Correctional Officer: Interpersonal Skills
- Correctional officers work in jails, detention centers and penitentiaries.prison image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
Correctional officers, also known as prison officers, oversee individuals who are awaiting trial after arrest or those who have already been convicted. Correctional officers work in detention centers, penitentiaries, reformatories and jails. They typically need a high school diploma before they can begin academy training, and previous experience in the military may also be beneficial. The average salary of a correctional officer as of May 2009 was $39,050, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to the educational background, correctional officers need strong interpersonal skills to deal with the complexities of the job. - Prison officers work with people from a range of cultural, religious and ethical backgrounds. They also work with inmates who have committed crimes. A correctional officer should be nondiscriminatory and fair in his working practice and treat inmates equally, regardless of his personal opinions.
- Correctional officers should also be excellent arbitrators, because they will have to intervene in disputes between inmates to pacify both parties, as stated on the O*Net website. A correctional officer who maintains a good working rapport with inmates stands a better chance of successfully intervening in disputes or fights.
- A correctional officer should exercise a high degree of self-restraint when communicating with others and should be totally focused when interacting with prisoners. Prison guards may be provoked through verbal or physical attacks and must be sure that any anger they feel toward inmates does not result in violence. Nor can they deny inmates essentials such as food and water.
- Correctional officers need to be clearly understood and be able to convey rules and regulations in a concise manner.
- Correctional officers should be good team members, because they are required to work with other officers to efficiently schedule activities such as checking cells and identifying unsanitary conditions, as stated on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. A correctional officer should be friendly and pleasant to fellow officers and cooperative about any necessary changes to work shifts.
- Correctional officers should be strong but fair-minded when interacting with inmates. They must not tolerate noncompliance with prison rules and ensure that inmates who consistently disobey the rules receive punishment. A correctional officer must not abuse his power by insulting inmates or denying them privileges. This is likely to cause a deterioration in interpersonal relationships and result in rebellious behavior.
- Correctional officers should be attentive to the needs and concerns of fellow officers and prison detainees. They should be vigilant in identifying any health issues that could affect inmates and resolving any ongoing bad feeling between inmates that could result in violence.
