Prison officer

Career path and progression

With experience you could:

• train and move into specialist projects like rehabilitation work with groups of prisoners and their families
• become a supervising officer or custodial manager, or head of function, like prison security or reoffending reduction
• move up to become a deputy governor or prison governor

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of public safety and security
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be flexible and open to change
• leadership skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks
• be over 18 years of age
• pass a medical check

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Psychology - Prison officers work closely with people who may be vulnerable, distressed, or dealing with mental health issues. Understanding human behaviour, motivation, and psychological wellbeing helps them support prisoners, manage conflict, and contribute to rehabilitation programmes.
• Law - Prison officers need to understand court procedures, government regulations, and the legal rights of prisoners. They accompany prisoners to court appearances and must follow strict legal frameworks around security, use of force, and prisoner welfare.
• Sociology - Prison officers deal daily with issues like social inequality, crime, and the factors that lead people into the criminal justice system. Understanding how society, poverty, and social structures affect behaviour helps them work more effectively with prisoners and support rehabilitation.
• Physical Education - Prison officers must pass fitness tests and may need to use authorised physical control and restraint techniques. Maintaining physical fitness is important for managing challenging situations and carrying out security duties safely.
• English Language - Prison officers write detailed reports, update records, and communicate policies around anti-bullying and suicide prevention. They also need strong verbal communication skills to de-escalate tense situations and build constructive relationships with prisoners.

Also relevant

• Politics - Prison officers work within a system shaped by government policy on criminal justice, sentencing, and rehabilitation. Understanding how political decisions affect prisons – from funding to policy changes – gives useful context for the challenges they face day to day.
• Mathematics - Prison officers use number skills when managing records, carrying out security checks, and handling administrative tasks. The recruitment process itself includes a numeracy assessment, and basic maths is part of the everyday running of a prison.
• Religious Studies - Prison officers work with people from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. Understanding different faiths and belief systems helps them treat prisoners with respect, accommodate religious practices, and avoid unnecessary conflict.