Correctional Services Worker

In general, correctional services workers in correctional or young offenders centres have the following responsibilities: 

• evaluate, classify and assess offenders
• develop case plans and provide group and individual counselling
• orient newly admitted offenders
• prepare offenders for release into the community
• assist in policy development
• write reports and perform administrative tasks.

Correctional services workers in a living unit environment (inside a correctional residential facility or young offender centre) also are responsible for the behaviour management and security of offenders assigned to their particular living unit.

Correctional services workers usually work in one of the following areas:

Youth justice workers work in young offender centres or open custody group homes with young people who have been charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and have been committed to custody or temporary detention by the courts. In general, youth justice workers:

• are responsible for security
• supervise daily living routines
• evaluate and assess young offenders and develop, implement and monitor case plans
• provide leisure and recreational activities
• conduct structured group meetings and provide one-to-one counselling
• communicate with probation officers, parents, guardians and others to plan for the release of the young person into the community
• prepare custody progress reports for court reviews of custody sentences.

Living unit officers in a correctional residential facility perform a variety of security and casework duties with adult offenders. They may:

• conduct security checks of the unit
• orient new offenders to the unit
• provide individual counselling, group counselling and referrals
• assist in pre-release and release planning
• maintain records of offenders' behaviour
• escort offenders.

Correctional centre caseworkers usually:

• examine offenders' backgrounds and make recommendations regarding training and individual program plans
• compile and classify personal, educational, employment and criminal information
• develop treatment and program plans
• advise offenders of their rights of appeal and facilitate access to the appropriate resources
• maintain contact with institutional and community resources and government agencies involved with after release care and rehabilitation of offenders.

Hours of work and working environments vary considerably depending on the type of work. For example, correctional services workers escorting offenders on day parole may take offenders to visit parents who are in hospital. Institutional staff work shifts.

Physical requirements also vary depending on the type of position and the employer. Correctional services workers may be required to restrain offenders in some circumstances. Those who conduct security checks and orient new offenders must be ready to respond if a dangerous situation arises.

Correctional services workers need the following characteristics:

• maturity and good judgment
• strong interpersonal skills
• strong oral and written communication skills.

They should enjoy dealing with and helping people, having clearly defined rules and organized methods, supervising others and encountering situations that entail some stress, risks or the unexpected.

Correctional services workers primarily are employed in:

• correctional centres
• young offender centres
• open custody group homes
• community attendance centres.

They may be employed by:

• the federal government
• the provincial government
• private sector social service agencies.

Experienced correctional services workers may advance to supervisory positions or, if they have the required qualifications, transfer to other areas in correctional service.

Correctional services workers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 4155: Probation and Parole Officers and Related Occupations. In Alberta, 96% of people employed in this classification work in Public Administration (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in Public Administration industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Justice and Solicitor General website: justice.alberta.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.