Prison guards

What does a Criminal Care Officer do? – Tasks and Work Environment

Criminal care officers work to maintain safety and order in prisons, detention centers, and probation authorities. The role involves daily contact with inmates and responsibility for monitoring, supporting, and motivating them in their rehabilitation. Criminal care officers often work in teams and perform tasks such as searches, transports, conversations, and documentation. The work environment can be challenging and requires the ability to handle stressful situations, while maintaining a professional and respectful approach towards clients. Shift work and working during inconvenient hours are common in the profession.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary for criminal care officers has steadily increased over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 29,300 SEK per month, which increased to 30 300 SEK in 2023. The latest data from 2024 shows an average salary of 33 300 SEK per month. This represents a salary increase of approximately 13.7% over three years, indicating that the profession has become more attractive and employers are investing in raising wages to meet increased demand. The salary development can be linked to higher requirements for education, skills, and responsibility within the criminal justice system, as well as a greater awareness of work environment and safety issues. The market's need for security and safe criminal justice has likely also contributed to this positive trend.

Criminal Care Officer Salary – Complete Overview

• Average salary: 33 300 SEK/month
• Lowest salary (men): 30,400 SEK/month
• Lowest salary (women): 31,000 SEK/month
• Highest salary (men): 34,700 SEK/month
• Highest salary (women): 33,200 SEK/month
• Hourly wage (average): 200 SEK/hour
• Gender differences: Women earn 98% of what men do
• Regional differences: Data not available

Education and Qualifications

To work as a criminal care officer, completion of criminal care training is required, which is provided by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service and is a paid program. Applicants generally need a complete high school education and must pass tests and interviews to be deemed suitable for the profession. In addition to the basic training, there are opportunities for further education in areas such as conflict management and security work.

• Training: Criminal care training via the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (about 20 weeks)
• Prerequisites: Complete high school education, Swedish citizenship, criminal record extract
• Internship: Included as part of the training
• Additional courses: For example, conflict management, security, and communication
• Advice for applicants: Good physical and mental health is recommended

Common Benefits and Compensation

Criminal care officers are often covered by collective agreements that provide pension rights, insurance, and extra vacation for irregular working hours. Other common benefits include wellness allowances, opportunities for skills development, and various supplements for night and weekend work. Employers also offer regular training and support to manage the stresses of the profession.

Competition and Challenges

The labor market for criminal care officers is characterized by steady demand, but competition for positions can vary locally. Challenges in the profession often involve handling threatening situations, working under pressure, and maintaining professional relationships with inmates. Staff turnover is influenced by work environment and workload, making it important for employers to actively promote well-being and support. The increased wages and training efforts also reflect employers' ambitions to meet these challenges. Currently, there are 191 available jobs in the profession, indicating ongoing demand for qualified criminal care officers.

Tips for Aspiring Criminal Care Officers

To succeed as a criminal care officer, it is beneficial to be attentive and clear in communication, as much of the work involves building trust and creating structure. Stress resilience is an important trait, since unforeseen situations may arise requiring quick action. Good teamwork skills facilitate daily work, as the role is performed in teams with colleagues and other professionals. Engagement and interest in people make it easier to treat clients with respect and understanding. Maintaining integrity and setting boundaries are also crucial for safety and job satisfaction. Flexibility and adaptability are helpful when working shifts and handling varied tasks. Finally, being solution-oriented and seeing opportunities for improvement benefits both the inmates and the workplace.

Key Facts about Criminal Care Officers

• Salary range: 30,400–34,700 SEK/month
• Average salary: 33 300 SEK/month
• Education requirement: Criminal care training (20 weeks)
• Work environment: Shift work, security-classified environment
• Available jobs: 191 positions in the profession

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After a few years of experience, criminal care officers can pursue further training to become supervisors, case managers, or specialize in security work and training. It is also possible to advance to more administrative roles or work on developing criminal care methods. The forecast from the Swedish Public Employment Service does not provide an exact outlook, but the current availability of 191 jobs suggests continued demand. Those investing in further education and specialization will have good opportunities for career development and increased responsibilities, especially in leadership or coordination roles.

Frequently Asked Questions about Criminal Care Officers

• What is the average salary for a Criminal Care Officer?
  - The average salary is 33 300 SEK per month.
• How do you become a Criminal Care Officer?
  - By applying for and completing the criminal care training provided by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, which includes both theory and practical training.
• Are there salary differences between men and women?
  - Yes, women earn on average 98% of what men do within the profession.
• What is the highest salary for a Criminal Care Officer?
  - The highest salary is 34,700 SEK/month and belongs to a man who is a privately employed worker with a research degree.
• What education is required to work as a Criminal Care Officer?
  - Criminal care training, a paid program lasting about 20 weeks, along with a high school diploma and suitability assessment.
• What is the work environment like?
  - Work is performed in security-classified environments, often with shift work and varied tasks.
• What are the future prospects?
  - The forecast is uncertain according to the Swedish Public Employment Service, but currently there are 191 available jobs in the profession.