Correctional service officers (NOC 4422)

Correctional officers may perform some or all of the following duties:

• observe conduct and behaviour of prisoners in order to prevent disturbances and escapes
• supervise prisoners during work assignments, meals and recreation periods
• do physical security checks
• provide inmate counselling
• develop and direct program activities
• patrol assigned area and report any problems to supervisor
• observe behaviour of prisoners and prepare reports
• escort prisoners in transit and during temporary leaves
• prepare admission, program, release, transfer and other reports
• may supervise and coordinate work of other correctional officers
• explain policies and provide information to inmates

Correctional officers typically work 35–40 hours per week. Correctional facilities operate 24 hours a day throughout the year, so correctional officers have to work nights, early mornings, weekends and holidays. Overtime is quite common for correctional officers.

Correctional officers may work outdoors when stationed in watch towers, patrolling the prison grounds (federal corrections only) or when supervising work crews. As a result, workers are sometimes exposed to unpleasant weather conditions. In provincial corrections facilities, correctional officers spend most of their work day indoors; however, they also supervise outdoor work crews. Workers may also have to travel while escorting inmates on temporary leaves.

Correctional officers use surveillance equipment to monitor correctional facility activities and use computers to write and file reports, update records and communicate with other staff. Therefore, some workers may spend a large portion of the work day viewing video monitors, which can cause eye strain and fatigue.

According to industry sources, the inmate-to-staff ratio has increased over the past few years, so there are more inmates per correctional officer.

Correctional officers are sometimes faced with tense interpersonal situations while supervising inmates. These workers use their highly developed communication skills in order to handle such situations. In the rare event that problems cannot be solved through talking, these workers may have to use physical force to maintain inmate order. The workplace can be stressful, but teamwork, peer support and stress management training help to keep stress levels down.

The majority of job opportunities in the coming years will result from new job creation. In the long term, new facilities are expected to be built, which will increase the number of jobs in this occupation.

Industry sources report correctional facilities in B.C., particularly in the north, are having difficulty attracting a sufficient number of recruits, which is leading to shortages of correctional officers.

The demand will be highest for those who have completed preparatory courses and who may have previous experience working as correctional officers in social services, at youth correctional facilities, as security officers or in law enforcement.