Corrections Officer Promotion Exam Practice Test | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

1. A captain instructed subordinates that at all times the tier officer going off duty was to notify the on-coming officer of any inmate who should be particularly watched. The captain’s instructions were

good, because the on-coming officer will not be surprised if a particular inmate behaves strangely.poor, because alertness and initiative on the part of the on-coming officer may be reduced.poor, because all inmates should be given careful custody and close supervision.good, because the on-coming officer will benefit from the experiences and observations of the off-going officer.

2. The degree of security needed to confine an inmate depends upon the

type of programs available in the institution.personality and background of the inmate.caliber of personnel assigned to the institution.type of security facilities within the institution.

3. Which of the following guidelines is LEAST appropriate for a key control system in a correctional institution?

All keys should be issued from a central location such as the institution control room.Officers should not be permitted to withdraw keys unless they give receipts for them.Only reliable prisoners, such as “trusties,” should be permitted to handle keys.The key control center should have at all times at least one duplicate set of each bunch of keys.

4. “A cautious and observant officer seldom becomes involved in litigation initiated by an inmate who is injured during confinement on a tier.” This statement is most probably based on the principle that such an officer will

avoid any and all disputes with inmates.avoid and prevent situations that might cause injury to an inmate.make sure that any injury to an inmate is the result of the inmate’s own negligence.be able to persuade the inmate that litigation is not justified.

5. Of the following, the most serious problem facing a captain when supervising new Corrections Officers is that, for the most part, these officers

have had no extensive formal training in this field of work.have accepted this employment only as a stopgap until they find other work.are overconfident and have a “know-it-all” attitude.are afraid to face up to the responsibilities of their position.

6. “The competent corrections captain attempts to develop respect rather than fear on the part of the officers under his or her supervision.” Of the following, the chief justification for this statement is that

experience has demonstrated that negative incentives are more effective than positive ones.respect for officers is generally easier to develop than fear of penalty.respect is based on the individual, while fear is based on the organization as a whole.officers who respect a supervisor are likely to give more than the minimum required performance.

7. Which one of the following is an important rule in carrying out an institutional program of inmate activities and privileges?

Do not give privileges to one inmate that cannot be earned in the proper way by any other inmate.Do not curtail or revoke any inmate activity or privilege after it has been instituted.Do not make any activity or privilege too pleasurable for the inmate.Do not use the program to help maintain discipline.

8. A Corrections Officer patrolling a cell block at night sees an inmate writhing on the floor in apparent pain. In this situation, the Corrections Officer should

bear in mind that the inmate may be feigning and take necessary precautions.notify the officer in command of the tour right away.summon a doctor immediately and wait for him or her to arrive.enter the cell immediately to get the inmate back on the bed and give first-aid.

9. “Contraband” in a correctional institution is best defined as any article

that has been smuggled into the prison by an inmate.the presence of which within the prison may jeopardize its safety and good order.that may be classified as a drug or alcoholic beverage.that may be sold or exchanged by an inmate for personal favors from the uniformed staff or other inmates.

10. Strict limitation and control of telephone calls made by inmates of a correctional institution is

desirable; it is a necessary security precaution.undesirable; it destroys morale.desirable; the number of available telephones is limited.undesirable; it causes a loss of incentive for good behavior.

11. The fundamental responsibility of prison management is the

secure custody and control of prisoners.training of prisoners.classification of prisoners.development of work programs for prisoners.

12. The three major ideologies affecting law enforcement and court and correctional activities are the punitive, therapeutic, and preventive ideologies. Of the following, the most correct statement is that the

punitive ideology has as its major objective the protection of society, and severe punishment is viewed as useful in reforming criminals.therapeutic ideology rather than the punitive or preventive ideology is recognized as offering the ultimate promise for reducing crime.therapeutic ideology considers the criminal to be a victim of defective personality conditioning and, consequently, generally seeks a lifetime clinical treatment approach by specially trained psychiatrists.preventive ideology seeks to promote development of a healthy personality by means of immediate and drastic social changes so that criminals will engage in socially approved conduct.

13. A captain sees a Corrections Officer deny an inmate’s request to go to the medical clinic. This inmate has made similar requests in the past without cause and appears to have nothing the matter with her now. The captain should evaluate the officer’s action as

unsound, because an officer should never be influenced by an inmate’s previous record.unsound, because if the inmate is really sick, the denial of the request may have serious consequences.sound, because if the inmate is really sick she will let the officer know it soon enough.sound, because it takes into account the inmate’s previous record.

