Nationwide, the corrections workforce represents a significant portion of local, state, and federal workers, and includes the private sector. Among this workforce, there is a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. An important distinction is whether people work inside institutions, such as jails and prisons, or outside, in the community. Another key factor is the degree of direct contact a person may have with system-involved individuals. There are many reasons that people find corrections work attractive, such as job security and benefits, having a strong identity, and being of service. There are many stresses related to the job as well, such as physical danger, onerous bureaucracy, and monotony. Corrections administrators face many challenges in running agencies and in recruiting and maintaining a quality workforce, especially in times of budget constraints and with the changing demographics and culture of the national workforce. The more progressive leaders are finding ways to adapt and embrace organizational culture change, workforce diversity, and innovative approaches to rehabilitation.

• To gain a sense of the scope of the kinds of jobs and roles included in the corrections workforce.
• To be able to discuss how prisoners and staff alike must deal with some of the same kinds of pressures generated by the custody environment.
• To grasp some of the important differences between working in custody situations and working in community corrections.
• To become familiar with the demands of community corrections work from a surveillance perspective and from a rehabilitation perspective.
• To gain an insight into the career paths, training, and requirements for employment that are typical in the corrections field.
• To understand the nature of the pressures on leadership to recruit and maintain a skilled and high-performing workforce, while fulfilling the agency mission and maintaining safety.
• To be able to discuss other stresses faced by correctional workers, such as gender or racial bias.