Will “Penal Officer” 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
• Patrol Conductor
• Matron
• Juvenile Detention Officer
• Jailkeeper
• Jailer/Training Officer
• Jail Guard
• 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 “Penal Officer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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