Can A Felon Become A Correctional Officer?

If you have experience inside the prison walls, you may have wondered, “Can a felon become a correctional officer?” Observing the interactions of the officers and their duties may pique your interest in this career path.

Can A Felon Become A Correctional Officer?

However, whether or not felons are eligible to become correctional officers varies by state laws.

Note that each state has its own set of regulations regarding felon employment. Therefore, there is no universal answer to this question.

It is important to note that a juvenile conviction does not count as a misdemeanor. As long as they do not involve drug charges or domestic abuse, you should be good.

Know more about: Do juveniles get felony convictions?

In most states, a record of being a felon immediately disqualifies you from working as a correctional officer.  Some states might still give you a chance. It all depends on a few things. For example, if your offense wasn’t too serious, or if you’ve been pardoned (which means someone important has forgiven you and thinks you’re ready to change), or if it’s been a long time since you last did something wrong, then some states might still consider you for the job.

Here is a list of a few states and their stance on the matter:

California

In California, people who have been convicted of a crime still have a chance to work in law enforcement. They can become private investigators, security guards, bounty hunters, or personal security professionals. The rules for these jobs are not as strict as they are for other law enforcement jobs. So, even if someone has made a mistake in the past, they still have a chance to have a good career in this field.

Florida

Florida does not allow felons to become correction officers. If you have any convictions for two or more misdemeanors in the past five years, you are disqualified.

Michigan

some people who have been in trouble with the law can still work as correctional officers. That’s right! But there’s a catch. If the crime they committed shows that they aren’t trustworthy, they might not get the job.

If you want to work as a correctional officer in Michigan but you’ve been convicted of a serious crime that makes people doubt your honesty, you might not be hired. But if your past mistakes don’t make you seem like you can’t be trusted, you might still have a chance to work in this important job.

Texas

if you’ve been convicted of a felony, you won’t be able to get the job. 

It’s important to remember that different states have different rules, so if you live somewhere else, you’ll need to do some research to find out what the requirements are in your area.

But even if you can’t become a correctional officer because of your past, there are things you can do to show that you’re a changed person. For example, you could volunteer in your community, participate in outreach programs, and work hard at your job. You could also try to get more education, like a college degree, to show that you’re committed to improving yourself.

Who Is A Correctional Officer?

For those who may not know. A prison officer or corrections officer, also known as Correctional Law Enforcement Officer is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation of prisoners.

Responsibilities Of A Correctional Officer

Their primary duty is to cater to the welfare of inmates. They work at both state and federal institutions and are in high demand because of the number of individuals that are in prisons. The statistics are over 1.6 million and counting.

Here is a list of their responsibilities and roles:

Maintaining Order

Correctional officers play a crucial role in maintaining order and safety within prisons. As enforcers of the rules, they ensure that inmates comply with regulations and prevent any potential conflicts from escalating into violence. This is achieved through effective communication and, when necessary, the imposition of appropriate penalties or punishments.

In essence, correctional officers are responsible for maintaining a secure and controlled environment within correctional facilities. They must be vigilant at all times, as even the slightest breach of protocol can have serious consequences. Their duties include monitoring inmate behavior, conducting searches for contraband, and responding to emergencies.

Inspecting The Facilities

Correctional officers make their rounds monitoring the prison to make sure things are not out of place; damaged or unsanitary. Any damage can be a hazard or can allow a jailbreak. They also make sure that the facility is clean and sanitary to reduce infection and sickness.

Supervising Inmate

The officers keep an eye on all inmates to ensure that they observe and follow the rules. This way, there are fewer chances of chaos or violence breaking out. Officers take their rounds observing the inmates, whether in their cells, medical bay, or outside. 

officials are always on standby when the inmates get visitors. This ensures there is no breach of the laws by either the inmate or visitor.

Offender Rehabilitation

If the prison runs a reform or rehabilitation program, the correctional officer is also part of this too. He assists the inmates through it. It can be job training, educational programs, counseling, or skill acquisition.

Reporting The Inmate’s Behavior

They make a daily report of the behaviors of the inmates. If they are behaving well or breaking the rules. If the inmates are considered for early release; they may also testify as they have firsthand experience and interaction with a said inmate.

What Are The Requirements For Becoming A Correctional Officer?

