Top Correctional

Officer Interview
Questions with
Example Answers
[2022]
Prepare for your Correctional O!cer interview by
going through these most asked Correctional
O!cer interview questions. Additionally, get
access to sample answers and interviewer's
expectations.

Correctional Officer Questions

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Question: How would you handle overseeing
100+ inmates by yourself?
Question Overview: Correctional officers are
often assigned to oversee large numbers of
inmates by themselves. The best candidates are
able to handle the responsibility without
becoming overwhelmed or disorganized. They
should be able to describe how they would
handle the situation, and they should be able to
tell you how they would keep track of everything
that's going on.
Sample Answer: I'd make sure I was in control of
the situation and knew exactly what was going on
at all times. I'd make sure I knew where every
inmate was at all times.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- The ability to manage a large number of
inmates
- The ability to keep track of everything that's
going on
- A sense of organization

Question: What would you do if (name a

scenario)?
Question Overview: You want to know how the
candidate would react in a crisis situation. You
want to know that they can think on their feet and
make the right decision in a moment of high
stress. You want to know that they are not prone
to panic or rash action.
Sample Answer: I would follow protocol and call
for backup if necessary. I would try to de-
escalate the situation if possible.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- The ability to remain calm and think clearly
- The ability to make the right decision
- The ability to make the right decision
- The ability to follow protocol

Question: Would you shoot an inmate if you had

to?
Question Overview: This is a difficult question
to answer, but it's important that you know how
the candidate would respond. You want to hear
that they would only use deadly force if they had
no other choice, and that they would be able to
live with themselves if they had to take a life.
Sample Answer: I would only use deadly force if
I had no other choice. I would have to live with
myself if I didn't.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- An understanding of the law and the ability to
apply it
- The ability to make a split-second decision
- A willingness to accept responsibility for their
actions

Question: What does a prison guard do?

Question Overview: The candidate should be
able to explain the basic duties of a correctional
officer. They should be able to tell you what they
do on a typical day, how they handle the inmates
and what they do to maintain order in the facility.
Sample Answer: Every day is different. I might
be escorting an inmate to medical or court, or I
might be helping with a lockdown. I always make
sure the inmates are safe and secure.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- The ability to explain the duties of a correctional
officer
- A basic knowledge of the facility's operations
- A sense of the inmate's daily routine
Question: Tell me about your self.
Question Overview: This is a broad question
that can cover a lot of ground. You want to know
that the candidate is honest, responsible and
mature. They should be able to tell you about
their education, work history and personal
interests. You should also be able to get a sense
of their personality, values and goals.
Sample Answer: I'm a college graduate with a
degree in criminal justice. I've worked at three
different facilities in the past five years. I like to
read and go hiking on the weekends.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- Honesty
- Responsibility
- Maturity
- A sense of humor

Question: Why do you want to be a correctional

officer?
Question Overview: This is a simple question
that can reveal a lot about the candidate. You
want to know that they are not just looking for a
job, but that they are passionate about the work
they will be doing.
Sample Answer: I want to help people who are
in trouble. I want to make sure they get back on
the right track.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A sense of duty
- A desire to help others
- A sense of honor
- duty and justice

Question: Why do you want to work for us?

Question Overview: You want to hire someone
who is excited about the opportunity to work for
your team. The candidate should be enthusiastic
about the work and the mission of the facility.
Sample Answer: I've heard good things about
your facility, and I'm really excited to work for
you.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A genuine interest in the mission of the facility
- A desire to work with a specific team or
supervisor

Question: What would you do if you found that

one of your coworkers was bringing drugs into
the facility?
Question Overview: The best correctional
officers are not only aware of the rules and
regulations of the facility, they are also aware of
the rules and regulations of their profession.
They know that bringing drugs into a correctional
facility is a serious offense and would not
hesitate to report it to the appropriate authorities.
Sample Answer: I'd turn them in. It's not worth
losing my job over.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A sense of duty and honor
- The ability to follow rules and regulations
- The ability to report misconduct without fear or
favor

Question: How can you be an effective

corrections officer?
Question Overview: The best correctional
officers are those who have a genuine desire to
help people. They are not there to punish
inmates or to have power over them, but to
rehabilitate them and facilitate their return to
society. A good answer will show that the
candidate is motivated by a desire to help others.
Sample Answer: I want to be a corrections
officer because I want to help people. I want to
see them get out of there in one piece and,
hopefully, as a better person for the experience.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A genuine desire to help people
- A rehabilitative philosophy of corrections
- The ability to treat everyone with humanity
- dignity and respect

