analyze projected job growth in public safety police and detective job outlook police, fire and...

Analyze Projected Job Growth in Public

Safety • Police and Detective Job Outlook • Police, Fire and Ambulance Dispatchers Job

Outlook• Firefighters Job Outlook• EMTs and Paramedics Job Outlook• Correctional Officers Job Outlook• Emergency Management Specialists Job

Outlook• Emergency Management Directors Job Outlook• Public and private pay levels: a comparison in

large labor markets

SWHS Public Safety Program

Police and Detectives

A Brief Overview


Police and Detectives What Do They Do?

• Detectives and criminal investigators typically do the following::– Investigate crimes– Collect evidence of crimes– Conduct interviews with suspects and witnesses– Observe the activities of suspects– Arrest suspects– Write detailed reports and fill out forms– Prepare cases and testify in court



• Uniformed officers:– Enforce laws– Respond to calls for service– Patrol assigned areas– Conduct traffic stops and issue citations– Arrest suspects– Write detailed reports and fill out forms– Prepare cases and testify in court



• Uniformed police officers have general law enforcement duties.

• They wear uniforms that allow the public to easily recognize them as police officers.

• They have regular patrols and also respond to calls for service.

• Police agencies are usually organized into geographic districts, with uniformed officers assigned to patrol a specific area.



• Officers in large agencies often patrol with a partner.

• During patrols, officers look for any signs of criminal activity and may conduct searches or arrest suspected criminals.

• They may also respond to emergency calls, investigate complaints, and enforce traffic laws.



• Some police officers work only on a specific type of crime, such as narcotics.

• Officers, especially those working in large departments, may also work in special units, such as horseback, motorcycle, and canine corps or special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams.

• Typically, officers must work as patrol officers for a certain number of years before they may be appointed to one of these units.



• Many city police agencies are involved in community policing, a philosophy of bringing police and members of the community together to prevent crime.

• A neighborhood watch program is one type of community policing.

• Some agencies have special geographic and enforcement responsibilities.

• Examples include public college and university police forces, public school district police, and transit police.


State Police Officers

• Called state troopers or highway patrol officers, have many of the same duties as other police officers.

• They may spend more time enforcing traffic laws and issuing traffic citations.

• State police officers have authority to work anywhere in the state and are frequently called on to help other law enforcement agencies, especially those in rural areas or small towns.

• State highway patrols operate in every state except Hawaii.


Transit and Railroad Police

• Transit and Railroad Police patrol railroad yards and transit stations.

• They protect property, employees, and passengers from crimes such as thefts and robberies.

• They remove trespassers from railroad and transit properties and check the IDs of people who try to enter secure areas.


Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs

• Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs enforce the law on the county level.

• Sheriffs’ departments tend to be relatively small.

• Sheriffs usually are elected by the public and do the same work as a local or county police chief.


Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs

• Some sheriffs’ departments do the same work as officers in urban police departments.

• Police and sheriffs’ deputies who provide security in city and county courts are sometimes called bailiffs.


Detectives and Criminal Investigators

• Detectives and criminal investigators are plainclothes investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases.

• They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests.

• Detectives usually specialize in investigating one type of crime, such as homicide or fraud.

• Detectives are typically assigned cases on a rotating basis and work on them until an arrest and conviction is made or until the case is dropped.


Fish and Game Wardens

• Fish and game wardens enforce fishing, hunting, and boating laws.

• They patrol hunting and fishing areas, conduct search and rescue operations, investigate complaints and accidents, and educate the public about laws pertaining to their environment.


Federal Law Enforcement• Federal law enforcement officials carry out many

of the same duties that other police officers do; however, they have jurisdiction over the entire country.

• Many federal agents are highly specialized. • The following are examples of federal agencies in

which officers and agents enforce particular types of laws:– U.S. Border patrol agents protect international land

and water boundaries.


Federal Law Enforcement• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are the

federal government's principal investigators, responsible for enforcing more than 300 federal statutes and conducting sensitive national security investigations.

• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents enforce laws and regulations relating to illegal drugs.

• U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers protect the President, the Vice President, their immediate families, and other public officials.

• Federal Air Marshals provide air security by guarding against attacks targeting U.S. aircraft, passengers, and crews.


Police and Detectives Pay

• The median annual wage for police and detectives was $56,980 in May 2012.

• The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

• The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,060, and the top 10 percent earned more than $93,450.


Police and Detectives Pay

• The median wages for police and detective occupations in May 2012 were as follows:

• $74,300 for detectives and criminal investigators

• $55,270 for police and sheriff’s patrol officers• $55,210 for transit and railroad police• $48,070 for fish and game wardens


Occupational Title Employment, 2012 Projected Employment, 2022

% Change, 2012-22

Police and Detectives

780,000 821,300 5

Detectives and Criminal

Investigators 115,200 117,500 2

Fish and Game Wardens 6,600 6,700 1

Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers 653,800 692,700 6

Transit and Railroad Police 4,300 4,400 3

Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers


• Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called 9-1-1 operators or public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and non-emergency calls.

• They take information from the caller and send the appropriate type and number of units.


• Duties– Answer 9-1-1 telephone calls– Determine, from the caller, the type of emergency

and its location– Decide the appropriate emergency response based

on agency policies and procedures– Relay information to the appropriate emergency or

non-emergency service agency or agencies


• Duties– Coordinate sending emergency response personnel – Give over-the-phone medical help and other

instructions before emergency personnel get to the scene

– Monitor and track the status of police, fire, and ambulance units on assignment

– Synchronize responses with other area communication centers

– Keep detailed records about calls


• Dispatchers answer calls for service when someone needs help from police, fire fighters, emergency services, or a combination of the three. They take both emergency and non-emergency calls.

• Dispatchers must stay calm while collecting vital information.

• Some dispatchers only take calls. Others only use radios to send appropriate personnel. Many dispatchers do both tasks.


• Dispatchers keep detailed records about the calls that they take.

• They may use a computer system to log important facts, such as the name and location of the caller.

• They may also use crime databases, maps, and weather reports, when helping emergency response teams. Dispatchers may monitor alarm systems, alerting law enforcement or fire personnel when a crime or fire occurs.


• In some situations, dispatchers must work with people in other jurisdictions to share information or to transfer calls.

• Dispatchers may monitor alarm systems, alerting law enforcement or fire personnel when a crime or fire occurs.

• Dispatchers must often give instructions on what to do before responders arrive. Some dispatchers are trained to give medical help over the phone, For example, they might help someone give first aid until emergency medical services get to the scene.

How to Become a Police, Fire, or Ambulance Dispatcher

• Most police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers have a high school diploma or GED. Additional requirements vary. Many states require dispatchers to become certified.

• The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or a GED. However, some employers may not specify any educational requirements. Others prefer to hire dispatchers who have a related 2- or 4-year degree in a subject such as criminal justice, computer science, or communications.


• Most dispatcher jobs require an applicant to complete an interview as well as to pass a written exam and a typing test. In addition, applicants may need to pass a background check, lie detector and drug tests, as well as tests for hearing and vision.

• Most states require a dispatcher to be a U.S. citizen, and some jobs require a driver’s license. Both computer skills and customer service skills can be helpful, as is the ability to speak a second language.


• Training requirements vary by state. Some states require dispatchers to be certified.

• Several states require 40 hours or more of initial training. Some require continuing education every 2 to 3 years. Other states do not mandate any specific training, leaving individual agencies to conduct their own courses.


• Some agencies have their own programs for certifying dispatchers; others use training from a professional association. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) have established a number of recommended standards and best practices that agencies may use as a guideline for their own training programs.


• Training is usually conducted in both a classroom setting and on the job, and is often followed by a probationary period of about 1 year.

• Training covers a wide variety of topics, such as local geography, agency protocols, and standard procedures. Dispatchers are also taught how to use specialized equipment, such as a 2-way radio and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software.