Like most laws in the States, the Federal and state prison systems have different employment standards. Most of them have stringent policies and processes they go through to select those who would carry out this task. As always, I advise you to do more research to know the specific requirements in the region you reside.

These are the most common requirements you will find:

• U.S. Citizenship

Though some jurisdictions will accept individuals who are in the process of getting a citizenship application or otherwise eligible to work in the U.S., most would only hire a citizen and/or resident of that state.

• Minimum Age

It is required that you must be at least 18 or 21 years, depending on the state, before you can be employed for the job. Federal institutions require applicants to be between 20 to 37 years of age. 

• Education

Most states require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Also, for applicants that have some post-high school training, but if you have military experience, it is an added advantage.

• Driver’s License

As a prison guard, you need to have a driver’s license and a good driving record. This is because sometimes you might have to drive inmates around. If you have gotten in trouble for drinking and driving, it might make it harder for you to get a job. So, it’s important to be responsible and make good choices when it comes to driving.

• Physical Condition

You would be required to undergo a medical and physical fitness test. Make sure you are fit for the physical aspects of the job and identify a pre-existing medical condition.

They spend money, resources, and time to train and orient people for the job, so they’re picky about those whom they feel are worth the investment.

Background Checks

For a job as critical as this, it is expected that the best or most trustworthy are selected. It is no surprise that almost every state now does a background check.

What background checks on felons shows

The various types of background checks include:

• Fingerprints

They run your fingerprint to verify your identity, that you are indeed who you say you are. It also flags any criminal records you may have (if any) in the system.

• Drug test

A drug test is a way to know that you will be clear-headed and focused, sharp, and reliable on the job.

• Credit report

Your financial status would be checked to be sure you do not have money problems. In some situations can be leveraged against the individual. It is good you have it sorted. If you do not, you should be candid about it when asked.

• Reference verification

Be sure to give notice to whoever you put as a reference ahead of time, because they will call to confirm, and in some cases, they will visit. If the reference falters or acts surprised, or panics, it is safe to say it will have an impact on the validity of your application. 

Some states also have an application and screening progress for candidates to go through. Some may test for fluency in English. Make sure you research the process for the state you reside in before applying. It is best to be prepared and show competence; it increases your chances of getting the job. 

How Much Does A Correctional Officer Make?

Though this may not be the most lucrative job, salary-wise. Officers do make enough money to live well, especially if they work for Federal or Government owned prisons, as they pay more than the state-owned prisons. 

A Federal correctional officer earns an average salary of about $53,440 a year. States like California and Rhode Island going to a 2019 survey, pay higher with a salary of about $70,000 a year. The officers are also entitled to pension and medical cover. States like Texas pay a salary of about $41,000 a year.

This is a job that is in constant need of personnel, as more institutions are being built due to overcrowding. Places like California, New York, and Texas have an increasing demand for officers. If you are looking for a place your chances are higher.

Things To Consider As A Correctional Officer

• Private Or Public Prison

Some prisons are owned by private individuals, while some are owned by the government. The government-owned has a higher budget and is more regulated, while the private has a lower budget and less strict rules and laws.

• The Longevity of the prison

The age of a prison is a crucial factor that determines the quality of equipment and facilities available. As a correctional officer, this can significantly impact the level of stress you experience while supervising and ensuring the smooth running of operations.

The longer a prison has been in existence, the more likely it is to have outdated equipment and facilities. This can make your job as a correctional officer more challenging, as you may have to work with limited resources and outdated technology.

On the other hand, newer prisons are likely to have state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, which can make your job easier and less stressful. As a correctional officer, it is essential to consider the age of the prison you work in and how it may impact your daily duties.

• The different levels of security

This has to do with the class of inmates brought into the institution. They vary from minor offenders or minimum, medium, and maximum levels. This tells you how dangerous the inmates in the prison are going to be, or how often the likelihood of violent attacks is. 

Summary

The chances of a felon getting employed as a correctional officer are not that great, except if you have committed minor offenses and have your records expunged. That takes a long process, and can only be done for people with lesser crimes in the first place.

It is good you research based on the state you reside, as they may allow you to work in other law enforcement-related jobs as stated earlier, like private investigators, security guards, bounty hunters, and personal security professionals.