Correctional Officer

Job Information

Opening Date/Time: 06/16/2026 12:00 AM Central Time;
Closing Date/Time: 06/29/2026 11:59 PM Central Time. Salary (Monthly): $4,057.00 - $5,078.00. Salary (Annually): $48,684.00 - $60,936.00. Job Type: Full-Time. City, State

Location:

Nashville, TN Department Correction. Location of (5) positions:
Department of Correction, Davidson County. This position is located at the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility. Newly hired Correctional Officers are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, payable over an 18-month period. The Correctional Officer 2 position has a hiring rate which begins at $4,480 per month. This is an onsite position. This position requires a criminal background check;

therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history to be considered for this position.

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school and experience equivalent to one year of full-time adult correctional security work or adult correctional security work with a federal or state agency or a local agency accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

Substitution of Experience for Required

Education:

Qualifying full-time employment as a Correctional Officer with the State of Tennessee may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Applicants for this class must:

• Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of application
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check
• Have no conviction for a felony or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions
• Upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy

The Correctional Officer 2 is responsible for correctional work of average difficulty; it performs related work as required. This is the working level class in the Correctional Officer sub-series. An employee in this class performs correctional work at a state penal institution involving the custody, transport, and rehabilitation of inmates, and may be assigned to work any shift. This class is flexibly staffed and differs from the Correctional Officer 1, in that an incumbent of the latter performs entry-level work.

This class differs from that of Correctional Corporal in that an incumbent of the latter acts as a minor supervisor.

• Supervises inmate activities in housing units, dining areas, recreation and work areas, and attends to the medical, visitation, personal property, and recreational needs of the inmates.
• Inspects and patrols the grounds for contraband, unauthorized personnel, and other security risks.
• Checks in new inmates by assigning accommodations, searching for contraband, issuing clothing, and storing personal property.
• Observes inmate behavior; counsels with inmates and family about problems; evaluates inmates on room and personal hygiene, attitudes towards employees and other inmates, and sends this evaluation to the counseling department.
• Attends a variety of meetings such as staff meetings, disciplinary board meetings, and training for riot control, escape prevention, and first aid.
• Prepares a variety of reports such as daily logs, disciplinary reports, records of inmates' jobs and pay, daily inmate counts, and requisitions for office supplies.
• Operates and utilizes a variety of equipment including two-way radios, firearms, mace, electronic gates, television cameras, and may operate motor vehicles.
• Ensures the safety of residents through the supervision of their daily activity.
• Breaks up fights or other potentially dangerous situations by persuasion or the use of physical force.
• Carries out and explains existing policies and procedures to others.

• Decision Quality
• Manages Conflict
• Communicates Effectively
• Ensures Accountability
• Situational Adaptability

• Public Safety and Security
• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government

• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical…