The Correctional Officer: A Practical Guide

Read a sample chapter on security duties here.The job of today's correctional officer is a demanding one, whether it is working in an adult prison or in a local jail. The correctional officer has the responsibility to safely confine criminal offenders, and, by doing so, properly keeps the public safe. This book is meant to give the reader, whether a student or a trainee, a clear, realistic understanding of what correctional officers do―from patrolling cellblocks, preventing escapes and handling security issues to dealing with various types of offenders and their behaviors. Written by a retired jail officer and adjunct professor with over 27 years of experience in confinement, classification, community corrections, correctional officer training and corrections policy development, this updated edition discusses the following topics:Corrections: Definition, Offenders, Goals and FunctionsTypes of Correctional FacilitiesCorrectional Officers: Personnel Issues and TrainingEarly Development: Punishment and Early PrisonsThe Development of the Modern Correctional FacilityAn Examination of Today's InmateSpecial Populations and Methods of HandlingPhysical Plant and ClassificationKey and Tool Control, Headcounts, Searches and TransportationInteracting with InmatesAvoiding ManipulationInmate ViolenceThe Rights of InmatesThe Correctional Officer is realistically written, features a glossary of commonly used corrections terms and has been updated in detail. Each chapter contains discussion questions to assist both the college instructor and corrections trainer. This book has the following goals:To be a training resource for correctional agency training, to be used at the recruit and in service training levels so officers can improve their job skillsTo provide insight into the history, philosophy and evolution of correctional systemsTo provide to the correctional officer social, economical, vocational, educational and behavioral information about criminal offendersTo give information on maintaining positive traits and job skills that can enhance the career of the correctional officer Read more