Question: How do you feel about working 12

hours shifts?
Question Overview: The job of a correctional
officer is not a 9-to-5 job. Officers may be called
upon to work long shifts, weekends and holidays.
The best candidates will be able to explain how
they've handled this kind of schedule in the past
and will be able to tell you how they plan to
handle it in the future.
Sample Answer: I've worked 12-hour shifts
before, and I'm used to them. I'm a night owl, so I
don't mind working at night.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A willingness to work long hours
- An ability to work weekends and holidays
- A history of punctuality

Question: Why do you want to be part of the

FLDOC team?
Question Overview: You want to know that the
candidate is not only capable of doing the job but
also wants to do it. This isn't a job for everyone,
and you want to know that the person you hire
will be happy in their work and committed to the
mission of the department.
Sample Answer: I want to help people who have
made mistakes in their lives. I want to help them
get back on track and become productive
members of society.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A genuine interest in the mission of corrections
- A desire to help people
- A sense of duty and honor

Question: Tell me about a time you had to work

with a difficult co-worker, how did you overcome
working with that co-worker?
Question Overview: The best correctional
officers are able to work with everyone on the
team. They can get along with their peers and
supervisors and are not prone to interpersonal
conflict. The best answer will tell you that the
candidate has a history of working well with
others and is able to resolve conflicts without
escalating them.
Sample Answer: I had a co-worker who was
always late and didn't do their share of the work. I
talked to them about it and we worked out a
schedule that worked for both of us.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- Ability to get along with others
- Willingness to resolve conflicts peacefully
- A history of working well with others

Question: What are your strengths and

weaknesses?
Question Overview: This is a classic interview
question that gives you insight into the
candidate's self-awareness and maturity. A good
answer will be honest and will show that the
candidate is aware of their own strengths and
weaknesses.
Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker, but I'm also
a perfectionist. I can get frustrated when things
don't go my way.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- Honesty
- Self-awareness
- Maturity

Question: Would you be comfortable working

with individuals who have committed very serious
crimes?
Question Overview: Working in a correctional
facility can be emotionally taxing. The officers
must be able to separate the inmates from their
crimes and treat them with respect and humanity.
The best candidates will have experience
working with people who have committed serious
crimes and will be able to explain how they were
able to do so.
Sample Answer: I've worked with people who
have committed serious crimes before, and I was
able to treat them like human beings. I think it's
important to remember that they're still people,
even if they've done terrible things.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A rehabilitative philosophy of corrections
- The ability to treat everyone with humanity
- dignity and respect
- A sense of honor
- duty and justice

Question: If you were a police officer, would you

give your mother a speeding ticket?
Question Overview: This is a trick question. The
best answer is no, because you don't want to hire
someone who will abuse their power. But you
also don't want to hire someone who will let their
family get away with breaking the law. The best
answer is that you would give your mother a
warning and tell her to slow down.
Sample Answer: I would give my mother a
warning and tell her to slow down.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A willingness to enforce the law without
prejudice
- A sense of justice and fairness
- The ability to be objective

Question: Have you ever been convicted of a

crime?
Question Overview: The candidate should not
be ashamed of their criminal record. They should
be honest about it and explain how they've
learned from their mistakes and moved on.
Sample Answer: I was convicted of a
misdemeanor when I was 18. I was arrested for
drunk driving. I learned my lesson and haven't
had a drink since.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A willingness to be honest
- A desire to learn from past mistakes
- A desire to move forward and do better

Question: What are the benefits of working this

job?
Question Overview: Correctional officers are
not paid as much as police officers or firefighters,
but they enjoy many of the same benefits. The
best candidates will be able to cite specific
benefits that appeal to them, such as health
insurance, retirement plans and vacation time.
Sample Answer: I really like the retirement plan
and the health insurance. I know I'll be taken care
of when I'm older.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Vacation time

Question: What would you do if a prisoner was

attacking an officer?
Question Overview: You want to know that the
candidate will defend the other officer and that
they will not hesitate to do so. They should also
be able to explain how they would handle the
situation without escalating it.
Sample Answer: I would try to calm the inmate
down and get him to stop attacking the officer. If
that didn't work, I'd use proper restraint
techniques.
What the interviewer is looking for:
- A willingness to defend fellow officers
- A desire to de-escalate the situation
- A knowledge of proper restraint techniques
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