• They receive training to prepare for specific types of incidents, such as a child abduction or a suicidal caller. Some dispatchers receive emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) training, which enables them to give medical assistance over the phone.

• Dispatchers may choose to pursue additional certifications, such as NENA’s emergency number professional (ENP) or APCO’s Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) to prove their leadership skills and knowledge of the profession.


• Important Qualities:– Ability to multitask. Responding to an emergency over

the phone can be stressful. Dispatchers must stay calm to simultaneously answer calls, collect vital information, coordinate responders, and assist callers.

– Empathy. People who call 9-1-1 are often in distress. Dispatchers must be willing and able to help callers with a wide variety of needs. They must be calm, polite, and sympathetic, while also quickly getting information.


• Important Qualities:– Leadership skills. Dispatchers work with law enforcement,

emergency response teams, and civilians in emergency situations. They must be able to efficiently communicate the nature of the emergency

– Listening skills. When answering an emergency call or handling radio communications, a dispatcher must listen carefully. Dispatchers must be able to record the call accurately.

– Problem-solving skills. They must be able to quickly determine the appropriate action when people call for help.


• Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers work in a communication center, often called a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

• Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers held about 100,100 jobs in 2010.

• They work in a communication center, often called a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).


• CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) typically consists of a suite of software packages used to initiate public safety calls for service, dispatch, and maintain the status of responding resources in the field.

• It is generally used by emergency communications dispatchers, call-takers, and 911 operators in centralized, public-safety call centers, as well as by field personnel utilizing mobile data terminals (MDTs) or mobile data computers (MDCs).


• The design, development, purchase and installation of CAD systems can be a complicated endeavor for a medium or large-size public safety agency.

• It involves connection to a wide variety of other systems: alarm inputs, mobile data systems, time synchronization sources, records management systems, CAD systems of other agencies, and the local, county, state and federal network of criminal justice.


• CAD programs have essential elements or components that support the dispatcher's work:– Incident information - This is a database of the incident data,

usually obtained from a telephone caller, and including the location (house number and street name, commonplace name, intersection), caller info, and other information gathered by the dispatcher.

– CAD typically compares the location to previous entries, and then displays an alert if the new incident is related to a existing incident record, based both on the proximity of current incidents, and address matches on previous incidents.


• E911 interface - The CAD computer is electronically connected to the 911 system, so that the caller's telephone number and address information (ANI/ALI) are displayed on-screen, and automatically transferred to the appropriate fields of the CAD incident entry form.

• Location verification - Once the incident locations automatically entered from 911 or manually typed in, the CAD software matches it against the geofile created by the agency when the software was first installed.


• The geofile is a database of standardized locations, including specific house numbers and streets names, commonplace names (Jackson Park), and intersections. The geofile insures that locations are within the jurisdiction, within a valid block number range, and are consistently entered and entered (which assists in later searches).


• Incident display - Once an incident is entered, CAD can display a list of the pending, current and past incidents, according to the dispatcher's assignment (telephones, radio, Beat 3, fire-police-EMS, special) and preference. Incidents are usually sorted by date, time and priority, but also by location, type of incident or other criteria, to make evaluation of the incidents quicker and easier.


• Unit display - CAD has a database of personnel and field units, which is used to display a list of active units. This database includes the unit ID, assigned personnel, special capabilities (K-9, SWAT, etc.). The database is linked to the incident database, allowing the dispatcher to display unit status: in-service, out-of-service, etc. Using commands or on-screen buttons, the dispatcher can change a unit's status or assign it to incidents.


• Incident dispatch - With information about incidents and units, the dispatcher can link an incident to one or more field units, which essentially assigns the units to the incident. Most CAD software will provide a recommendation of which units should respond, based on pre-determined tables or a unit's actual location from an AVL sub-system. Based on pre-determined tables, CAD also takes into account the type of incident (high danger, low danger), and type of unit (patrol, supervisor, canine, etc.) when making the recommendation.