14. Suppose that you are a corrections captain, and a newly appointed Corrections Officer reports to you for duty. Of the following, the best procedure for you to follow to assure his rapid orientation to his work is to

ask him to briefly survey his qualifications for the job.make a careful study of his work record previous to his coming to the department.review with him the important elements of the job he will be required to perform.observe him carefully as he performs the routine aspects of his duties.

15. If a Corrections Officer wants to talk to the captain about a personal problem, the captain should

tell the officer to discuss the matter with another Corrections Officer with whom he or she is friendly.tell the officer that personal problems should not be discussed on the job.refer the officer to the assistant deputy in order to keep the Captain–Corrections Officer relationship impersonal.be willing to discuss the matter with the officer.

16. Suppose that a study of prison inmates shows that the rate of recidivism increases as the number of offenses increases. That is, 10% of first offenders become second offenders, 30% of second offenders become third offenders, 70% of third offenders become fourth offenders, etc. If the findings of this study are valid, then it is most reasonable to assume that

exposure to prison life inevitably leads to the commission of further crimes.first offenders represent the most fruitful field for intensive rehabilitation efforts.environment plays a minor role in the predisposition towards criminal behavior.it would be desirable to house together offenders who have committed the same number of offenses.

17. A captain advised a new Corrections Officer not to permit inmates to address her by her first name. The captain’s advice was

bad, because it creates a wider gap than necessary between officers and inmates.bad, because no rule is applicable in every situation.good, because familiarity between officers and inmates may lead to a breakdown of discipline.good, because the more impersonally an inmate is treated, the easier he or she is to control.

18. Of the following, the best reason for using tear gas in the event of a serious disturbance in a correctional institution is that it

permanently disables the ringleaders.teaches the inmates that disturbances will not be permitted.effectively curbs the disturbance without harm to the inmates.is what the public expects in a case of disturbance in a correctional institution.

19. A Corrections Officer is expected to report unusual situations to his superior and should use all of his senses. Which of the following statements regarding the use of sight by a Corrections Officer is correct?

The officer should train himself to concentrate on the hands of inmates, since information gained from looking at inmates’ faces is usually unreliable.The officer should look just above inmates’ heads (since this keeps them from becoming nervous) while his peripheral vision takes in that which is important.The officer should not allow his eyes to rest on any one inmate, since this is certain to provoke hostility.The officer should constantly watch inmates in his charge, since observation is an effective medium for control and custody.

20. Inmates generally find their place within some group in the institution. A certain Corrections Officer makes it a practice to find out as much as he can about such groups and the reasons for changes in their composition. The Corrections Officer’s practice in this regard is

good; most inmates are appreciative when Corrections Officers show a personal interest in their activities.bad; a Corrections Officer who develops a reputation for not minding his own business will be taken hostage in the event of a disturbance.bad; within institutional rules, an inmate has as much right to a personal social life as anyone else.good; institutional security may depend upon such observations.

21. Suppose that on organized searches for contraband, more contraband is usually found on the post of one officer under your command than on the post of any other. The one of the following most likely to be an important contributing factor to the situation is the

thoroughness with which the different types of posts are searched.special problems inherent in the type of post commanded by this officer.amount of time this officer has devoted to the study of the rule book.amount of training you have given your staff in the detection and control of contraband.

22. On a tour of the posts, you observe that in a cell block supervised by a new officer, the lineup of inmates is proceeding in a slow and disorderly manner. In this situation, it is most desirable that you, as captain,

call the officer’s attention to the fact that the lineup is not proceeding properly and then continue with your tour of posts.make a mental note of the situation and discuss the proper way of conducting a lineup at the next conference with your officer.take the officer aside and instruct him or her in the immediate action to take in order to correct this situation.issue a mild reprimand and take personal command of the lineup in order to prevent further confusion.

23. A new officer asks you what to do if an inmate refuses to carry out an order. As captain, you should advise the officer to

avoid being drawn into a situation of this kind.reconsider if the order was a reasonable one.immediately summon a superior for assistance.warn the inmate that he or she will be subject to disciplinary action.

24. Assume that as a corrections captain you are assigned to conduct a refresher training course for Corrections Officers. Of the following, the best reason for employing group discussion rather than routine lecture methods is that

learning is more efficient when officers participate actively in the process.less time has to be devoted to a course that has a well-defined purpose.the more experienced the officers, the more likely they will benefit from a lecture course.the scope of a training course can be laid out more precisely when one person is responsible for the course.

25. A positive program of maintaining discipline is essential in preventing unrest or disturbances. A good disciplinary program is one that

maintains order with minimal friction and uses punishment in a constructive manner.uses administrative segregation as the basic method for controlling inmates.does not include punishment for violations of the rules except in extreme cases.is based on the use of disciplinary committees to punish all infractions of the rules.

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | What Should We Know?
Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com