what benefits do correctional officers get

Salary and Benefits

• The annual starting salary for an entry-level Corrections Officer is approximately $39,770. ...
• After five years of service, Corrections Officers receive longevity pay; a lump sum provided once a year based on time-in-service as of October 1 of each year.
• Corrections Officers receive health, dental, vision and life insurance from the state of Michigan.

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Full Answer

What are the qualifications to become a correctional officer?

Requirements to Become a Correctional Officer

• Requirements to Become a Correctional Officer. Correctional Officers are the law enforcement personnel responsible for supervising prisoners, ensuring that all prison rules are being followed and keeping state, local and ...
• Minimum Requirements
• Education Requirements. ...
• Selection Process Requirements. ...

What are the job duties of a correctional officer?

What are 10 job duties performed by the correctional officers?

• Maintaining order and ensuring rules are complied with.
• Supporting rehabilitation and counselling of inmates.
• Supervising the activity of inmates and report on conduct.
• Searching inmates for illegal items or contraband.
• Inspecting and maintaining safety and integrity of prison facilities.

How to get hired as a correctional officer?

Step 4 - Complete Correctional Officer Training at an Approved Training Academy

• Procedural Training. All states have very specific procedural criteria that must be followed in the correctional institution setting to insure both the safety of the inmates and the staff.
• Firearms Training. ...
• In-Service Training. ...
• Basic Fitness Training. ...
• Rehabilitative Methods Training. ...
• Legal Training. ...

What are the requirements to become a correction officer?

Correctional officers are required to complete a formal training session at a local academy, which includes classes in law and order, criminal rights, communication, etc. Trainees would also receive hands on training in the use of firearms, prisoner restraint and transportation, among other subjects.

What are the pros and cons of being a correctional officer?

The Pros & Cons of Being a Correctional OfficerPro: Pay and Benefits. The average annual salary of a state correctional officer is $38,380 and $53,459 for Federal positions. ... Pro: Job Security. ... Con: Long Training. ... Con: Danger. ... Con: Poor Working Conditons. ... Con: Working Holidays and Odd Shifts.

What are the pros of being a correctional officer?

In addition to making more than the national average income, correctional officer benefits can include medical and dental insurance, retirement plans, overtime and shift differential pay, and paid military leave. Some business establishments offer police discounts to thank officers for their community service.

Is a career in corrections worth it?

A career in law enforcement can offer many rewarding benefits for interested candidates. As an important law enforcement branch, correctional officers often provide valuable services to their communities, keeping inmates secure and safe and maintaining the security of public and private detention facilities.

What are the cons of being a correctional officer?

Stress and burnout come as part of the job and can affect your mental health. Furthermore, jail guards have a greater risk of chronic injury, high cholesterol, hypertension and heart disease compared to other law enforcement occupations.

Is being a correctional officer boring?

Even though there are plenty of boring hours in the day, there's always something that's never happened before. New inmates come in with new problems, new situations—even new paperwork—and that keeps it interesting.

What is correctional fatigue?

Desert Waters defines corrections fatigue as “cumulative negative changes of corrections staff's personality, health and functioning, and of the corrections workplace culture”. The good news is that it is reversible or even preventable.

Is being a correctional officer stressful?

Correctional officers are exposed to a high degree of stress every day. Working long shifts behind walls day in and day out can and does take a toll. Statistics show that correctional officers have higher rates of divorce, PTSD, severe depression and suicide.

Why are correctional officers difficult to hire and retain?

Several factors make recruiting and retention difficult. First, correctional officers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, due to confrontations with incarcerated people and exposure to contagious diseases. The threat of violence can cause hypervigilance and anxiety.

What is being a co like?

You become very strong, jaded person with a dark sense of humor, go crazy and depressed, or become an inmate. If you stay 5-10 years, you are institutionalized. Wait, this is still sounding like I am the inmate... You will attend many funerals of co-workers, most natural or self-induced.

Are correctional officers respected?

It's almost incredulous that correctional officers are the least honored, least respected and least understood of all public service employees in the United States. According to the U.S Bureau of Prisons, there are roughly 410,950 COs working in federal, state and local facilities.

What is the job outlook for a correctional officer?

4% (2014)Correctional Officers and Bailiffs / Projected 10-year growth

What challenges do female correctional officers face?

The complaints ranged from a wide scale: women being “too weak” to physically protect themselves or their fellow officers in confrontations with inmates, women presence reminding inmates of their sexual deprivation, and the overall distraction from both male inmates and officers, further threatening the safety of ...

What are the pros and cons of being a correctional officer?