• Timestamping - whenever the dispatcher takes an action (enter a new incident, dispatch a unit, unit arrives on-scene, etc.), the computer records that time and links it to the incident and unit records for later review

• Special features - Some CAD software is focused on EMS or fire operations, and have standing order or jump crew capabilities.


• Report generation - to help analyze incident and unit activity, CAD allows production of reports listing all types of information, by ranges of date and time, and sorted by various fields.

• External links - The CAD computer and software can be linked to other computer systems, including the agency's E911 system (to automatically fill in the caller's name, address and telephone number), local-county-state-federal law enforcement databases (NCIC, warrants, vehicle registration, driver's license, stolen vehicle and property, etc.), master clock synchronization, radio systems (to show last unit that broadcast, or unit that pressed "emergency" button), mobile data, records management, paging, etc.


• Mapping - Many modern comm centers have installed computer mapping systems to assist them in handling Phase II E911 calls. These mapping systems can also be interfaced with the CAD geofile to display units and incident locations.

• Maintenance - The software allows the system administrator to create and edit the various support files, and to make data back-ups of the various files.


• Security - CAD information is generally considered confidential for investigative reasons, for the privacy of victims and witnesses, and in some cases to comply with state laws (juveniles, etc.). The software provides a flexible method of assigning security levels for all the various types of information, the various CAD functions, and all users. This allows an administrator to very specifically assign access permissions to every user, limiting them to just what functions they are allowed to perform, and what information they are allowed to see.


• Most dispatchers work for local governments, but some work for state governments or for private companies. They are largely employed by law enforcement agencies and fire departments.

• Most dispatchers work 8- to 12-hour shifts, but some agencies choose to use 24-hour shifts.


• Dispatchers often have to work weekends, holidays, and overtime, as emergency calls can come in at any time.

• Work as a dispatcher can be stressful. Dispatchers may have to work long hours, take many calls, and deal with troubling situations. Some calls may be distressing, and the pressure to respond to emergency situations quickly can be demanding.

Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers Pay

• The median annual wage of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers was $35,370 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned $22,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $54,350.

Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers Job Outlook

• Employment of police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers is expected to grow by 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as average for all occupations.

• A larger and older population is likely to mean more emergency calls; and, therefore, a need for more dispatchers.

• The prevalence of cellular phones has increased the number of calls that dispatchers receive

Firefighters

Job Outlook

Firefighters

• Firefighters protect the public by responding to fires and other emergencies. They are frequently the first emergency personnel on the scene of an accident.

• Firefighters typically do the following:– Drive fire trucks and other emergency vehicles to

emergencies– Put out fires using hoses and pumps– Find and rescue victims in burning buildings or in

other emergency conditions

Firefighters

• Firefighters typically do the following:– Treat victims’ injuries with emergency medical

services– Prepare written reports on fire or emergency

incidents– Clean and maintain equipment– Conduct drills and training in fire fighting

techniques– Provide public education on fire safety

Firefighters

• When responding to an emergency, firefighters do tasks assigned by a superior officer. They might be responsible for connecting hoses to hydrants, operating pumps to power the hoses, climbing ladders, or using tools to break through debris. Other firefighters might be responsible for providing medical attention.

• Most calls firefighters respond to are medical, not fire, emergencies

Firefighters Work Environment

• Volunteer firefighters have the same duties as paid firefighters and account for the majority of firefighters in many areas.

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 70 percent of fire departments were staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters in 2008.

Firefighters

• Firefighters’ duties may change several times while they are at the scene of an emergency. In some cases, they might remain at disaster scenes for days, rescuing trapped survivors and assisting with medical treatment.

• Firefighters may specialize in responding to forest fires or hazardous materials incidents.

Firefighters Work Environment

• Firefighters held about 310,400 jobs in 2010.• About 91 percent of paid firefighters worked

for local governments in 2010. Most of the remainder worked for federal or state governments. Firefighters also work at airports, chemical plants, and other industrial sites. They work in both cities and rural areas.

