Qualified Correctional Officer Resume Guide
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Qualified Correctional Officer Resume Guide

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.

Last update:
14/6/2024

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Correctional Officer Resume Example

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.

Work Experience

Correctional Officer
Kentucky Correctional Facility
Louisville, Kentucky
2020-Present

  • 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.

Correctional Officer
Texas Correctional Facility
Austin, Texas
2016-2020

  • 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
  • Criminal Justice & Criminology Society, Member, 2012-Present

How to Write a Correctional Officer Resume?

Correctional Officer Resume

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


Correctional Officer Resume

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.

Right

Correctional Officer
Kentucky Correctional Facility
Louisville, Kentucky
2020-Present

  • 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.

Correctional Officer
Texas Correctional Facility
Austin, Texas
2016-2020

  • 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.

Wrong

Correctional Officer
Kentucky Correctional Prison
Louisville, Kentucky
2020-Present

  • Evaluated disruptive inmates who triggered.
  • Executed patrolling for inmate disturbance.
  • Identified and rectified security breach.
  • Implemented prisoner identity protocols.

Correctional Officer
Texas Correctional Prison
Austin, Texas
2016-2020

  • Administered inmate accountabilities.
  • Analyzed and established a security procedure.
  • Collaborated with other corrections officer.
  • Communicated proactively in emergencies

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

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
  • Criminal Justice & Criminology Society, Member, 2012-Present

Wrong
Training, Certifications, and membership
  • 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


Correctional Officer Resume

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)

Work Experience

(Current job title)
(Company)
(City, state)
(Year)

  • (Action verb + correctional officers hard skills + current job achievements + keywords from correctional officers job description)

(Past job title)
(Company)
(City, state)
(Year)

  • (Action verb + correctional officers hard skills + current job achievements + keywords from correctional officers job description)

(Past job title)
(Company)
(City, state)
(Year)

  • (Action verb + correctional officers skills + current job achievements + keywords from correctional officers job description)

Key Skills

  • (List all most relevant skills related to a correctional officer position including technical skills)

Education

(Master’s Degree)
(College/university)
(City, state)
(Year)

  • (Coursework)

(Bachelor’s Degree)
(College/university)
(City, state)
(Year)

  • (Coursework)

Training & Certifications

  • (Name + year)

Membership

  • (Name + membership + year)

Correctional Officer Resume FAQs

With frequently asked questions and answers we will conclude our correctional officer resume. So here are some FAQs for reference.

Correctional Officer Resume

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.

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