Corrections Degree & Career Center

Criminal Justice Degree Schools has a broad collection of corrections degree and corrections career information. Research the best corrections degrees, careers, schools, and programs. In addition to information on how to become a corrections officer, we can provide a view of what life will be like once you've started your new career with interviews from corrections professionals. From the requirements and challenges to the benefits and rewards, you will leave with a good idea of what it takes to pursue and succeed in a corrections career.

Resource Center

• Corrections Officer Careers
• Prison Warden Careers
• Prison Guard Careers
• Interview: "The State of our Correction Systems"

Corrections Degree Information

A degree in corrections can help prepare individuals to work inside correctional facilities as correctional officers, prison guards, and in other support roles. Corrections degree programs also provide preparation for such careers as probation and parole officers. Courses in these degree programs generally include overviews of the history of corrections, correctional methods, public safety, and working with individuals in a correctional environment. Corrections degrees are also referred to as criminal justice degrees with a concentration in corrections. Individuals can earn anywhere from an associate's degree to a doctorate in corrections.

Typical corrections degree program admission requirements include a desire to work in the corrections industry, a high school diploma or GED, and strong computer skills.

Related Degrees

Click on the links below to read about some degrees related to Corrections.

• Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree
• Forensic Psychology Degree
• Forensic Nursing Degree
• Legal Nursing Degree

Corrections Career Information

When people think of law enforcement or public safety, the image that usually comes to mind is the officer working a beat, responding to calls and making arrests. However, the management of criminals after their arrest is a major aspect of the criminal justice system and the growing rate of incarceration in the nation's corrections facilities generates an ongoing need for law enforcement personnel charged with supervising and managing criminals in detention and after release.

If you are interested in other careers related to corrections, check out the following career pages. On each career page, you will be able to review a general job description, career outlook, and salary and benefits information.

• Correctional Treatment Specialist
• Corrections Officer (Includes video interview with Sheriff Gary Raney)
• Juvenile Probation Officer
• Probation Officer
• Prison Warden
• Prison Guard
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Youth Correctional Counselor
• Correctional Case Manager
• Youth Correctional Officer
• Forensic Nurse
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Forensic Psychologist

Did you know? An estimated 6.9 million adults were either incarcerated in or supervised via parole or probation by the US corrections system in late 2014.¹ Although it is unfortunate that the number is so high, this means there is an ongoing demand for qualified correctional officers.

Corrections Interview

• Interview: The State of Our Correction Systems

Additional Resources

• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• Professor Sutton's documentary "Prison Through the Eyes of Tomorrow"

Corrections Salary and Outlook

Since the field of corrections covers many criminal justice jobs, the salaries depend on the type of job you pursue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that corrections officers and bailiffs made a median of $40,580 annually in 2015.¹ Correctional officers typically only need a high school diploma to find work.¹ Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists usually need a bachelor's degree to get a job and reportedly earned a median annual salary of $49,360 in the same year.² Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors made slightly less at a median of $39,980 per year and typically need a bachelor's degree for a position as a counselor.³

The career outlook for corrections jobs varies widely. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors are expected to grow significantly, with a 22% growth, or 21,200 new jobs expected in the period between 2014 and 2024.³ In contrast, correctional officers, bailiffs, probation officers, and correctional treatment specialists are expected to see only a 4% growth during 2014-2024, which is slower than average.^1,2

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Correctional Officers and Bailiffs: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm#tab-5