Pro: Pay and Benefits. The average annual salary of a state correctional officer is $38,380 and $53,459 for Federal positions.

Is it worth it to be a correctional officer?

A career as a corrections officer can provide you with a stable career and decent salary with benefits, but it also carries some risks. The BLS states that corrections officers can be injured during confrontations with inmates and they have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses out of all occupations.

What are the disadvantages of being a correctional officer?

Risks and Drawbacks As a correctional officer, you’ll have to stop prison riots, disrupt prison gangs and protect yourself from infectious diseases. Stress and burnout come as part of the job and can affect your mental health.

Do correctional officers get paid well?

The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $47,410 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,830, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,940. Local correctional officers make an average of $47,290 yearly. State correctional officers make an average of $46,800 yearly.

What is the hardest part of being a correctional officer?

Officers are also responsible for escorting inmates to and from cells, recreation, visiting, and dining areas. “The hardest part to this job,” says corrections officer Sherry Lane, “is being able to separate yourself from some of the inhumanities that you see inside of the prison.

Is correction officer a hard job?

Being a correctional officer can be a trying and difficult job, but it’s a necessary one that also offers the rewards that come with maintaining order and offering protection.

How many hours do correctional officers work?

Deputies typically work five days a week in eight-hour shifts, but the days off will vary. One week a deputy may work Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and while the next week be may work Monday through Friday with the entire weekend off.

Why is it important to work as a correctional officer?

Everyone you meet will start respecting you because you are doing a sacred job and that is serving the society or doing civic duty. Your duties ensure that the citizens can roam around as per their choice without the fear of being hurt by unlawful citizens.

How much does a correctional officer make?

According to the bureau of labour statistics, a correctional officer’s average annual salary is $ 38,380 to $ 53,549.

What is the clothing allowance for correctional officers?

Clothing allowance helps the correctional officers buy the uniforms they will wear while being on duty. They also receive health allowances from their respective states, which covers all the medications in it. The correctional officers are allowed to retire at the age of 50, with 20 years of service.

How many hours do correctional officers work?

The correctional officers work five days a week, and their daily shift is 8 hours. The working day typically begins at 8 o’clock and ends at 4 o’clock. During their working hours, they are constantly in contact with their subordinates to manage prison affairs.

What skills do correctional officers need?

A correctional officer must have excellent verbal communication skills to communicate with his subordinates on the telephone rather than going to jail every then and now. If you have these skills, congratulations, your job as a correctional officer will be much easier.

What is a correctional officer?

The correctional officers are primarily responsible for overseeing prison affairs. Society’s crimes are constantly increasing, and the number of people going to jail is subsequently growing. This direct relation of crimes with the number of people going to prison has increased the demand for correctional officers across the United States.

Why are people afraid of correctional officers?

Many people are afraid of the job because of what they have heard about the dangers of being a correctional officer. Though there are many safety and precautionary measures taken for the staff of correctional facilities, there have been many reported incidents of physical harm to these facilities’ officers.

What is the best career option for a correctional officer?

Training . A correctional officer's career is a great option if you want to gain training while you work. Many departments of corrections and some private corrections companies provide correctional officers with training based on the American Correctional Association Guidelines. You can likely expect on-the-job training as well ...

How many hours do correctional officers work?

But luckily you can still expect to have regular shifts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics correctional officers typically work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. This will allow you to schedule your life around your work.

What is the job of a corrections sergeant?

Correctional sergeants direct correctional officers and maintain security. It's also possible to be promoted to an administrative position such as jail warden. Corrections officers have a high turnover rate, but if you leave the field it will have prepared you for other jobs such as probation officer or parole officer.

Do corrections officers have high turnover rates?

Job Prospects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many corrections agencies have high staff turnover rates. As current corrections officers retire or switch occupations it will create job openings for new officers.

1. Exciting

One benefit of working as a correctional officer is the activity and excitement the role can offer. In this position, you can expect to work with people from various backgrounds and situations and stay relatively active in your job duties.

2. Important

Another benefit of working as a correctional officer is the value of the work you're providing. In their role, officers ensure the health and safety of the inmates they supervise. Correctional officers can also help inmates on their journeys to rehabilitation, offering advice and guidance to those in vulnerable positions or awaiting trial.

3. Job benefits

While there are opportunities in the private sector, most correctional officer positions are federal, state or local government positions. Working as government employees often means officers can often qualify for earlier retirements, relatively robust pension plans and competitive benefit and insurance packages.

1. Danger

One potential drawback of working as a correctional officer is the danger you may encounter in the position. Officers need to be ready to react quickly in case of an inmate dispute or altercation. To properly defend themselves and other inmates, officers sometimes have to use their defense training to immobilize anyone who becomes aggressive.

