In this guide, you will read correctional officer resume samples, a writing guide, and a resume template to help you get started with writing a resume for correctional officer positions. Therefore, let's get straight to the resume example first. Here it is.
Jessie F. Pickett
Correctional Officer
3362 Gregory Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
+1 502-527-3591 jessie.pickett@gmail.com
Resume Summary
A disciplined and proactive correctional officer having more than ten years of work experience in correctional facilities, qualified in criminal justice and criminology. Skilled in handling critical situations inside the facility, expert in inmate behavioral psychology and security of inmates. Administering strict discipline inside the facility among the inmates ensuring they follow procedures and protocols. Seeking a senior correctional officer position at the state correctional facility.
Evaluated disruptive inmates who triggered rule violations under the inmate conduct program, generated daily reports on their behaviors, and informed the same to the team of on-duty corrections officers.
Executed a periodic patrol on regular and irregular intervals to surprise the inmates, to catch illegal and non-permissible items, and to separate high-risk individuals from others using sniffer dog squads.
Identified and rectified security breaches and loopholes facilitating the inmates to encounter violent situations creating chaos inside the facility and among the inmates securing the interest of innocents.
Implemented prisoner identification protocols inside a maximum-security inmate facility to realize the true identity of convicted individuals during the course of internal riots among the inmates.
Administered inmate accountability in the inmate food service area to ensure that individuals with clean records inside the facility are permitted to avoid mishaps with food items, and the health, and hygiene of individuals.
Analyzed and established security procedures for newly admitted individuals concerning their safety and ensured the procedures and protocols of the facility were strictly followed by everyone.
Collaborated with other correctional officers to generate incident reports of violent and unruly inmates, supervise inmates to restrain them from illegal activities, and conducted periodic patrols.
Communicated proactively in emergency situations with security officers through secured telephone calls before conducting raids on housing units of inmates to locate and search weapons and illegal possessions.
Correctional Officer
Washington Law Enforcement
Seattle, Washington
2012-2016
Coordinated mock drills on a regular basis with the firefighter team to estimate the quick response time of correctional officers during critical situations, supervised and trained newly recruited police officers for the drill.
Developed a daily schedule of inspections with monitoring the movements of inmates inside the facility, especially during the free hours, breakfast, lunch, and dinner time when everyone is in the common area.
Patrolled the entire facility including inmates’ cells, and their personal belongings according to the safety standards of federal prison laws and appointed an aerial surveillance staff for mobile patrolling.
Improved the security features of the prison facility by installing automated computerized locks for cells, admin office, record rooms, weapons room, common area, gym, and food zone.
Correctional Officer Skills
Correctional facilities
Documenting incident reports
Early intervention tactics
Maintain security procedures
Transporting inmates safely
Receiving incoming inmates
Monitor inmate population
Handling emergency situations
Maintain security equipment
Observe inmate activities
Other Relevant Skills
Data entry
Follow institutional policies
Analyze inmate behavior
Periodic patrols
Maintain control
Supervise inmates
Enforcing physical restraint
Instruct inmates
Initiate counts
Supervise facility procedures
Soft Skills
Excellent communication skills
Filing written reports
Escort inmates
Quick action
Problem-solving
Emotional intelligence
Education
Master’s in Criminal Justice
Kentucky Law College
Louisville, Kentucky
2007 – 2010
Coursework: Emotional intelligence, on-the-job training of correctional officers, relevant rules of facilities, conduct & behavior, inspection of housing units, perform searches, correctional treatment, procedures, and protocols.
Bachelor’s in Criminology
Kentucky Law College
Louisville, Kentucky
2004 – 2007
Coursework: Criminal psychology, criminal justice, correctional officer jobs best practices, analytical skills, administrative or punitive measures, law enforcement, the behavior of inmates, periodic patrols, and controlling violence.
Training & Certifications
Certified Correctional Officer in Security Procedures, 2011
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
Correctional Officer Fitness Certification, 2010
American Correctional Association (ACA)
Membership
American Correctional Officers Club, Member, 2011-Present
After compiling an experienced correctional officer resume we will get into the writing guide by decoding every single resume section step-by-step and aligning the explanation with examples so that you can compare and see the difference. So, here’s the following you will read next.
Professional resume format
Layout of a professional resume
Writing contact details
Correctional officer resume summary
Composing the work experience
Enlisting the most relevant skills
Laying out the educational qualification
Describing the additional details
Correctional Officer Resume Format
The reverse chronological resume format is what you should be using in correctional officer resumes. Apart from the reverse format we also have the functional and the hybrid formats. However, the hybrid format is not recommended since it makes the resume lengthy. Hence, for the correctional officer resume the reverse order is favorable.
Correctional Officer Resume Layout
The reverse order is finalized and now the layout of a correctional officer resume. The outline of a professional resume is pretty simple. We have mentioned it for your reference below. Copy the same and use it while writing correctional officer resumes.
