Correctional Officer; Correctional Counselor

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

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

• 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.

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:

• 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.

• 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).

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 required.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.