Correctional officers at the local, state, and federal levels protect the security and safety of our nation's correctional facilities. They are the men and women in charge of protecting those who have been arrested or convicted of a crime and sentenced to time in a correctional institution. 

Duties include supervising inmate activities and maintaining order, inspecting convicts and their cells for weapons, narcotics, or other prohibited goods, and breaking up fights between prisoners on occasion. Officers must also be ready to deal with riots or hostage situations. Strength, sound judgement, and the capacity to think and act swiftly are all necessary, but character strength may be the most significant personal quality of all. 

Correctional officials wield significant authority over the lives of convicts, therefore they must be firm and fair at all times. Correctional officers will continue to be critical to the proper running of our nation's jail system if they maintain integrity, communication skills, and the capacity to keep pressure situations under control.