Correctional Service Officers (NOC 6462)

Description

Correctional service officers guard prisoners and detainees and maintain order in correctional institutions and other places of detention. They are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments.

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Example Titles

correctional facility guard
correctional service officer
detention attendant
prison guard
supervisor, correctional officers

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Classified Elsewhere

Detention home workers (in 4212 Community and Social Service Workers)
Managers in Social, Community and Correctional Services (0314)
Social Workers (4152)

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Duties

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

Observe conduct and behaviour of prisoners to prevent disturbances and escapes
Supervise prisoners during work assignments, meals and recreation periods
Patrol assigned area and report any problems to supervisor
Observe behaviour of prisoners and prepare reports
Manage the needs and requirements of offenders on an individual case basis, including risk assessments, programming needs, and release planning
Ensure safety and security of youth/adult offenders through direct supervision
Escort prisoners in transit and during temporary leaves
Prepare admission, program, release, transfer and other reports
May supervise and co-ordinate work of other correctional service officers.

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Skills

Correctional officers need the following skills and abilities:

an interest in the safety and security of inmates and co-workers,
responsibility and maturity,
good physical condition and strength, good hearing and vision,
the ability to make quick and sound decisions in response to security and/or discipline problems, in situations of stress,
be able to be firm and exercise authority,
be able to work effectively as part of a team as well as independently,
the ability to follow rules and guidelines in dealing with people,
mental alertness and good observation skills,
good oral and written communication skills and a knowledge of computer systems.

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Employment Requirements

In Manitoba completion of secondary school is required. Post-secondary education may be required in courses such as counselling, crisis intervention, criminology, human justice, or social work for other than entry level roles.
Federal Correctional officer recruits must successfully complete the Corrections Canada training course to be employed by federal institutions.
Correctional officer recruits are usually required to complete a basic training course to be employed by provincial/territorial institutions.

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Terms & Conditions

Correctional service officers commonly work indoors as well as outside at federal, provincial and municipal correctional facilities. Some areas within indoor facilities are well lit, heated and ventilated, but others may be overcrowded, hot and noisy. Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and potentially hazardous.

Correctional officers usually work a variety of shifts which may include; 7.5, 8, 10, 12 hour days, on a rotational basis. Security at correctional facilities must be maintained twenty-four hours per day. Consequently, correctional officers are required to work shifts on rotation, which includes working evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. In addition, correctional service officers are frequently required to work overtime. Most correctional service officers work full-time (94%). All are government employees.

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Earnings

$48,500 per annum - starting

$58,000 per annum - average

$70,500 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

Red River College's Continuing Education Division offers Justice and Public Safety programs.
The University College of the North offers a two-year diploma program in Restorative Justice and a one-year certificate program in Law Enforcement.
Assiniboine Community College offers a program in Criminology and an introduction to Corrections.
Manitoba universities offer a number of degree programs related to this field (for example, Criminology, Sociology, Justice and Law Enforcement and Social Work).

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Career Paths

Progression to probation or parole officer or correctional treatment specialist is possible with additional education.

Qualified correctional officers can be promoted to supervisor or administrative positions.

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Outlook

Employment prospects for correctional service officers are expected to be good in the period 2010 - 2014. Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 1,085.

The capacity needs of the correctional system have been growing. The construction of new and expanded correctional facilities in Manitoba is expected to increase the occupational workforce over the forecast period. Construction on an 80-bed expansion at Brandon Correctional Centre should be completed by mid 2010, a 48-cell facility at the Agassiz Youth Centre Portage La Prairie by the end of 2010, a 40 bed addition at The Pas Correctional Centre for the fall of 2010 and a 64 bed unit at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre for the spring of 2011. Construction is also underway for the new Women's Correctional Centre which is slated to open in the summer of 2011 in Headingly.

Job vacancies will arise as a result of turnover (current staff changing jobs or retiring), and such vacancies will be more plentiful later in the forecast period due to the ageing of the population.

Employment is fairly evenly distributed across the province. Across industries, the majority of correctional service officers are employed in Public Administration (97%).

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