How Do I Become a Prison Warden?

If you want to become a prison warden, you will have to work hard, because it is a challenging job to get and to perform. You will need experience in managing people and large facilities. Education is required by most prisons, so plan on taking relevant classes and obtaining at least a bachelor's degree.

After you decide to be a prison warden, it is a good idea to attend school. A person has to be well educated to become a prison warden. It is a good idea to take classes in fields such as law enforcement and criminal justice. Classes in administration and business are helpful if you want to become a prison warden. Psychology classes also are useful, because they will teach you how to understand the prisoners and guards of whom you will be in charge.

It is possible to receive training as a prison warden through a program that offers different training levels. There is a basic supervisor course or bachelor's degree along with 100 hours of training in management. After that, you can have 50 hours of training in management or a master's degree in administration. There are additional programs that you can take, and you will need to complete on-the-job training. These kinds of programs usually are offered through correctional institutions.

Experience is a key factor in gaining a position as a prison warden. Any experience that requires you to manage a large facility and supervise many people is valuable for being the warden of a prison. If the only experience that you are able to obtain is outside the field of law enforcement, that will work because it will allow you to prove that you have what it takes to manage a prison. Working as the manager of a firm or as an administrator of a small business are excellent ways to gain experience that will help you become a prison warden.

To become a prison warden, it is a good idea to get a starting job in law enforcement. Working in the criminal justice field will give you the experience and connections that you need to manage a prison at some point. In most jurisdictions, you have to work your way through the ranks in order to become a prison warden. You can start as a correctional officer and work your way up. Over time, you can become a warden if you are willing to get the education and training that you need.