• These employment numbers include only paid career fire fighters. They do not cover volunteer fire fighters.

Firefighters Work Schedules

• Firefighters typically work long and varied hours, often about 50 hours a week. Most firefighters work 24-hour shifts on duty and are off the following 48 or 72 hours.

• Others work 10-hour day shifts for 3 to 4 days, followed by 14-hour night shifts for 3 to 4 nights before receiving 3 to 4 days off. Additional hours may be required when responding to a fire or medical emergency.

How to Become a Firefighter

• Applicants for firefighter jobs typically must be at least 18 (21 in some areas) years old and have a valid driver’s license.

• They must also pass a medical exam and drug screening to be hired. After being hired, firefighters may be monitored on a random basis for drug use.

Firefighters Education

• Most firefighters enter the occupation with postsecondary education, typically a postsecondary non-degree award fire science or a related discipline.

• There are also associate’s degree programs available. In many jurisdictions, however, the entry-level education needed to become a firefighter is a high school diploma or equivalent

Firefighter’s Pay

• The median annual wage for firefighters was $45,250 in May 2012.



Firefighters Job Outlook

• Employment of firefighters is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations.

• The aging of the population will lead to an increased demand for emergency responders as the elderly tend to use more emergency medical services.

• Currently, about 2 of out 3 situations that firefighters respond to are medical—rather than fire—emergencies.

Firefighters Job Outlook

• In addition, jobs will be created as volunteer firefighters are converted to paid positions in areas where population growth creates the need for a full-time workforce.

• An increase in urban populations, where full-time firefighters are more common, also is expected to increase the demand for firefighters.

EMTs and Paramedics

Job Outlook

EMTs and Paramedics

• Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings.

• People’s lives often depend on their quick reaction and competent care.

• EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.

EMTs and Paramedics Typical Duties

• Respond to 911 calls for emergency medical assistance, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or bandaging a wound

• Assess a patient’s condition and determine a course of treatment

• Follow guidelines learned in training or received from physicians who oversee their work

• Use backboards and restraints to keep patients still and safe in an ambulance during transport

EMTs and Paramedics Typical Duties

• Help transfer patients to the emergency department of a healthcare facility and report their observations and treatment to the staff

• Create a patient care report, documenting the medical care given to the patient

• Replace used supplies and check or clean equipment after use


EMT Basic• Designed to train individuals to become emergency

medical personnel in basic life support techniques includ ing airway management and CPR; hemorrhage control; oxygen administration; shock; bandaging and splinting; skull, spine, and chest injuries; child birthing; exposure to cold and heat; and transfer ring patients to medical facilities.

• Successful com pletion of this course allows the student to take the North Carolina and National EMT Registry Exams.

• Course Length: 176 hours


EMT Basic Requirements

• High School Diploma, Adult High School diploma, or GED®.

• A copy of the diploma or transcript is required at registration.

• TABE test for reading comprehension score of 10.0 or higher (this score required to test for North Carolina EMT Credential).

• This course will follow the guidelines established by the NC Office of EMS.


EMT Paramedic• Paramedics assess the urgent needs of patients and

stabilize their conditions until they receive definitive care.

• This treatment includes advanced life support, advanced patient assessment, airway management, pharmacological interventions and critical decision making.

• The various skills a paramedic performs may include intravenous therapy, drug administration, electrical cardioversion, induction of hypothermia, surgical airway, and many others performed in the uncontrolled environment.


EMT Paramedic• Students will acquire these skills by utilizing

classroom instruction, practical laboratory sessions, hospital clinical experiences, and field internships with emergency services agencies.

• Paramedics are employed with emergency medical services; fire and rescue services; critical care transport services; air medical services; hospitals; industry; educational institutions; and local, state, and national emergency management agencies.


