Corrections Officer Law and Legal Definition
A corrections officer is an officer responsible for the custody, safety, security, and supervision of inmates in a prison or any other correctional facility. Traditionally, terms such as jailer, jail guard, prison guard, and turnkey were used to refer to a corrections officer. These officers are also responsible for the care, custody, and control of individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial.
Ordinarily, corrections officers are appointed by the government of the jurisdiction in which they operate. However, some are employed by private companies as well. The duties of a corrections officer may vary depending upon the facility in which they are appointed and situations they have to handle. Some important duties of a corrections officer include:
1. Ensuring that the rules, regulations, and applicable legislations are followed by prison inmates.
2. Maintaining discipline, peace, and order in prison.
3. Conducting searches to ensure that the inmates do not use contrabands.
4. Transporting inmates to courts, and hospital facilities.
5. Transferring and transporting inmates to other correctional facilities.
6. Tactically responding to riots, hostages, and other emergency situation in prison.
A corrections officer is also referred to as a prison officer, correctional officer, detention officer, or prison warden.
Legal Definition list
- Correctional Status Information
- Correctional Program
- Correctional Option
- Correctional Institution [Education]
- Correctional Facility
- Corrections Officer
- Corrective Action [Administrative Personnel]
- Corrective Action Plan [Federal Transit Administration]
- Corrective Force
- Correlated Color Temperature
- Correlative Rights Doctrine