Correctional Counselor

State of Tennessee Job Information

Location:

Department of Correction, Madison County

This position requires a criminal background check. Candidates may be required to provide information about their criminal history to be considered for this position.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of full‑time professional social or psychological counseling work experience.

Substitution of Education for

Experience:

One year of graduate coursework in a social or behavioral science may be substituted for the professional counseling experience.

Substitution of Experience for

Education:

Full‑time social or psychological counseling experience can be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis for a maximum of two years; requiring two years of study at an accredited institution. OR one year as a Correctional Counselor with the State of Tennessee Department of Correction.

Applicants must hold a valid vehicle operator's license; this may be required for employment in some positions.

Under general direction, the Correctional Counselor is responsible for professional correctional counseling work of average difficulty and related tasks. The role supervises a caseload of incarcerated offenders within the correctional facility. This position is distinct from the entry‑level Correctional Counselor 1 and from the supervisory‑level Correctional Counselor 3.

• Calculates sentencing information to determine the accuracy of an offender's sentence computation.
• Verifies that offender sentencing complies with judgment order.
• Completes classification / reclassification and/or risk‑needs assessments for offenders.
• Prepares reports on offender history, progress, adjustment, rule violations, visitation, recommendations for special visits, and other related statistics.
• Evaluates all offender records, case notes, and information to ensure compliance with standards, laws, policies, rules, and regulations under higher‑ranking guidance.
• Conducts and/or monitors Prison Rape Elimination Act screenings to determine potential victim or aggressor status.
• Monitors environment to identify security‑related concerns and assure the facility's safety.
• Identifies appropriate intervention techniques to address offender behavioral issues.
• Assists offenders with concerns regarding job pay, trust fund, sentence information, educational needs, and programs; and communicates with outside agencies to expedite release plans or respond to emergencies.
• Schedules outside services to assist offender transition from prison to the community.
• Develops and collaborates re‑entry plans with the re‑entry Counselor for offenders within established time frames and departmental procedures.

• Communicates Effectively
• Decision Quality
• Collaborates
• Plans and Aligns
• Situational Adaptability

• Clerical
• Law and Government
• Psychology
• Public Safety and Security
• Sociology and Anthropology

• Active Learning and Listening
• Mathematics
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension