Supervisor of Correctional Officers

Also called: Correction Officer Supervisor, Correction Warden, Correctional Case Records Supervisor, Correctional Officer Captain, Correctional Supervisor

Varies

estimated salary

First-Line supervisors of correctional officers directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

  • Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
  • Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
  • Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
  • Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
  • Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
  • Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
  • Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public.
  • Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.
  • Carry injured offenders or employees to safety and provide emergency first aid when necessary.
  • Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.
  • Supervise activities, such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
  • Conduct roll calls of correctional officers.
  • Instruct employees or provide on-the-job training.
  • Resolve problems between inmates.
  • Set up employee work schedules.
  • Examine incoming or outgoing mail to ensure conformance with regulations.
  • Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.
  • Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.
  • Develop work or security procedures.
  • Convey correctional officers' or inmates' complaints to superiors.
  • Supervise or provide security for offenders performing tasks, such as construction, maintenance, laundry, food service, or other industrial or agricultural operations.
  • Conduct evaluations of employees' performance.
  • Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 95% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 92% responded "Every day".
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 78% responded "Very high responsibility".
  • Contact With Others — 85% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 87% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 87% responded "Every day".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 75% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Read materials to determine needed actions.
  • Evaluate employee performance.
  • Count prison inmates or personnel.
  • Use weapons or physical force to maintain security.
  • Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.
  • Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
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Knowledge

Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • 3M Electronic Monitoring
  • Guardian RFID
  • Jail management software
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Electronic mail software
  • Email software