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Corrections Officer
Maintaining order and security and enforcing regulations and policies within penitentiaries, jails, and reformatories is demanding work. Your responsibilities as a Corrections Officer can include monitoring inmate behavior, settling disputes, searching inmates and their living quarters, inspecting facilities, and enforcing discipline through oral communications or through sanctions like the removal of privileges. You may also be required to keep a written daily record of activities and to write reports on inmate conduct.
It’s a career that can be both stressful and hazardous. Confrontations with inmates can result in on-the-job injuries. You need to stay physically fit, and be able to act decisively, calmly, and with authority, especially in the midst of a crisis. At Baker College, you gain the knowledge and skills you need to prepare for this challenging career, not only through classroom studies but also through experience in real-life correctional settings.
Career Facts
- The average salary for correctional officers in Michigan is $44,220.
- Most jobs are in state and local government prisons and jails.
- Employment should grow about 9 percent between 2008 and 2018 because of population growth and rising rates of incarceration.
- Being able to meet the physical standards required for the job is critical. You need to be able to restrain a prisoner, usually unarmed, until help arrives, which may take several minutes.
- A typical work schedule is 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. However, security must be provided around the clock, so you may have to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. You may also be required to work paid overtime.
- Advancement to a supervisory role typically requires experience and a college degree in criminal justice, social sciences or criminology. Specialties such as working in correctional industries or correctional counseling usually require additional training. You may also move to a related job in probations, parole, or correctional treatment.
Programs
- Certificate
Want to get the ball rolling?
Everything about our college is aimed at getting you the job you want in the shortest time possible — from our affordable tuition, to how we choose our programs, to our small class sizes, and flexible class schedules.
Discover what Baker can do for your future. Schedule a visit or enroll online today.
