Correctional Counselor

The following responsibilities are common for Correctional Counselors:

• Conducts psychological examinations and uses the information gathered to create a customized treatment and rehabilitation plans
• Assists offenders with finding housing and additional counseling
• Collaborates with probation and parole officers and other law enforcement to develop parole and release plans
• Maintains detailed and organized case plans on each individual inmate
• Creates evaluation reports based on the inmates progress or decline and makes recommendations on these basis

A Day In The Life

Correctional counselors provide counseling services to inmates.  They aim to help criminal offenders strive to continue integrated in society once they are released from prison.  Upon the inmates release they conduct psychological testing, coordinate job training and educational services and helps them find housing, jobs and any additional counseling or groups they may need.

The majority of their time is spent interviewing clients and their families, observing an inmates behavior and arranging rehabilitation programs.  If the client is currently incarcerated, it is their job to create reports that evaluate the offenders behavior and progress.  Counseling inmates during and after the inmates prison sentences is also a large part of the job.  Counseling clients in areas for drug dependence or sexual abuse and providing therapy for issues like anger management.

Typical Work Schedule

The majority of work in this field is shift work.  Typically 12 hour long shifts due to the infrequency of shift changes within the prison systems for security purposes.

Projected Job Growth

Counselors, social workers and community workers are expected to see a significant increase in the job growth.

Typical Employers

The majority of employers with be state or federally run prison systems.  Some may also work for probation and parole offices as well.