Guide to College Majors in Corrections

The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.
--Fyodor Dostoevsky

What is Corrections?

Students who earn a college degree in corrections and begin a career in this important field bear the responsibility of overseeing the criminal population and ensuring the safety of local citizens. The law enforcement and corrections field may seem intimidating at first, due to the regimented lifestyle and high level of accountability. There are many benefits, however, to working in law enforcement. Here are just some of the many attractive qualities of the field of law enforcement and corrections:

It's one of the fastest-growing job fields in the country.
As criminals become more skilled, law enforcement professionals must continue to increase their knowledge base and skills to combat current and future threats.
Individuals that purse advancement on their own may be eligible for salary increases as their knowledge increases.
Corrections degrees pave the way for successful careers in law if candidates so desire.

Online College Courses in Corrections

The growth of information technology has created more educational opportunities in the law enforcement field. Many students are now able to earn a college degree in corrections from an accredited online college or university. The flexibility of online degree programs makes education available to many students who already have jobs or families to support. By enrolling an online college degree program in corrections, students are able to control their own study and class schedules, and are not forced to relocate to a physical college campus.

The convenience of online education is especially important in the field of corrections because many high-security facilities are located in isolated and rural areas, far away from traditional universities and community colleges. Online college degree programs enable students to explore educational and professional opportunities outside of heavily populated areas. Many correctional facilities offer continuing online education to staff, in tandem with services provided to prisoners going through rehab and remedial services. As prisons become increasingly compartmentalized and technologically enhanced, online degrees will become more and more commonplace in correctional settings nationwide.

Career Education in Corrections

On-Campus and Online College Courses

Corrections degree programs focus on counseling and rehabilitation of offenders, probation, parole, community corrections, and juvenile services. Corrections professionals have the opportunity to make a strong and lasting impact on those they oversee. They will confront dangerous situations and be offered opportunities to help improve lives. The knowledge and insight gained from a college degree program in corrections will prepare them for the challenges of a career in the field.

Close collaboration between teachers and students in this major is strongly encouraged. Students are also expected to gain experience through internships and job-shadowing programs. Internship experiences can help with networking during the job search after graduation. Some graduates of corrections degree programs work as correctional officers, correctional counselors, and community and court probation officers. Others have opted to specialize in sexual abuse and child protection services.

What You'll Learn in a Corrections Degree Program

College degree programs in corrections are designed to provide students with a set of skills that they will need to obtain entry-level positions in the field. Upon graduation, students should understand the daily operations and functions of the criminal justice system. They should have the ability to recognize and analyze sociological factors that may increase the likelihood of instances of crime. They should be able to explain criminal and social deviance and should be able to describe in detail potential criminal profiles. Graduates should be familiar with constitutional processes and applicable law.

A strong foundation of knowledge regarding criminal instincts and motivations is crucial for success in the professional field of corrections. The foundational courses in this major are designed to provide students with this knowledge. In most college degree programs in corrections, the first course that is most relevant to the Corrections major is Introduction to Corrections, which covers:

The history and development of correctional institutions
Review of prison and rehab facilities
Sentencing, incarceration, and parole
Hierarchy of prison management and regulations
The daily communications system of prison life

Other College Courses in Corrections

Courses such as Introduction to Law Enforcement provide students with the opportunity to discuss the nature of criminality and how to control it. Introductory courses like this one also cover criminal treatment processes and criminal psychology. Criminal law classes focus on three separate examinations of the justice system: traffic, juvenile, and liquor laws. Courses such as Parole and Probation offer a review of the proper procedures in treatment and sentencing guidelines. In community relations and policing classes, you'll learn how to utilize corrections knowledge in a positive and constructive way when dealing with the community at large.

Introductory courses in juvenile delinquency have often proved beneficial to future corrections officers because criminal tendencies in children are a growing problem. Law enforcement officials need to be equipped to handle situations with criminal youth that may arise in a variety of circumstances. A course in juvenile corrections may follow courses in juvenile delinquency. Courses covering topics relating to empirical studies, current perspectives on the juvenile justice system, juvenile code, and the difference between adult and juvenile courts may also be part of the curriculum.

According to Corrections Today, the key to a successful career in law enforcement comes down to these key words: mentor, education, diversity, and attitude. Input and knowledge from a seasoned professional in your field is always an important factor in career success. In the corrections field, guidance from an experienced professional has often proved invaluable because of the inherent hazards found in the industry. Many degree programs offer students the opportunity to engage with professionals who are already working in the corrections field.

The requirements needed to embark on a career in law enforcement are as multi-faceted as the industry itself. Those interested in a career in federal corrections need to have a bachelor's degree in the field. A master's degree in criminal justice is also very helpful for future advancement. Interested candidates must be under the age of 37 because of the mandatory retirement age at 57. By obtaining "Rule 24 Certification," a student may receive preferred consideration when entering the workforce. This certification program covers in-depth information about chemical dependency and is available online. In addition, corrections departments often hire individuals to complete Pre-Sentence Investigation Reports, an experience that would help any graduate during his or her search for a job. Volunteer experience in the particular area you are interested in is always a good addition to a resume.

What Can You Do with a College Degree in Corrections?

Corrections Career Options

The prospects for job opportunities for correctional officers are excellent. Thousands of jobs are expected to open each year due to a greater demand for correctional officers and the need to replace correctional officers who leave the profession or who retire. Many corrections facilities have had trouble attracting and retaining desirable job applicants. This may be due to low starting salaries and the saturation of the job market in rural areas (it's not uncommon for the majority of a small town's male population to work in connection with the local prison, which may be the area's largest employer).

