Will “Jail Guard” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 33-3012.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 46,750.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 22.00
• Currently, there are 431,600 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Correctional Officers and Jailers”.

Also Known As…

• Correctional Officers and Jailers
• Jailor
• Jailer
• Jail Officer
• Detention Officer
• Detention Deputy
• Deputy Jailer
• Custody Assistant
• Corrections Officer (CO)
• Correctional Sergeant
• Correctional Officer
• Youth Corrections Officer
• Turnkey
• Station Jailer
• Security Officer
• Reformatory Attendant
• Prison Officer
• Prison Guard
• Police Matron
• Police Detention Attendant
• Penal Officer
• Patrol Conductor
• Matron
• Juvenile Detention Officer
• Jailkeeper
• Jailer/Training Officer
• Immigration Services Officer
• Immigration Guard
• Guard
• Gate Watchman
• Gate Watch
• Gate Guard
• Gang Pusher
• Deputy
• Custodial Officer
• Cottage Supervisor
• Cottage Parent
• Cottage Master
• Corrections Specialist
• Corrections Sergeant
• Corrections Corporal
• Correctional Lieutenant
• Correctional Guard
• Correctional Captain
• Correction Officer
• Convict Guard
• Community Services Officer
• Civilian Jail Officer
• Certified Detention Deputy
• Booking Officer

Tasks for “Jail Guard”

• Settle disputes between inmates.
• Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
• Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
• Drive passenger vehicles and trucks used to transport inmates to other institutions, courtrooms, hospitals, and work sites.
• Arrange daily schedules for prisoners including library visits, work assignments, family visits, and counseling appointments.
• Search for and recapture escapees.
• Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
• Process or book convicted individuals into prison.
• Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
• Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
• Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
• Supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
• Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
• Investigate crimes that have occurred within an institution, or assist police in their investigations of crimes and inmates.
• Participate in required job training.
• Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
• Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
• Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment such as a computer.
• Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
• Sponsor inmate recreational activities such as newspapers and self-help groups.
• Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
• Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
• Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
• Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
• Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
• Inspect mail for the presence of contraband.

Related Technology & Tools

• Tactical riot shields
• Protective safety glasses
• Electroshock weapons
• Surveillance cameras
• Leg irons
• Tablet computers
• Upper body armor
• Prisoner transport belts
• Radio frequency identification RFID devices
• Laptop computers
• Air-supplying respirators
• Stab proof vests
• Hearing protection plugs
• Law enforcement flashlights
• Emergency fire hoses
• Metal handcuffs
• Personal computers
• Expandable batons
• Data collectors
• Law enforcement handguns
• Mobile radios
• Law enforcement shotguns
• Riot protection helmets
• Desktop computers
• Cut resistant gloves
• Protective gas masks
• Emergency fire extinguishers
• Law enforcement rifles
• Firefighting respirators
• Lower body armor

• Jail management software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Access
• 3M Electronic Monitoring
• Corrections housing software
• Microsoft Excel
• Guardian RFID
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Web browser software
• Microsoft Office