The pros
1. Pay & Benefits
The initial salary and benefits that correctional officers are eligible for is quite impressive.
This is a great career choice with an average starting salary of $35k. You also get vacation and medical insurance.
It is likely that you will work for either a state or federal organization. You also have the option of an employer-sponsored retirement plan, which usually allows retirement after twenty years.
2. Work Security
It’s a fact of human life that crime is increasing. Add that to the fact that America currently has the most inmates in the world, and it becomes clear why so many people feel that being a corrections officer offers great job security.
With the increasing number of detention centers and prison construction across the nation, it is essential to provide staffing for these new facilities with highly qualified and trained personnel. This will ensure that correctional officers are in great demand for many more years.
3. Potenzial for Advancement
It is possible to get a high-ranking position by obtaining a High School Diploma (or GED) as the only educational requirement for corrections officers.
The basic training academy, which many would already have completed, is now completed and they are employed as a CO.
Cons
1. Scheduling and Hours
A new employee at any corrections center will likely have little control over the hours you work and the days. Single parents and individuals with more flexibility in their work schedules may find this a disadvantage. Officers find that once they have completed their probationary period, and increased their work hours on the job it is an easy fix.
2. High stress environment
Because of the nature and demands of your job you are subject to stress almost every day. The way you manage and deal with this stress will impact how long your career as a correctional officers. While some people can’t handle the stress, others are capable of coping and making it work.
3. Safety
Correctional officers must work around and near prisoners, inmates and those who have committed different levels of crimes. You must be vigilant for your safety and that of others while you’re on duty.
To be successful in any job, you must have the right training and the knowledge to work effectively within the workplace. These cons may seem discouraging, but you can overcome them by becoming more involved in the process and seeking out additional information.