Correctional Officer; Correctional Counselor

Position: Correctional Officer (Correctional Counselor)
Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

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The Correctional Counselor develops and implements programs within the unit to meet the individual needs of the inmates confined, to include individual as well as group counseling.

As part of the institution intake process (Admissions & Orientation), must interview newly admitted inmates.

The Correctional Counselor plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing the security of the unit and institution by their extensive contacts with the inmates.

Serves as the unit expert and coordinator on matters pertaining to: (a) inmate personal property, including incoming and outgoing package approvals; and (b) trust fund activities, including inmate withdrawals and special purchase orders.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff's correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..gov

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

• 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
• 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
• 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established category rating criteria.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Education:

GL-07:
One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science or other field related to the position.

GL-08: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

OR

Experience:

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. This experience must have equipped the applicant with the qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

GL-07:

• Experience in work such as a correctional officer, residential counselor for at-risk individuals, or re-entry services specialist.
• Experience in demonstrating knowledge of obtaining information and resources.
• Experience in demonstrating the knowledge of policies regarding inmate programs.
• Experience enforcing rules and regulations in a correctional environment.
• Experience making decisions in a crisis.

GL-08:

• Experience in work such as a substance abuse counselor, probation officer, or law enforcement training coordinator.
• Experience in demonstrating knowledge of developing/implementing programs.
• Experience drafting reports to summarize assessments or behavior.
• Experience assessing inmates'/offenders' programming needs.
• Experience interacting with inmates/offenders with special needs, (i.e., mental health, substance abuse, anger management issues).

AND

Medical Requirement:

The Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons has established the following medical requirements for Correctional Officer positions:

The duties of these positions involve unusual mental and nervous pressure and require arduous physical exertion involving prolonged walking and standing, restraining of prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts. Applicants must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of these positions and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others.

The duties of a Correctional Officer are arduous; and sound health as well as physical fitness is…