Resume Summary
Work Experience
Correctional Officer Skills
Other Relevant Skills
Soft Skills
Education
Training & Certifications
Membership
Contact Details in a Correctional Officer Resume
Describe the name, job title, address, email, and phone number. That’s the only information a hiring manager needs. Go through the examples of contact details below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Right
Jessie F. Pickett
Correctional Officer
3362 Gregory Lane
Louisville, KY 40202
+1 502-527-3591 jessie.pickett@gmail.com
Wrong
Jessie F. Pickett
Correctional Officer
3362 Gregory Lane
Louisville, KY 40202
+1 502-527-3591 jessie.pickett@gmail.com
June 4, 1982
41 years old
Gemini
6′ (177 centimeters)
139.7 pounds (63.5 kilograms)
Blood group: B+
Correctional Officer Resume Summary
Reading the job description of a correctional officer can make a huge difference in compiling a resume summary. Here the job description acts as a resource to write the resume summary. By doing this you will include specific details that a hiring manager would like to read. Go through the examples of resume summaries below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Right
A disciplined and proactive correctional officer having more than ten years of work experience in correctional facilities, qualified in criminal justice and criminology. Skilled in handling critical situations inside the facility, expert in inmate behavioral psychology and security of inmates. Administering strict discipline inside the facility among the inmates ensuring they follow procedures and protocols. Seeking a senior correctional officer position at the state correctional facility.
Wrong
Disciplined and proactive correctional officer. Having more than ten years of work experience in correctional units. Qualified in justice and criminology. Skilled in handling critical situations inside the facility. Expert in inmate behavioral psychology and security of inmates. Administering strict discipline inside the facility among the inmates. Ensuring they follow procedures and protocols. Seeking a senior correctional officer at the state facility.
Work Experience in a Correctional Officer Resume
Similar to the resume summary, the work experience can be composed using the job description since there’s a whole collection of crucial details in there. When you include keywords, action verbs, and relevant info even a hiring manager would not avoid reading the corrections officer resume. Go through the examples of work experiences below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Evaluated disruptive inmates who triggered rule violation under the prisoner conduct program, generated daily reportings on their behaviors, and informed the same to the team of on-duty corrections officer.
Executed a timely patrol on regular and irregular intervals to surprise the inmates, to catch illegal and non-permissible items, and to separate high-risk individuals from others using sniffer dog squads.
Identified and rectified security breach and loopholes facilitating the inmates to encounter violent situations creating chaos inside the facility and among the inmates securing the interest of innocents.
Implemented prisoner identity protocols inside a maximum-security inmate facility to realize the true identity of convicted individuals during the course of internal riots among the inmates.
Administered inmate accountabilities in the inmate food area to ensure that individuals with clean records inside the facility are permitted to avoid mishaps with food items, and the health, and hygiene of individuals.
Analyzed and established a security procedure for newly admitted individuals concerning their safety and ensured the procedures and protocols of the facility were strictly followed by everyone.
Collaborated with other correctional officers to generate reports of violent and unruly inmate, supervise inmates to restrain them from illegal activities, and conducted periodic patrols.
Communicated proactively in emergency situations with security officers through a secured telephone call before conducting raids on housing units of inmates to locate and search weapons and illegal possessions.
Correctional Officer
Washington Law Enforcement
Seattle, Washington
2012-2016
Coordinated mock drills on a regular basis with the firefighter team to estimate the quick response time of correctional officers during critical situations, supervised and trained newly recruited police officers for the drill.
Developed a daily schedule of inspections with monitoring the movements of inmates inside the facility, especially during the free hours, breakfast, lunch, and dinner time when everyone is in the common area.
Patrolled the entire facility including inmates’ cells, and their personal belongings according to the safety standards of federal prison laws and appointed an aerial surveillance staff for mobile patrolling.
Improved the security features of the prison facility by installing automated computerized locks for cells, admin office, record rooms, weapons room, common area, gym, and food zone.
Correctional Officer
Washington Law Enforcement
Seattle, Washington
2012-2016
Coordinated mock drills to maintain knowledge.
Developed other law enforcement agencies.
Patrolled the entire facility including inmates’ cells.
Improved the security features of the prison facility.
