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Correctional service officers

OaSIS code 43201.00

Correctional service officers guard offenders and detainees and maintain order in correctional institutions and other places of detention. Primary workers develop women offender’s correctional plan and work with other service officers in the correctional team. Correctional service officers who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Overview

Also known as

  • Correctional facility guard
  • Correctional officers supervisor
  • Correctional service officer
  • Primary worker – correctional service
  • Primary worker/kimisinaw - correctional service
  • Prison guard

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Observe conduct and behaviour of offenders and detainees to prevent disturbances and escapes
  • Supervise offenders during work assignments, meals and recreation periods
  • Patrol assigned area and report any problems to supervisor
  • Conduct security checks and scanning of visitors, inmates and their cells, working areas and recreational activity areas
  • Observe behaviour of offenders and prepare reports
  • Escort detainees in transit and during temporary leaves
  • Prepare admission, program, release, transfer and other reports
  • May supervise and coordinate work of other correctional service officers.
  • May develop offenders’ correctional plan and facilitate their participation in reintegration programs in collaboration with psychologists, behavioral counsellors, parole officers and others.

Additional information

  • Primary workers are the primary daily contact for women offenders.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Managers in social, community and correctional services (40030)
  • Probation and parole officers (41311)
  • Social workers (41300)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

43 – Assisting occupations in education and in legal and public protection

Sub-major group

432 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Minor group

4320 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Unit group

43201 – Correctional service officers

Occupational profile

43201.00 – Correctional service officers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
5 - Highest Level
Clerical Activities
4 - High Level
Performing General Physical Activities
4 - High Level
Supervising Subordinates
4 - High Level
Team Building
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
2 - Low amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
3 - About half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
2 - Less than half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously

Workplaces/employers

  • Federal government
  • Municipal governments
  • Provincial governments

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Explosive Strength
5 - Highest Level
Gross Body Coordination
5 - Highest Level
Stamina
5 - Highest Level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
4 - High Level
Auditory Attention
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Persuading
4 - High Level
Evaluation
3 - Moderate Level
Instructing
3 - Moderate Level
Monitoring
3 - Moderate Level
Negotiating
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Stress Tolerance
5 - Extremely important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important