Correctional Officer; entry and senior level

Correctional Officer

The Gwinnett County Department of Corrections became the first accredited, government-owned correctional facility in the state of Georgia. The mission of the Department of Corrections is to promote community safety by maintaining a safe and secure environment that encourages positive change and provides quality services that make a difference. The Department currently has an authorized strength of 119 sworn officers supported by 20 non-sworn employees.

Sworn Officers are trained to supervise full-time incarcerated state and county sentenced inmates assigned to the facility. Our vision is to be a model of excellence in the field of corrections. Applicants must pass a comprehensive background process (including fingerprinting and criminal, controlled substance, driving, and employment history checks). First phase to include an assessment & oral interview. The second phase includes a drug screen, and a psychological exam.

The Correctional Officer position is responsible for maintaining safety and security of offenders and employees. This position will be assisting in the supervision of the offender population and exercising security over offenders to prevent escape. In addition, this role will be conducting routine cell inspections and strip searches and confiscating contraband.

Essential Duties

• Intervening during disturbances, riots, and related emergencies to maintain or gain control of offenders
• Handling stressful situations according to departmental policy/procedure restraining combative/uncooperative offenders
• Conducting shakedowns of the offender's property for unauthorized contraband
• Providing transportation for offenders to outside appointments, work details, and in times of emergency
• Interacting with offenders in an open dormitory setting
• Monitoring offender's visitation, mail, and telephone communications
• Monitoring activities of offenders, maintaining daily logs, and completing forms and reports
• Maintaining the accountability of offenders
• Conducting official counts

Depending on qualifications, salaries start at

• $49,102.00 (base salary) with a high school diploma or GED
• $50,575.06 (base salary + 3% education incentive) for an associate degree
• $52,048.12 (base salary + 6% education incentive) for a bachelor's degree

Gwinnett County has a 12-step pay system with 4 percent annual raises Incentives including:

• 3% pay incentive for an associate degree
• 6% pay incentive for bachelor's degree
• 5% Shift Differential pay Evening Shift (2:00 - 10:30pm) and Morning Shift (10:00pm - 6:30am)
• $4,300 hiring incentive for Correctional Officer and $4,700 for Sr. Correctional Officer
• Effective 4/11/2023, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program.

This is a safety-sensitive position that will require a pre-employment drug screen and subsequent random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with Gwinnett County Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace.

Grade The grade for the Correctional Officer position is CR213 and the grade for the Correctional Officer Senior is CR223. Effective 4/11/2023, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be 21 years of age
• High School Diploma, G.E.D., or equivalent education
• Valid driver's license from state of residency
• Must be able to work an on-call rotation and emergency after hours, weekends, and/or holidays
• Must be able to successfully pass the five-week Basic Correctional Officer Training Course