What is the primary goal of correctional officers?

The primary goal of correctional officers encompasses maintaining safety and security within correctional facilities. While voluntary compliance may play a role in managing inmate behavior, the overarching aim is to ensure order and the protection of both staff and inmates. Correctional officers are tasked with enforcing rules and regulations, managing conflicts, and preventing escape or violence, thereby prioritizing the safe operation of the facility.

Inmate education, rehabilitation programs, and reducing prison populations represent important aspects of the correctional system but are more focused on broader procedural outcomes and initiatives. These may contribute positively to inmate outcomes, but the immediate and critical responsibility of correctional officers lies in maintaining safety and compliance within the facility, which is central to their role in the justice system.