As the population of inmates rises, employment opportunities for correctional officers are expected to grow during the next seven years. Mandatory sentencing, longer sentences, and shortened paroles will contribute to the unwavering growth of the inmate population. New jobs for correctional officers will also be created as new corrections facilities are built and existing facilities are expanded. The development of physical facilities will depend largely on the budgets of state and local governments. It is not uncommon for public corrections authorities to work with private companies in the provision of correctional facilities and corrections staff. This trend is expected to increase employment opportunities in the private sector.

Job security for a corrections officer is high. Because of the demand created by rising inmate populations, layoffs of corrections officers are extremely rare.

Diversity in the Corrections Field

The corrections industry is very diverse. Though minority participation in the corrections field is growing, the field remains very male-dominated. Several factors are responsible for this trend. Issues of security, inmate privacy, and the demanding physical requirements of corrections jobs have acted as impediments to female advancement in the field. Women do, however, have some advantages, particularly in regards to corrections policy. They have traditionally demonstrated a greater concern for younger inmates, a progressive vision for change, and a strong ability to work in groups and encourage positive cooperation and coordination. A recent study by American Correctional Association's Women in Corrections Committee has shown that:

46% of agencies offered training to address needs of female employees
76% provided sexual harassment courses, many of which are available online.
59% of the departments provided materials and seminars geared toward decreasing the use of stereotypes and misperceptions of women and minorities.

Work environment

The regular responsibility of a corrections officer is to monitor people who have been arrested and are waiting for trial, or who have been convicted and sentenced. The corrections officer's job is to keep facilities secure. He or she must take measures to prevent violence and inmate escapes. The authority enjoyed by a corrections officer exists only within the institution or facility in which he or she works and must not be exercised outside of the workplace.

Corrections officers are sometimes known as detention officers and are employed in the police or sheriff's departments in county jails. It is common for corrections officers to find employment in this segment of the industry because about 75% of all jails are under the jurisdiction of a sheriff and are run by county government.

The inmate population of a jail is in constant flux. Prisoners are continually being released or transferred to prison, and new prisoners are constantly being brought in. Corrections officers who work in jails across the United States admit more than 11 million new offenders or potential offenders each year. The admittance process is the most dangerous part of the job, when recently arrested individuals are in danger of becoming violent.

Corrections officers in the United States collectively monitor the revolving population of the one million or so incarcerated people who continuously reside in jails and prisons. Though both kinds of facilities have dangerous elements, prisons are generally more stable environments than jails. Some corrections officers find employment with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, monitoring individuals who are waiting to be released or deported. Some are employed in correctional institutions that are operated by private organizations.

The job of a corrections officer can be dangerous and difficult. Corrections officers must handle the possibility of having a confrontation with an inmate that could be potentially harmful. Some corrections facilities are well maintained, clean, well lighted, and ventilated. Other correction facilities, however, are overcrowded, hot, and in disrepair. Because there must always be security provided in corrections institutions, the schedule maintained by a corrections officer can be tiring. Officers must often work full days five days a week and frequently have to work overtime hours, overnight shifts, and on weekends and holidays.

Job duties

Corrections professionals are the front line of contact for the inmates under their supervision. A daily workday in the life of typical corrections professional could include the following:

Monitoring work activities and assignments for prison inmates
Inspecting cells and other areas for cleanliness
Searching inmates and cells for illegal items such as weapons and drugs
Inspecting locks, doors and other points of entry for signs of tampering
Screening visitors and mail for prohibited items
Serving meals and distributing hygienic items to prisoners
Escorting prisoners to places within the facility and outside locations such as courtrooms and medical facilities
Reporting on the work quality of inmates. Reports may be written or oral
Communicating rules to inmates in a clear, civil, but forceful manner
Using handcuffs, pepper spray, and other deterrents as needed in proper and safe manner
Interacting with inmates that are often confrontational and angry
Cooperating and communicating with co-workers
Convincing inmates to follow all regulations
Being constantly on guard and aware of inmate behavior that could have serious physical consequences
Working eight-hour days, weekends, and holidays
Being highly agile and able to move quickly in physically demanding situations
Seeking out and encouraging support from superiors and co-workers

Salary Information for Careers in Corrections

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2004 the average annual salary of a corrections officer was $33, 600, although experienced officers can earn over $54,000 per year. Corrections officers working for the federal government earned an average annual salary of $44,700.

Extensive government-provided benefits are included in the annual salaries of a federally-employed corrections officer. Overall, 427,000 work in small- to medium-sized correctional facilities. Nearly 60% work in state prisons, prison camps, or youth facilities. Others work in large prisons in rural areas. Employment opportunities are expected to grow at an above average rate through 2012. Because the law enforcement industry revolves around crime, an issue that will never completely disappear, employment opportunities will always be available

The Future of the Corrections Industry

Through the completion of an online college degree program, corrections officers can advance their careers. With additional education, corrections officers may become sergeants or wardens. As criminal activities evolve, both the public and private sector will be in need of qualified individuals with fresh perspectives that are enhanced through education.

Explore Related Degree Programs
- Online Degrees in Corrections
- Online Degrees in Law Enforcement
- Online Legal Studies Degrees