Essential Information
Prison wardens, also known as corrections wardens or jail administrators, manage and oversee the activities of correctional facility staff to ensure safety and security of the facility, as well as the proper treatment of inmates. As administrators, prison wardens establish prison policies and set financial goals for the prison. Although only a high school diploma or its equivalent is required, most wardens have a bachelor's degree. Due to their high-level administrative and supervisory role, prison wardens usually have extensive knowledge and experience in a corrections facility.
| Required Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Other Requirements | Extensive training and experience |
| Projected Job Growth | -7% from 2019-2029 for all correctional officers and bailiffs* |
| Median Salary (2019) | $88,237 annually for prison wardens** |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale.com
Prison Warden Job Description
The duties of a warden require him or her to manage staff at all institutional levels, making decisions regarding hiring, training, promotion, discipline, evaluation and firing of staff. A prison warden coordinates staff to maintain a safe working environment, delegating responsibilities to first-line supervisors and monitoring activities for compliance with prison and state regulations. The prison warden also oversees the support staff associated with prison programs in education, work, mental health and the infirmary, which requires a thorough understanding of the needs and best practices for treatment of the incarcerated.
Prison wardens perform administrative functions of running a prison, including budgeting and setting policies. In setting budgets, the prison warden reviews expenditures and evaluates the success and necessity of prison programs. He or she also oversees inspections of the prison to assess the need for new equipment or repairs to the facility in order to maintain the safety of the institution, since staff and inmates rely on the proper functioning of security systems and monitoring equipment. In conjunction with other corrections supervisors, a prison warden advises in the adoption of prison policies and procedures, including those regarding intake and classification, treatment programs, education or job training, recreation and discipline.
A prison warden seeks to maintain the fair and safe operation of the prison at all times. He or she enforces rules, regulations, policies and laws regarding incarceration and employee conduct, and maintains records of infractions by staff or inmates. The warden also coordinates the response during crisis situations, such as an emergency or a natural disaster.
Required Skills and Work Environment
What do wardens do each day? For a warden, prison is likely to be a primary work environment, though prison wardens may do some of their administrative work from home or from a centralized office. Working inside of a prison presents numerous challenges, including the psychological challenges associated in the carceral system. Work schedules for wardens tend to be fairly regular, except in cases of emergency as discussed above. Some overtime may be required. In many cases, wardens will have regular contact with inmates, although there are always deputy wardens and other staff on hand to cover all hours of the day.
Those who become wardens need to be level-headed in a crisis, have a strong understanding of ethics, and be prepared to act compassionately in order to provide care for incarcerated people. They need to be prepared to handle conflicts fairly and to ensure that no abuses occur within their institution. Prison wardens also need strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Requirements to Become a Prison Warden
- U.S. citizenship
- Aged 21 or older (though required experience usually takes many years)
- Excellent physical fitness
- Clear criminal record
- Pass of a drug test
- Firearm ownership eligibility and firearm training
- State certification
The educational and experience requirements to become a prison warden vary widely. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted that initial employment as a correctional officer requires at least a high school education, a position as a warden is often attained through many years of experience and additional education (www.bls.gov). For example, warden biographies published on the Tennessee Department of Corrections website showed wardens with bachelor's degrees in diverse fields, including social work, administration of justice, English, science and business (www.tn.gov/correction). Warden job descriptions from other states indicated that the possession of a bachelor's degree in any field is acceptable preparation, provided the candidate has acquired the necessary skills, training, expertise and experience in corrections.
A position as a warden requires extensive knowledge of the administration of a specific correctional facility. Job descriptions listed knowledge of institutional behavior and psychology as a requisite, with an emphasis on understanding the unique challenges of treating offenders and the psychological challenges that incarcerated people experience. As such, many warden biographies explained that wardens had worked in the corrections system for 15 to 30 years, with many of them starting as correctional officers and being promoted through the ranks to increasingly challenging supervisory roles.
How to Become a Warden
1. Earn a high school diploma
2. Often, earn a bachelor's degree
3. Begin working in a field like
- Law enforcement
- Criminal psychology
- Security
- Corrections
4. Gain substantial work experience
5. Consider a master's degree
FAQs
- Who should become a prison warden?
People who are compassionate, highly organized, and have a strong moral compass are well-suited to becoming prison wardens. They must also meet all of the requirements listed above.
- Are prison wardens police?
Prison wardens are not typically sworn police officers. They do not have to attend a police academy and they have different training. Their job is actually more about supporting incarcerated people rather than enforcing the law.
- How many prison warden jobs are there?
According to the BLS, there were around 462,300 jobs for correctional officers and bailiffs in 2019. Because the field is declining, around 33,100 of those jobs are set to disappear in the next decade.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
Prison wardens have high salaries, which means that positions are highly coveted. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not specifically list job growth projections for prison wardens, it does list them for the broader category of correctional officers. Need for correctional officers is expected to decrease between 2019 and 2029. In August 2019, the salary ranged between $56,000 to $146,000, according to Payscale.com.
Prison wardens are in charge of every aspect of the functioning of a particular prison, a position that gives them significant responsibility for the health and well-being of many people, staff and inmates alike. They may be expected to have a bachelor's degree, although some positions require only a high school diploma or equivalent. They are also expected to have relevant work experience, usually at the supervisory level, and usually within the correctional system.