2. Work environment

Another potential con of the position is the work environment. While the work correctional officers provide is important, working in incarceration facilities can be challenging. Officers may have to withstand threats or insults, offer support to those who are vulnerable or frustrated and interact with serious offenders.

3. Work hours

Because inmates need constant supervision, correctional officers often have to work night, weekend and holiday shifts to meet facility scheduling needs. Scheduled hours can change each week, depending on the facility and the number of officers. Inconsistent hours may make it challenging to maintain a schedule or healthy sleeping habits.

4. Job requirements

Correctional officers fulfill physical roles where they might have to disarm or defend against threats or attacks. Because of this aspect of the job, many states impose minimal physical and psychological job requirements.

Salary Ranges

After completion of the Academy, cadets are moved to a higher range in the pay scale. Thereafter, semi-annual and annual adjustments to higher ranges are made until the Correctional Officer reaches the top of the pay scale.

Pay Bonus

CDCR offers recruitment and retention pay or housing stipends at some institutions in addition to the regular salary.

Retirement

Your benefit factor is the percentage of pay to which you are entitled for each year of service. It is determined by your age at retirement and the retirement formula based on your membership date with each employer. Visit www.calpers.ca.gov for detailed information regarding safety retirement.

Responsibilities of Correctional Officers

If you decide to become a correctional officer, you will have specific responsibilities. These may include any of or all of the following:

Necessary Skills for Correctional Officers

If you want to become a correctional officer, you will need to have the right skills. Communication skills are very important for this career. You will also need to be physically fit and strong. Correctional officers often have to restrain inmates, so physical strength is important.

How to Become a Correctional Officer

You will need the right education to become a correctional officer. It’s not necessary to get a bachelor’s degree. You can become a correctional officer with a high school diploma or equivalent. Some facilities will require a bachelor’s degree for correctional officers.

The Work Environment of a Correctional Officer

Most correctional officers will work in a prison or jail facility. Some will work in newer facilities, while others may work in older facilities. You may work outside if you’re tasked with guarding the facility or indoors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Correctional Officers

The average salary for a correctional officer is about $33K. This salary can be higher or lower, depending on the location of your job and your employer. More experienced correctional officers tend to make a higher salary.

How many days of vacation does the Department of Corrections have?

Family medical, dental, and vision insurance. Up to 22 days paid vacation per year, depending on years of service. 12 days paid sick leave per year.

What is DCP in the Department of Corrections?

Department of Corrections employees are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) , a supplemental retirement plan that offers participants control over their investments. The DCP reduces your federal annual taxable income by allowing you to invest a portion of your income before it is taxed.

Is Washington State competitive in benefits?

Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

What is the role of correctional peace officers?

Accordingly, we recommend that the Legislature take an active role in addressing various issues concerning correctional officers’ pay, benefits, and labor relations. With the administration and CCPOA in conflict, Members of the Legislature will need to use their abilities to persuade in order to convince both sides to move to common ground.

What education do you need to be a correctional officer?

The educational requirement to be a correctional officer generally is a high school diploma or the equivalent. Particularly when compared to other Californians with similar educational levels, officers enjoy substantial job security, and they earn good salaries and outstanding benefits.

How long does it take to become a peace officer in California?

Average Applicant Processing Time Said to Be Six Months. The Office of Peace Officer Selection in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) processes around 10,000 applications per month. About 60 percent of applicants actually proceed to the correctional officer employment examination. About 4 percent of initial applicants eventually proceed to the correctional officer academy. According to CDCR, the average correctional peace officer applicant processing time is about six months. The CDCR reports that applicants agreeing to be assigned to critical needs institutions with significant vacancies currently are processed first, and, therefore, other applicants may experience longer processing times. Background investigations and preemployment medical screenings have been blamed for much of the time required, and the Legislature has appropriated additional resources to assist CDCR and the State Personnel Board in reducing these delays. Nevertheless, these processes remain quite complicated and lengthy, undoubtedly discouraging many qualified applicants from completing the process and discouraging still others from applying in the first place. By decreasing the pool of applicants, the slow process may unnecessarily increase compensation pressures.

Where are correctional officers assigned?

Officers are assigned to duty in towers, housing units, prison reception centers, control booths, yards, gun posts, transportation, and other prison settings. In addition to correctional officers, there are several other classifications in Unit 6.

What is target compensation level?

For any particular job classification, the “target” public employee compensation level (including pay, health benefits, retirement benefits, and other benefits) should be the minimum amount necessary to attract enough qualified labor to fill authorized positions.