Every day, across the United States, correctional officers step behind secure doors and fortified walls to do a job that most people never see, but that every community depends on.
They manage tense environments, support rehabilitation, and maintain safety for those in custody, their fellow staff, and the public. The work is consistently demanding, sometimes dangerous, and all too often overlooked.
National Corrections Officers Week is an opportunity to change all that. It’s a moment each year that gives a chance to pause and recognize the officers and staff who serve on the front lines of our justice system.

The Origins: A Week of Recognition Created by President Ronald Reagan

Photo Courtesy of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation establishing National Correctional Officers Week. In that proclamation, he highlighted the professionalism, dedication, and essential contributions of correctional officers in maintaining safe and orderly correctional institutions.

By setting aside the first full week of May each year, President Reagan ensured that the nation would have an ongoing, formal way to honor the men and women serving in correctional facilities across the country. Since then, agencies at the local, state, and federal levels have joined together annually to celebrate National Correctional Officers Week through ceremonies, appreciation events, and public recognition of our officers.

Four decades later, that original vision still matters. The week is not just a tradition—it is a reminder that correctional officers are essential to public safety and deserve our respect, support, and gratitude.

What Correctional Officers Give Every Day

Behind every secure facility is a team of officers and staff who give more than a job description can capture. Our correctional officers put themselves in harm’s way to prevent violence and protect lives, they deal with chronic stress and exposure to traumatic events, and they have to balance humanity with security, often serving as a source of stability for those in custody.

As President Reagan himself said, “the duties of these officers have become increasingly complex and demanding. They are called upon to fill, simultaneously, custodial, supervisory, and counseling roles. The professionalism, dedication and courage exhibited by these officers throughout the performance of these demanding and often conflicting roles deserve our utmost respect.”

Their work shapes safer facilities and stronger communities, shift after shift. National Correctional Officers Week is a chance to recognize that quiet, steady impact—and to remind every officer that they deserve the same support, respect, and sense of community that they work so hard to provide for others.

A Place For Every Guardian

The incredible work that our correctional officers do often comes with a cost: High levels of stress and burnout, along with trauma-related challenges, and the weight of what they see and experience on the job can often follow them home long after their shift ends.

National Correctional Officers Week gives us a chance to honor the guardians who quietly show up day after day and to stand beside them in meaningful ways. Through culturally informed programs, Guardian Revival helps guardians reconnect with purpose, strengthen resilience, and find community with others who truly understand the job.

Our peer-driven approach creates space to share stories, learn practical tools, and prioritize well-being without stigma. By investing in the health of correctional officers and staff, we help ensure they can continue to serve with strength, compassion, and pride—on duty and at home.

Stand With Our Guardians: Run The Guardian Revival 5k

Want to stand with the guardians who serve behind the walls? Join us at the Guardian Revival 5K on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Carmel, NY, and help power no‑cost mental health and wellness support for correctional officers, first responders, and their families.

Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation fuels peer support, community events, and wellness programs that remind our guardians they’re not alone. Lace up with us, bring a friend or a team, and turn your miles into meaningful impact for those who quietly keep our communities safe.

Sign Up Today