Correctional officers owe a duty of care to whom?

• A. Inmates, staff, visitors, and the general public
• B. Inmates only
• C. Staff only
• D. Visitors only

Answer: (A)

The core idea is that correctional officers owe a duty of reasonable care to anyone who could be harmed by the facility’s operations. Because officers control and oversee the environment, their obligation isn’t limited to one group. They must protect inmates who are under their custody, ensure a safe workplace for staff, keep visitors safe during their time on the premises, and consider the broader public’s safety in how they run operations (for example, security, maintenance, and procedures that could affect public safety if mishandled).

Inmates are protected by the custody relationship, and visitors and staff are entitled to safe premises and processes. The public’s safety is implicated when negligent decisions or unsafe conditions could spill beyond the facility or affect community safety. All of these considerations fit under a single duty of reasonable care.

That’s why the best answer includes inmates, staff, visitors, and the general public.