Being a correctional officer or a police officer are two very different job roles, with varying duties and responsibilities. As both roles involve upholding the law and dealing with societal issues, it is important to understand the differences between the two jobs. Corrections officers’ main job is to oversee the daily operations within a prison or jail facility and to ensure the security of inmates, staff, and visitors. On the other hand, police officers are tasked with maintaining law and order in their respective jurisdictions, responding to emergency calls, writing reports, and dealing with criminal activity. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between a corrections officer and a police officer in terms of job duties, salary, training, and other factors. By the end of this post, you should know the differences between the two roles so you can decide which one best suits your skills, qualifications, and interests.
What is a police officer?
A police officer is a member of the legal system who patrols neighborhoods to maintain public safety. They play a variety of roles, many of which involve interacting with neighbors and submitting paperwork. Serving the community and responding to safety and crime concerns is their main duty. A police officers responsibilities include:
What is a corrections officer?
A law enforcement officer in charge of those who have been arrested is known as a corrections officer or correctional officer. They assist both those who are pending trial and those who have already been found guilty and are currently incarcerated. The primary place of employment for corrections officers is a prison, jail, or other correctional facility, though these can vary geographically in terms of size and structure. In these facilities, corrections officers uphold the law and carry out a variety of duties, such as:
The differences between corrections officers and police officers
Although they both work to uphold the law and ensure public safety, correctional officers and police officers have many differences. The following are some key distinctions between these two professions:
Responsibilities
Both police officers and corrections officers must complete a sizable amount of paperwork, interact with people to assess risks and hear complaints, and engage in community service. The primary distinction between their roles is that while correctional officers primarily work to prevent crime, police officers frequently respond to crime. Being in a controlled environment makes this easier to accomplish, in contrast to police officers, who are in charge of an entire community and are not always watching everyone.
Work environment
The working environments of police and corrections officers differ significantly. Police work in the neighborhood to protect citizens and uphold the law. Due to their need to cover a large area and respond to scenes quickly, they frequently work from police cars. While on patrol or observing traffic, police officers occasionally spend the entire day in their cars, but other times they move from location to location as needed. They may also work within police precincts.
To stop prisoners from escaping or hurting one another, corrections officers patrol prisons. When transporting inmates, they may occasionally work outside of these facilities, but they are typically given consistent work assignments in one building. Correctional officers may work in a variety of facilities, depending on the state or federal level. Additionally, they might work in specialized settings like maximum security prisons and juvenile detention facilities.
Salary and job outlook
Job requirements
Police and corrections officers must possess a high school diploma and complete specialized training programs. Police officers receive specialized training at the police academy, where they participate in both physical and academic training to learn about the law, ethics, and other topics.
Similar training is provided for corrections officers, including physical training and legal studies. Corrections officers train in a stimulating prison where they can learn about the job and practice their skills. Corrections officers need a bachelor’s degree or a certain amount of relevant experience to work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Skills
Both police officers and corrections officers work stressful, physically demanding jobs with a high risk of injury and illness. Both jobs require these skills:
Skills that are special to corrections officers include:
Skills that are special to police officers include:
5 Differences in Corrections vs Law Enforcement Officer
FAQ
Are corrections officers happy?
We ask millions of people participating in our ongoing survey at CareerExplorer how satisfied they are with their careers. It turns out that 2 is the career happiness rating for correctional officers. 4 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 4% of careers
Is being a correctional officer boring?
Despite the fact that there are many dull hours in the day, something novel always occurs. It stays interesting when new inmates arrive because they bring with them new issues, circumstances, and even new paperwork.
What is the best state to be a correctional officer?
Every day, correctional officers are subjected to a lot of stress. Working long shifts behind walls all the time can and does wear a person out. Statistics demonstrate higher rates of divorce, PTSD, severe depression, and suicide among correctional officers.
