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Correctional officers enforce rules, maintain order and control inmates in correctional facilities. They may also transport inmates, supervise trustees and respond to a variety of emergency situations, such as fights, riots, escape attempts or medical emergencies. Correctional officer training most often culminates in a certificate or diploma. Growing prisoner populations and increasing mandatory sentencing means more job security for correctional officers.

Correctional Officer Training Overview
Correctional officer training is most often provided at trade schools and community colleges, but is also provided at various local, state and federal departments of corrections training facilities. Programs most often culminate in a certificate, though associate's and bachelor's degrees are offered in criminal justice. Training programs are usually based on guidelines set forth by the American Jail Association (AJA) and/or the American Correctional Association (ACA). In local and state correctional facilities, correctional officers are hired and then also receive on-the-job training during a discretionary probation period, which varies with each state's requirements.

Subjects of study in correctional officer and criminal justice programs include institutional policies, correctional rules and regulations, custody procedures, security measures and defensive tactics. Individuals hoping to become part of a tactical response team within a correctional facility might take more specialized courses in riot situations, hostage negotiations, forced inmate moves, disarming prisoners, firearms training, chemical agent use and dangerous confrontation reviews. Additional subjects of study may include emergency preparedness, first aid for correctional officers, criminal justice communications, criminal justice system, writing correctional reports and inmate searches.

Correctional Officer Schooling Requirements
The Federal Bureau of Prisons requires at least a bachelor's degree for its entry-level correctional officers and three years of practical experience, but may accept a combination of the two. Most correctional agencies require some sort of schooling, while others may accept military or law enforcement training as a substitute. Some correctional officer certificate programs require that students complete an internship in an approved correctional situation under direct supervision to graduate. Some criminal justice and correctional officer training programs require students be at least 19 before graduation date; some institutional facilities also have specific age requirements.