by 
The Curious Bag
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Detention officers perform a vital task in our society: overseeing incarcerated citizens awaiting trial. The people who do this work must be able to deal with a high level of stress.
Employers
Military, federal, state and local governments are the main employers of detention officers. The officers work within prisons and jails.
Requirements
A high school diploma or GED is required to enter this field. Some employers require a college degree as well. Military or law-enforcement experience is a definite plus. Detention officers must be a minimum of 18 to 21 years of age, and they cannot have a felony conviction on their record.
Training
Training for detention officers usually includes both training academy attendance/graduation and on-the-job training. Many jurisdictions require self-defense and firearms training as well.
Job Demands
Detention officers, who usually work in pretrial detention facilities, are charged with maintaining jail security; admitting, processing and releasing offenders; preventing disturbances within the facility; and transporting offenders back and forth for trials.
Warning
This work can be very dangerous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, correctional officers, including detention officers, incur one of the highest rates of nonfatal, on-the-job injuries.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Correctional Officers
City of Mesquite, Texas: Detention Officer Job Description
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