Correctional Officers and Jailers — Tasks

Task statements

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