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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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