Prison Guard Overview
Required Education and Training To Become a Prison Guard
Best Schools to become a Prison Guard in U.S. 2024
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
In-State Tuition:$6,930
Out-of-State Tuition:$14,880
Admission Rate:51%
Graduation Rate:54%
Total Enrollment:13,921
Southern New Hampshire University
In-State Tuition:$15,000
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,000
Admission Rate:96%
Graduation Rate:41%
Total Enrollment:164,091
University of Phoenix-Arizona
In-State Tuition:$9,552
Out-of-State Tuition:$9,552
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:18%
Total Enrollment:88,891
Liberty University
In-State Tuition:$15,467
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,467
Admission Rate:99%
Graduation Rate:66%
Total Enrollment:96,709
Rio Salado College
In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:10%
Total Enrollment:17,078
Eastern Gateway Community College
In-State Tuition:$4,115
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,727
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:30,364
Prison Guard Job Description:
- Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures.
- May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point.
- Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Prison Guard
Job Duties for Prison Guards
Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
Technologies and Skills Used by Prison Guards
Data base user interface and query software
- 3M Electronic Monitoring
- Microsoft Access
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
Basic Skills
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions
- Understanding people's reactions