gain experience in the field, you can advance within a prison or agency. Earning a master's degree may also help you to advance, particularly to a supervisory role.

Correctional officers can become correctional sergeants. With some ambition and more experience, you can then get promoted to an administrative position and possibly even work your way up to warden.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Those Working in Corrections

As of 2008, 103,400 correctional treatment specialists and probation officers worked in the U.S. The majority worked in local or state corrections. Since this number should grow by 19 percent from 2008-2018, according to Bureau of Labor Statistic's projections, you could have excellent job prospects with the right training. Currently, several states are reconsidering the mandatory sentencing guidelines due to budget problems and other issues with their jails. Therefore, you may find a growing trend towards probation instead of imprisonment, further increasing the demand for correctional treatment specialists and probation officers.

Those same changes in state laws have slowed the growth of correctional officers, however the field is still expected to increase by 9 percent from 2008-2018. In spite of this, you should have plenty of job opportunities, especially since many openings arise from the need to replace officers who are retiring or transferring to another job in the corrections industry.

Correctional officers had a median annual salary of $39,050 in 2008, although you could average $52,310 working in a federal correctional facility. For correctional treatment specialist and probation officers the median salary in 2008 was $46,530. Those in state corrections average slightly more: $51,490.