Celebrating Our Nation's Heroes - Correctional Officers and Employees Week

Each year during the first full week in May, we pause to honor the backbone of our correctional system: the men and women who serve behind the walls and within the gates of our nation's jails and detention facilities.

These professionals are more than just uniformed personnel. They are peacekeepers, mentors, protectors, caregivers, and members of our communities who choose to serve with dignity and integrity in one of the most challenging professions in the criminal justice system.

The Origin of Correctional Officers and Employees Week

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan officially proclaimed the first full week of May as National Correctional Officers Week after Congress passed a resolution recognizing the need to honor correctional professionals. This was a significant and long-overdue acknowledgment that the safety and security of our communities depend not only on law enforcement in the streets but also on those who maintain order and enforce the law inside correctional facilities. President Reagan’s proclamation was a turning point, shifting national attention toward the professionalism and sacrifice of correctional staff.

In his original proclamation, Reagan emphasized that correctional officers have the difficult and often dangerous assignment of ensuring the custody, safety, and well-being of the incarcerated individuals in our correctional facilities. He recognized that the work of correctional officers is essential to the day-to-day operations of correctional institutions and that their contributions are vital to the success of the entire criminal justice system.

Over time, this celebration expanded to recognize not only officers but also all employees working in the correctional environment. From food service and maintenance workers to nurses, chaplains, educators, program coordinators, case managers, and administrative staff, each person who steps through those gates contributes to the safety, humanity, and functionality of the jail. Collectively, they are the heartbeat of our profession.

Why It Matters

Working in a jail is not for the faint of heart. It requires vigilance, professionalism, and the ability to remain calm in volatile environments. Every shift brings a new set of challenges. Managing mental health crises, responding to medical emergencies, quelling disputes, enforcing policy, and supporting individuals through some of the most difficult moments of their lives is part of the daily experience.

Yet correctional professionals rarely seek the spotlight. Most go about their work with quiet humility, motivated by duty and a deep sense of service. Too often, the profession only makes headlines when tragedy or controversy strikes. That is why Correctional Officers and Employees Week is so critical. It gives our nation the opportunity to pause, recognize, and appreciate the men and women who operate in the shadows of the justice system yet play a foundational role in its success.

AJA’s Role in Recognizing Excellence

This year, the American Jail Association was proud to receive over 30 submissions from facilities across the country, showcasing how jails honored their staff during Correctional Officers and Employees Week. These submissions came from agencies of all sizes, from small rural jails to large urban detention centers. Each one told a powerful story of gratitude, celebration, and resilience.

The creativity and thoughtfulness behind these celebrations were inspiring. Some facilities hosted full week events including family fun days, barbeques, and award ceremonies. Others organized formal recognitions such as pinning ceremonies, veteran honors, chaplain-led blessings, and commendation presentations for lifesaving acts and exceptional service. Some departments used the occasion to highlight employee wellness, offering stress relief sessions, peer support workshops, or on-site massages and fitness challenges. A few held community appreciation days, inviting local leaders, clergy, and youth groups to tour the facility and learn about the work correctional staff do each day.

In every case, the message was clear. You matter. Your service matters.

The Power of Recognition

Leadership in jails starts with recognizing people, not only for their performance but for their perseverance. Correctional Officers and Employees Week is more than a time to hand out plaques or serve cake. It is a vital leadership opportunity to reconnect staff to purpose and remind them that their work is appreciated not only by their immediate supervisors but by their community and nation.

When we recognize our staff, we do not just boost morale. We reinforce our values. We show our teams that their commitment is noticed, that their professionalism sets the tone for the facility, and that their presence behind the walls truly makes a difference.

Recognition also serves as a powerful recruitment and retention tool. In a time when jails across the country face staffing shortages, high turnover, and burnout, meaningful acknowledgment can help change the narrative. People want to feel seen, supported, and proud of where they work. Correctional Officers and Employees Week is a national platform to do exactly that.

A Personal Thank You

As President of the American Jail Association, I want to personally thank every agency that submitted photos, stories, and videos this year. We will be sharing many of these highlights on AJA’s social media channels and through our online platforms. Your efforts not only uplifted your teams but also inspired others to do the same.

To those who may not have submitted but celebrated in your own way, know that your efforts are equally appreciated. Sometimes the smallest gestures carry the deepest meaning. A heartfelt thank you, a personalized note, or a quiet moment of gratitude in roll call can go a long way.

To the correctional officers and employees reading this. Your service matters more than you may ever realize. You are Our Nation’s Heroes. You walk into a world each day that many do not understand and few could endure. And you do it not for glory, but because it needs to be done.

Thank you for standing the watch.

Thank you for protecting your communities from within.

Thank you for being the calm in the storm and the strength others rely on.

Moving Forward

While one week each May is set aside for formal recognition, let us not limit our appreciation to those seven days. Let us build a culture of gratitude throughout the year. Whether it is through regular recognition programs, leadership training focused on staff engagement, or simply asking team members how they are doing and really listening, we can all play a role in uplifting our profession.

As we continue to grow AJA’s footprint and strengthen the profession of jail leadership, we will never forget the foundation we stand on. The correctional professionals who do the work every day. Your stories, your voices, and your experiences guide everything we do.

We look forward to expanding our efforts in the months ahead to provide more resources, more training, and more visibility to the important work happening inside jails across America. And we invite you to keep sharing your stories with us. Not only during Correctional Officers and Employees Week but throughout the year.

Closing Reflection

In 1984, President Reagan called correctional officers an essential part of our law enforcement community. More than 40 years later, that statement still holds true. Our communities depend on you. Our agencies thrive because of you. And our association stands with you.

To every correctional officer and employee, from rookies to retirees, from line staff to lieutenants, from chaplains to clinicians. Thank you.

You are the keepers of the keys, the protectors of safety, and the unsung heroes of public service.

You are Our Nation’s Heroes.

We celebrate you.

Shaun Klucznik, MA, CJM, CCHP President American Jail Association