Hey, tough guy (or gal). Yeah, we're talking to you. You seem like the kind of person who likes a challenge. Well, we've got one for you. You could help keep a prison running.

Being a correctional institution administrator (CIA—yes, we're snagging and re-purposing this acronym for now) takes brains, brawn, and serious people skills. For around $60,000 a year (and maybe more), you get to do everything from budgeting to creating and starting inmate programs designed to help them live crime-free lives (source).

 

No matter how happy or colorful they look, they can still be used as weapons. (Source)

You'll get to go home each day knowing that you've made a difference in a handful of these people's lives. You know, the ones who aren't trying to thwack you over the head with their lunch tray.

And yes, occasionally lunch trays will go a-flyin. You'll usually be doing office work in this position, but most correctional institution administrators start out as entry-level guards at a prison or jail. That means getting up close and personal with the inmates. Luckily, all it takes to get going in that position is a high school degree. But if you want to be the head honcho someday, you're going to need to go to college at some point.

When you're ready to get your knowledge on with a criminal justice degree, you'll have tons of options at almost any school you choose. Most programs tend to range from about $4,400-$9,200 a year for undergraduate degrees (source). You've got your pick of the litter, Shmooper. Now all you need is the right personality for the job.

How do you know if you've got the right personality? Well, the most important quality for a CIA to have is the ability to work with all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. On any given day, a CIA may go from meeting with a state attorney general or a governor to meeting with some other criminals. (We're joking...sort of.)

You need to be able to go from talking to Mr. Big-Shot Prada-Suit Shiny-Shoes to Ms. Doing-800-Years-For-Offing-Her-Husband-With-A-Rolling-Pin without missing a beat. You also need to be tough enough to talk to Ms. Doing-800-Years with patience and respect. Yes, she's doing 800 years in prison—but she's still a person, and she still has rights.

 

Multi-tasking? No problem. (Source)

CIAs also need to be monsters of multi-tasking. They must complete budgets, review training methods for the staff to meet annual state requirements, investigate misconduct charges against an employee and, among a gazillion other things, oversee routine maintenance projects in the facility to make sure everything is working properly and is in compliance with state regulations. Phew.

It's a tough job for many reasons. But, for the right person, it's secure work with no chance of being outsourced overseas. If you're willing to start at the bottom, work your way up and get some higher education along the way, you have a good chance of playing an important role in keeping your state safe and in re-shaping the lives of people who need your help to re-enter society.

Now there's a job you can do with conviction.

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