EMT Paramedic Requirements

• North Carolina EMT – Basic• High school or GED diploma• TABE test for basic reading comprehension and

English language writing skills at a minimum of 12.1 or higher.

• TABE test for mathematical skills at a minimum of 9.1

• Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare Providers (or equivalent) This course is offered at Coastal Carolina Community College


EMT Paramedic RequirementsTextbooks

• Paramedic Practice Today – Above and Beyond, Volumes 1 and 2 (Mosby)

• Basic Arrhythmias, 7th edition (Brady)• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Provider Manual• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Provider Manual• Pediatric Education for Prehospital

Professionals (PEPP) Provider Manual


EMT Paramedic RequirementsTextbooks

• International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Provider Manual

• The cost for the paramedic program will be approximately $2,030 for all five modules during the two year period, which will include textbooks and uniforms. This cost may vary depending on legislated tuition costs.

• The registration fees may be waived for North Carolina volunteer or paid, non-convalescent, life saving departments (EMS), volunteer or paid firefighters, and municipal, county or state law enforcement officers, with proof of membership.

EMTs and Paramedics Work Environment

• Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics held about 239,100 jobs in 2012.

• Their work is physically strenuous and can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations and patients who are suffering.

• Most paid EMTs and paramedics work in metropolitan areas.

EMTs and Paramedics Work Environment

• Most paid EMTs and paramedics work full time. About 1 in 3 worked more than 40 hours per week in 2012.

• Because EMTs and paramedics must be available to work in emergencies, they may work overnight and on weekends.

• Some EMTs and paramedics work shifts in 12- or 24-hour increments.

• Volunteer EMTs and paramedics have variable work schedules

EMTs and Paramedics Job Outlook

• Employment of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is projected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.

• Emergencies, such as car crashes, natural disasters, or acts of violence, will continue to create demand for EMTs and paramedics.

• Demand for part-time, volunteer EMTs and paramedics in rural areas and smaller metropolitan areas will also continue.

EMTs and Paramedics Pay

• The median annual wage for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics was $31,020 in May 2012.



Correctional Officer

Job Outlook

Correctional Officer

• Correctional officers inspect the living quarters of the inmates that they oversee.

• Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in a jail, reformatory, or prison.

• Typically, offenders serving time at county jails are sentenced to a year or less. Those serving a year or more are usually in state or federal prisons.

Correctional Officer Duties• Correctional officers typically do the following:• Enforce rules and keep order within jails or

prisons• Supervise activities of inmates• Aid in rehabilitation and counseling of offenders• Inspect conditions within facilities to ensure that

they meet established standards• Search inmates for contraband items• Report on inmate conduct

Correctional Officer Duties• They maintain security by preventing any

disturbances, assaults, or escapes. • Correctional officers supervise the daily

activities of inmates, ensuring that inmates obey the rules and finish their work. Correctional officers also ensure that they know where all inmates are.

• Officers must search inmates for contraband such as weapons or drugs, settle disputes between inmates, and enforce discipline.

Correctional Officer Duties• The officers enforce regulations through effective

communication and the use of progressive sanctions, which involve punishments such as loss of privileges.

• Sanctions are progressive in that they start out small for a lesser or single offense but become more severe for more serious offenses or when repeat offenses occur.

• In addition, officers may aid inmates in their rehabilitation by scheduling work assignments, counseling, and educational opportunities.

Correctional Officer Duties• Correctional officers periodically inspect facilities.

They check cells and other areas for unsanitary conditions, contraband, signs of a security breach such as any tampering with window bars or doors, and any other evidence of violations of the rules.

• Officers also inspect mail and visitors for prohibited items.

• They write reports or fill out daily logs detailing inmate behavior and anything of note that occurred during their shift.

Correctional Officer Duties• Correctional officers may have to restrain

inmates in handcuffs and leg irons to escort them safely to and from cells and other areas and to see authorized visitors.

• Officers also escort prisoners between the institution and courtrooms, medical facilities, and other destinations.

• Correctional officers cannot show favoritism and must report any inmate who violates the rules.

