In recent years, the view of correctional officers has changed to the one where they:

The correct answer is are viewed as public servants.
The term correctional officer actually refers to jailers, to prison officers. Their job is to take care of inmates, to supervise them, and to ensure their safety and security within prisons. Today, they are considered to be public servants (government officials who are appointed and elected for such jobs), which is something they didn't use to be.