Chapter 9 The Staff Work World and Corrections Careers

1. Chapter 9 The Staff Work World and Corrections Careers What jobs and careers are found in corrections? What is it like to work in corrections? What are the prospects for future employment? How can candidates improve their career prospects? Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

2. Institutional Corrections • Account for more than 50% of all state and local corrections employees • Entry-level position: Correctional officer • Duties & responsibilities • Work world • Salary • Educational requirements • Federal versus State and Local Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

3. Institutional Corrections (continued) • Correctional Officer - Related issues • Potential for promotion & relocation • Hiring restrictions & requirements • Background checks & polygraph examinations • Private versus public sector employment Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

4. Probation and Parole Officers • Concerns • Titles not uniform across the nation • Separate clientele: Juveniles versus adults • Work for all levels of government • May work with both probationers and parolees • Role requirements & Work World • Job-related Issues Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

5. Probation and Parole Officers (continued) • Duties and Responsibilities • Work World • Salary • Educational Requirements Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

6. Correctional Counselors • Two Main Capacities 1. Screening, testing, diagnosis and classification 2. Service providers • Work World • Salary • Educational Rrequirements • Private Versus Public Employment Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

7. Community Corrections Personnel • Work World • Positives • clients who are near or at their residence • clients tend to be low public-security risks • Negatives • Job burnout, especially related to close contacts with clients • Financial stability, especially with respect to private-public funding Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

8. Community Corrections Personnel (continued) • Educational Requirements • Related Work Experience • Salary • Hiring Restrictions Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

9. Other Corrections Positions • Wide range of employment opportunities • Largest array in institutional corrections • Examples include: • Recreational activities • Education • Basic Adult Education and General Equivalency Degree Programs • Personal improvement courses • College-level classes • Food services & institutional maintenance Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

10. Workplace Challenges • Job deaths and Injuries • Inmate-generated Litigation • Key issues: Malfeasance, misfeasance & nonfeasance • Probabilities of either or both? Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

11. How to find or find out about jobs • Professional corrections organizations • Many available on World Wide Web • Many have student memberships available • Directly contact various local, state, and federal corrections agencies • University and college placement offices • Commercial job listing services (“head hunters”) • Job information books Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

12. When to apply • Yesterday (for those graduating this academic year) • Six months ago (for those graduating in a month or less) • Essential concept: Maximize your lead time! Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

13. Internships and Co-ops • The key differences • Paid versus unpaid internships and co-ops • Experiential learning Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9

14. Job Prospects • Jobs outlook stable to growing, depending on public policy • Time to promotion shortened • Salaries becoming more competitive • Educational requirements generally increasing • Higher levels of professionalism Mays & Winfree--Contemporary Corrections (2nd ed.)--Chapter 9