Correctional Officer Duties

• If a crime is committed within their institution or an inmate escapes, they help the responsible law enforcement authorities investigate or search for the escapee.

• Correctional officers have no responsibilities for law enforcement outside of their place of work.

How to Become a Correctional Officer

• Correctional officers go through a training academy and then are assigned to a facility for on-the-job training.

• Qualifications vary by agency, but all agencies require a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Some also require some college education or work experience.


• Correctional officers must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Some state and local corrections agencies require some college credits, but law enforcement or military experience may be substituted for this requirement.


• For employment in federal prisons, the Federal Bureau of Prisons requires entry-level correctional officers to have at least a bachelor's degree; 3 years of full-time experience in a field providing counseling, assistance, or supervision to individuals; or a combination of the two.

• New federal correctional officers must undergo 200 hours of formal training within the first year of employment, including 120 hours of specialized training at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons residential training center.

Important Qualities of a Correctional Officer

• Critical-thinking skills - Correctional officers must determine the best practical approach to solving a problem.

• Good judgment - Officers must use both their training and common sense to quickly determine the best course of action and to take necessary steps to achieve a desired outcome.

• Interpersonal skills - Correctional officers must be able to interact and effectively communicate with inmates and others to maintain order in correctional facilities and courtrooms.


• Negotiation skill - Officers must be able to assist others in resolving differences to avoid conflict.

• Physical strength - Correctional officers must have the strength to physically move or subdue inmates.

• Self discipline - Correctional officers must control their emotions when confronted with hostile situations.


• Writing skills - Officers must be able to understand and learn training materials and write reports regularly.

• Correctional officers usually must be at least 18 to 21 years of age, must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must have no felony convictions.

• New applicants for federal corrections positions must be appointed before they are 37 years old.

Correctional Officer Work Environment

• Correctional officers held about 469,500 jobs in 2012. Almost all worked for federal, state, and local governments. The remainder were employed by private companies that provide correctional services to prisons and jails.

• Correctional officers may work indoors or outdoors.

• Correctional officers may be required to stand for long periods of time.

• Bailiffs generally work in courtrooms.

Correctional Officer Pay

• The median annual wage for correctional officers and jailers was $39,040 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,000, and the top 10 percent earned more than $69,610.

• The median annual wage for bailiffs was $36,840 in May 2012. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,700, and the top 10 percent earned more than $66,860.

Emergency Management Specialists

Job Outlook

http://www.disastermanagement101.com/emergency-preparedness-specialists.htm

Emergency Management Specialists/Directors

• Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.


• Coordinates resources from all sectors before, during, and after an emergency.

• Manages activities relating to mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

• Ensures that all players of the process: – Are aware of potential threats to the community. – Participate in mitigation and prevention activities. – Plan for emergencies using an all-hazards

approach.


• Ensures that all players of the process: – 4.Operate effectively in emergency situations. – 5.Conduct effective recovery operations after

a disaster.


• The Emergency Program Manager coordinates all components of the emergency management system for the community, including: – Fire and police services. – Emergency medical programs. – Volunteers and voluntary organizations. – Other groups involved in emergency activities.


Employment and Wage EstimatesEmergency Management Specialists

Employment Employment

Mean HourlyWage

Mean AnnualWage

Wage RSE

13,060 2.1%$27.36 $56,900 2%


Employment and Wage EstimatesEmergency Management Directors

Employment Employment

Mean HourlyWage

Mean AnnualWage

Wage RSE

11,050 2.1%$30.22 $62,850 2.1%


State Employment Per 1000 Location Quotient

Hourly Mean Wage

Annual Mean Wage

California 930 0.07 0.77 $43.77 $91,030

Virginia 530 0.15 1.72 $37.03 $77,030

Maryland 190 0.08 0.88 $35.28 $73,390

Mass 220 0.07 0.80 $35.22 $73,270

Oregon 120 0.08 0.90 $35.09 $72,980

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