When is a correctional officer considered to have criminal liability?

A correctional officer is considered to have criminal liability when they are convicted of a crime. This conviction indicates that the officer has been found guilty of violating the law, which can result from actions that are deemed unlawful and can include a range of offenses from minor infractions to serious crimes. Criminal liability comes with specific legal consequences, including potential penalties such as imprisonment, fines, or other forms of punishment as mandated by law.

In contrast, exercising poor judgment may not always constitute a crime unless that judgment leads to actions that break the law. Failing to follow procedures may result in disciplinary action or civil liability but does not automatically imply criminal wrongdoing unless those failures are connected to unlawful conduct. Civil lawsuits pertain to civil laws and generally address issues such as negligence or wrongful acts rather than criminal acts. Therefore, criminal liability is specifically tied to the conviction for a crime.