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A turnkey of a Paris prison, 19th century

U.S. Marines military police officer shows restraints used for transporting detainees at Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (January 10, 2002).

A prison officer (UK^[1] and Ireland,^[2] and the official English title in Denmark,^[3] Finland,^[4] and Sweden^[5]), also known as corrections officer (New Zealand,^[6] US^[7][8]), correctional officer (Australia,^[9] Canada,^[10][11][12] Jamaica,^[13] and US^[14]), detention officer (US^[15]) or penal officer (US^[16]), is a uniformed official, responsible for the supervision, safety, and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or similar form of secure custody. Historically, terms such as jailer (also spelled jailor or gaoler), jail guard, prison guard, and turnkey^[17] have also been used.

Corrections Officers are responsible for the care, custody, and control of individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial while on remand or who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time in a prison or jail. They are also responsible for the safety and security of the facility itself. Most officers are employed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate, though some are employed by private companies.

Duties

Prison officers must maintain order and daily operations of the facility and are responsible for the care, custody, and control of inmates. A correction officer has a responsibility to control inmates who may be dangerous, and that society themselves do not wish to accommodate. An officer must always prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes by supervising activities and work assignments of inmates. Officers have a responsibility to protect the public from incarcerated criminals, protect fellow officers from inmates and protect inmates from other inmates at all times. An officer must be alert and aware of any and all movement taking place inside the facility. Prevention is one of the key components to an officer's duties. Officers can utilize prevention by routinely searching inmates and their living quarters for potential threats such as weapons or drugs. An officer must make their presence known at all times and remain assertive and refuse to back down. An officer must be a disciplinarian and enforce the rules and punish when rules are violated. Correction officers also must take full concern for the health and safety of the facility. Officers check for unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and/or any evidence of tampering or damage to locks, bars, grilles, doors, and gates. Officers must screen all incoming and outgoing mail as well as all visitors as a prevention method for future issues that could cause risk to safety and security of the facilities, inmates and staff. Correction officers also must assist in transportation responsibilities that may include transfers to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances and other approved locations. Correction officers may assist police officers on/off duty depending on their peace officer status and jurisdiction.^[18]

Training

Corrections officers' training will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as facility to facility depending on the legislated power given, the nature of the facilities, or even the socioeconomics of the region. Training may be provided by external agencies or at the facility with a peer-group or supervisor instructor.

In North America, standard training usually includes:

• Use of force and restraints (i.e., handcuffs, leg-irons, belly-chains, etc.)


• Weapons (firearms, taser, etc.)


• Self-defense


• 
  First aid and CPR
  


• 
  Report writing


• Giving testimony in court
  


• Defusing hostility
  


• Interpersonal communication


• Correction law


• Criminal law


• Criminal procedure law


• Case work and criminal investigations


• Hostage negotiation


• Gang intelligence

Many jurisdictions have also, in recent years, expanded basic training to include:

• Suicide prevention/crisis intervention


• Critical incident stress management


• 
  Occupational Safety and Health Act (U.S.) or Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (Canada)


• 
  Gang awareness and intervention


• Crisis or hostage negotiation


• Drug abuse training


• Rehabilitation programs


• Rapid response trainings

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prison guards.

• 
  Bailiff (Ontario, Canada)


• Correctional Emergency Response Team


• Correctional Service of Canada


• 
  Federal Bureau of Prisons (U.S.)


• 
  Her Majesty's Prison Service (UK)


• Irish Prison Service


• 
  Justizwache (Austria)


• Law enforcement officer


• 
  Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (Ontario, Canada)


• New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision


• Punjab Prisons (Pakistan)


• Scottish Prison Service


• Deputy Sheriff (United States)


• Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Notes

References

• Davenport, D. K. (2001). State of Arizona Office of the Auditor General Performance Audit: Arizona Department of Corrections. Sunset Factors Retrieved 8 March 2008 from http://www.auditorgen.state.az.us/Reports/State_Agencies/Agencies/Corrections^{[permanent dead link]}
  


• Tracy, S. J. (2004). The construction of correctional officers: Layers of emotionality behind bars. Qualitative Inquiry, 10, 509–533.


• Tracy, S. J., Meyers, K., & Scott, C. (2007). Cracking jokes and crafting selves: Sensemaking and identity management among human service workers. Communication Monographs, 73, 283–308.


• Correctional Service of Canada; Correctional Officers and Their First Year: An Empirical Investigation