Prison officer

Prisons officer
A prison guard on lookout in the watchtower at Parramatta Gaol
Occupation
Names
  • Correctional officer
  • Correctional Law Enforcement Officer
  • Corrections officer
  • Correctional Police Officer
  • Detention officer
  • Detention deputy
Occupation type
Employment
Activity sectors
Law enforcement
Description
CompetenciesSee Working environment
Education required
See Training
Fields of
employment
Prisons, jails
Related jobs
Police officer

A prison officer (PO) or corrections officer (CO), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as a prison guard, is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation of prisoners. They are responsible for the security of the facility and its property as well as other law enforcement functions. Most prison officers or corrections officers are employed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate, although some are employed by private companies that provide prison services to the government.