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MY best friends son persued this as a career. He's 23 years old, working as a CO, just bought a house, and put an engagement ring on his girls finger. It sure seems that it's a good career for him so far!
You go to an academy for 6 months where you dont get paid ($600 biweekly stipend, but you live there and get food and housing obviously)
You make $45,548.97 the first year. After that, the salary ranges from $50,105.29 to $72,136.39
great benefits (health, dental, vision) and pension (1/2 salary after 20 years, 2/3 salary after 25 years).
And i hear that Overtime is frequently available. They are looking for employees. What do you think of this? Any have any experience in the field?
Correctional officers wages in the United States as of 2006/2007: (That is not too long ago)
Median annual earnings of correctional officers and jailers were $35,760 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,320 and $46,500. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,580. Median annual earnings in the public sector were $47,750 in the Federal Government, $36,140 in State government, and $34,820 in local government. In the facilities support services industry, where the relatively small number of officers employed by privately operated prisons is classified, median annual earnings were $25,050.
Median annual earnings of first-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers were $52,580 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,920 and $67,820. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,230. Median annual earnings were $51,500 in State government and $52,940 in local government.
Median annual earnings of bailiffs were $34,210 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,130 and $48,010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,390, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,270. Median annual earnings were $30,510 in local government.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the starting salary for Federal correctional officers was $28,862 a year in 2007. Starting Federal salaries were slightly higher in areas where prevailing local pay levels were higher.
In addition to typical benefits, correctional officers employed in the public sector usually are provided with uniforms or a clothing allowance to purchase their own uniforms. Civil service systems or merit boards cover officers employed by the Federal Government and most State governments. Their retirement coverage entitles correctional officers to retire at age 50 after 20 years of service or at any age with 25 years of service.
__________________________________ 2006 to 2016 Projected employment of correctional officers:
Employment change. Employment of correctional officers is expected to grow 16 percent between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing demand for correctional officers will stem from population growth and rising rates of incarceration. Mandatory sentencing guidelines calling for longer sentences and reduced parole for inmates are a primary reason for historically increasing incarceration rates. Some States are reconsidering mandatory sentencing guidelines because of budgetary constraints, court decisions, and doubts about their effectiveness. Additionally, the Supreme Court recently ruled to make Federal sentencing guidelines voluntary, rather than mandatory, for judges. It is unclear how many States will change their sentencing policies and how long it will be before any changes affect the prison population. Nevertheless, these developments could moderate future increases in the prison population and cause employment of correctional officers to grow more slowly than they have in the past.
Some employment opportunities also will arise in the private sector, as public authorities contract with private companies to provide and staff corrections facilities. Both State and Federal corrections agencies are increasingly using private prisons.
Job prospects. Job opportunities for correctional officers are expected to be excellent. The need to replace correctional officers who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the labor force, coupled with rising employment demand, will generate thousands of job openings each year. In the past, some local and State corrections agencies have experienced difficulty in attracting and keeping qualified applicants, largely because of low salaries, shift work, and the concentration of jobs in rural locations. This situation is expected to continue.
Layoffs of correctional officers are rare because of increasing offender populations.
Around here they start corrections officers out at about $7.50 an hour, which is hardly worth it when you can get a safer job as a greeter at Wal-Mart for the same wage. My cousin had a job like this, it was his first job out of college & he only lasted about 6 months. It's a dangerous job & you deal with the worst dregs of society day after day.
Not to mention if they put a power hungry person in a position of authority they can make your time at work unbearable...more so if the person is young.
It really is going to depend on where. They couldn't pay me enough to be a corrections officer at Supermax in downtown Baltimore. But it may not be such a terrible job in some rural area where there are fewer violent criminals.
"Correctional Officer"....the new and improved version of "Prison Guard". Keep in mind, if you complete a full 20 year career, you will spend approxiamtely 1/3 of your life "locked down", even though you have never committed a crime. You will deal on a daily basis with convicted felons if employed in a State/Federal system. City/County facilities house both pre-trial and convicted individuals. You will learn fast that the great majority of those "locked down" are really innocent...(I smile and wink when I say that). In fact, most are very skilled manipulators. And never forget...a convict will set you up in a heart beat. Never cross the line ! Your position is not to punish, the court issued the appropriate sentence....you simply enforce that pre-determined sentence.
In all honesty, you will be an adult babysitter....you count, re-count, and then count again. The risks are inherent to the working conditions. Assaults on staff are more common than you might think. Because of the closed living environment you may carry a higher than average risk of infection via direct and indirect exposure.
In economic hard times, most politicians will look to cut positions within "corrections" first. That means you may be (1) of (7) CO's in a yard with 1,000 convicts. Odds are you might be on the losing end of a uprising. You represent something that your client base detests....authority ! Do not forget that...the uniform is their constant reminder.
Last but not least....you might soon sense that the "convict" has more "rights" than you or the average citizen does....and if you doubt that....ask a convict ! Your position is to provide a sense of security to the facility....You are not a counselor, a pastor, psychologist, or a bleeding heart. It's a job, with a potential retirement....period.
You are not a counselor, a pastor, psychologist, or a bleeding heart.. OR a sadistic p rick or dictatorial gestapo pr**k. And realize that it is not authority, many resent, but being locked up in a hole, even if aptly deserving. Since many on the wrong side of the bars have authority and exert it on others. Part of the gang, i imagine is hiearchical. You get protection or remain unmolested in exchange for listening to t heir authority
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