Key Skills in a Correctional Officer Resume
Although it is a cakewalk to list the most relevant skills in a corrections officer resume there could be things going south. For instance, writing a single word like emergency situations without any prefix or suffix. Go through the examples of key skills below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Right
Correctional Officer Skills
Correctional facilities
Documenting incident reports
Early intervention tactics
Maintain security procedures
Transporting inmates safely
Receiving incoming inmates
Monitor inmate population
Handling emergency situations
Preserve security equipment
Observe inmate activities
Other Relevant Skills
Data entry
Follow institutional policies
Analyze inmate behavior
Periodic patrols
Maintain control
Supervise inmates
Enforcing physical restraint
Instruct inmates
Initiate counts
Supervise facility procedures
Soft Skills
Excellent communication skills
Filing written reports
Escort inmates
Quick action
Problem-solving
Emotional intelligence
Wrong
Correctional officer skills
Documenting incident reports
Early intervention tactics
Maintain procedures
Transporting safely
Receiving inmates
Monitor population
Handling emergency situations
Maintain equipment
Observe inmate activities
Other skills
Data entry
Follow institutional policies
Analyze inmate behavior
Periodic patrols
Maintain control
Supervise inmates
Enforcing restraint
Instruct inmates
Initiate counts
Supervise facility procedures
Communication skills
Filing reports
Escorting inmates
Quick action
Problem-solving
Emotional intelligence
Education Section in a Correctional Officer Resume
The easiest section to write in correctional officer resume samples is the education details. Use the reverse order here by mentioning the highest degree even if it is a high school diploma. In other words, begin with the higher qualifications and then the other academic details. Go through the examples of the education section below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Right
Master’s in Criminal Justice
Kentucky Law College
Louisville, Kentucky
2007 – 2010
Coursework: Emotional intelligence, on-the-job training of correctional officers, relevant rules of facilities, conduct & behavior, inspection of housing units, perform searches, correctional treatment, procedures, and protocols.
Bachelor’s in Criminology
Kentucky Law College
Louisville, Kentucky
2004 – 2007
Coursework: Criminal psychology, criminal justice, correctional officer jobs best practices, analytical skills, administrative or punitive measures, law enforcement, the behavior of inmates, periodic patrols, and controlling violence.
Wrong
Master’s in Criminal Justice Bachelor’s in Criminology
Kentucky Law College
Louisville, Kentucky
2004 – 2010
Coursework: Emotional intelligence, training of correctional officers, rules of facilities, conduct & behavior, inspection of housing units, perform search, correctional treatments, procedures, and protocols, criminal psychology, justice, correctional officer best practices, analytical skills, administrative or punitive measures, law enforcement, the behavior of inmates, periodic patrols, and controlling violence.
Additional Info in a Correctional Officer Resume
Extra details that could light up your correctional officer resume are language skills, awards, internship training, apprenticeship work, volunteer experience, and government recognition. In short, anything that is aligned with the correctional officer job description and would impress hiring managers must be included in the corrections officer resume. Go through the examples of additional details below and imitate the right one in your correctional officer resume.
Right
Training & Certifications
Certified Correctional Officer in Security Procedures, 2011
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
Correctional Officer Fitness Certification, 2010
American Correctional Association (ACA)
Membership
American Correctional Officers Club, Member, 2011-Present
Certified Correctional Officer in Security Procedures, 2011, National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Correctional Officer Fitness Certification, 2010, American Correctional Association (ACA), American Correctional Officers Club, Member, 2011-Present, Criminal Justice & Criminology Society, Member, 2012-Present
Correctional Officer Resume Template
We hope now you are ready to write an engaging correctional officer resume. Even though we have mentioned an example and explained individual sections here’s a separate correctional officer resume template. Copy the template, replace the content, and download it for your next job search.
(Name)
(Job title)
(Address)
(Email)
(Mobile)
Resume Summary
(Correctional officers hard skills + current & previous job achievements + keywords from correctional officer job description + experience in years + soft skills + academic accomplishments)
With frequently asked questions and answers we will conclude our correctional officer resume. So here are some FAQs for reference.
How to add a high school diploma to the correctional officer resume samples?
Although a high school diploma is the minimum academic requirement for a correctional officer resume adding a higher education can help you keep ahead of the competition. Follow the template to add a high school diploma.
(High School Diploma)
(School)
(City, state)
(Year)
Now that you know the outline here is the examples of education details if you have a high school diploma.
High School Diploma
St. Thomas School
Louisville, Kentucky
2004 – 2007
How to write a skill summary in the correctional officer resume samples?
First things first, a skill summary is written in the functional resume instead of a reverse chronological resume. Secondly, the need to write a skill summary arises only when you want hiring managers to focus on your core skills in place of the work experience. Third, if you summarize skills then the format of the correctional officer resume will become functional. Let’s understand with examples. Read below.
Patrolling, Security, and Protocols
Evaluated disruptive inmates who triggered rule violation under the prisoner conduct program, generated daily reportings on their behaviors, and informed the same to the team of on-duty corrections officer.
Executed periodic patrolling on regular and irregular intervals to surprise the inmates, to catch illegal and non-permissible items, and to separate high-risk individuals from others using sniffer dog squads.
Identified and rectified security breach and loopholes facilitating the inmates to encounter violent situations creating chaos inside the facility and among the inmates securing the interest of innocents.
Implemented prisoner identity protocols inside a maximum-security inmate facility to realize the true identity of convicted individuals during the course of internal riots among the inmates.
The bold title is the heading of the skill summary whereas the points underneath are the summarized explanation of skills that you employed during the job. This is how you must write the skill summary in a correctional officer resume.
Right
Wrong
