Correctional Officers
Patricia Johnson
CRJ 303
Prof. Lott
April 18, 2012

Correctional Officers The life of a corrections officer is and can be very dangerous. Corrections officers have to deal with hundreds of inmates on a daily bases and ensure that each inmate is safe and secure while under their supervision. Being a corrections officer can also be very stressful and dangerous. They are not only concern with their safety, but the safety of other officers, visitors, and the inmates. This job is not for everyone only for the strong and strong minded. As with any job, corrections officers have to perform a post order, before getting started for the day. Their day consist of routine activities and constant communication with inmates and other staff members. Their shift will start first with them arriving and reading the log book, then dealing with inmates going to work, eating lunch, going to the recreation yard and them ending it by recording what happen throughout the day and turning over their keys to the next shift. Corrections officers play crucial roles in the functioning of correctional institutions. They create and maintain the social and security milieu within prisons and often have direct impact on the behavior of inmates through their daily contact with inmates. Studies showed, however, that the correctional work environment was fraught with stress. Many studies found that corrections officers experienced excessive stress, which manifested in physical illnesses, burnout, family problems, or their inability to perform their duties--compromising institutional safety and creating further stress for other staff. These studies were instrumental in instituting improvements in the correctional work environment; however, most were conducted in Western societies. “To extend the knowledge of corrections officers' work environments, this study examined correctional work among officers in South Korea. Specifically, stress-related issues outlined in previous studies were examined here to assess their relevance and applicability in the South Korean society. Implications for policy and future endeavors are discussed” (Moon & Royo-Maxwell).
“The most important skill for correctional officers to learn is how to gain compliance from inmates without having to resort to threats, coercion, or taking disciplinary action and without risking the eruption of violence from an inmate refusing to abide by the orders of an officer. The best way for an officer to gain compliance is to communicate and earn their trust” (Seiter, pg.394). Once the inmates gain the officer’s trust, the officer will be able to get the inmates to cooperate and they will rarely have any problems with the inmates. The inmates and the officers will be able to talk and joke with each other, without them worrying about something bad is going to happen between them. This is where that old saying comes into play, “you want respect to have to give respect” and it works both ways.
This line of work is dangerous due to the fact that officers have to deal with inmates plotting against them, but also other staff members. When other co-workers have a problem with an officer, they can hire an inmate to do bodily harm to them or something worst. Some officers may even go as far as starting a riot at best to get another officer out of the way. Officers encounter violent threats, by inmates or other staff members. So correctional officers have to be aware of all whom they come in contact with and have a six sense about who they are working with and dealing with on a daily bases.
The life of correctional officers is very stressful, dangerous and unpredictable. Corrections officers have to deal with hundreds of inmates on a daily bases and ensure that each inmate is safe and secure while under their supervision.

References:
Moon, Byongook & Royo Maxwell, Sheila. (Jul./Aug.2004). The Sources and Consequences of Corrections Officers’ stress: A South Korean Example. ProQuest Journal of Criminal Justice
Seiter, Richard P. (2011). Corrections an Introduction. (3rd Ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.