Prison Counselor

Job Description

Position functions as a professional prison counselor in a prison housing area. This position requires completing a variety of functions related to case work and assisting prisoners with questions, and acting as a resource person for the prisoner population. The person is a member of the Housing Unit Administrative Team and works with the RUM, Sgt’s, and Housing Unit Corrections officers to manage a housing unit and its operations.

This position also evaluates prisoner’s behavior to determine progress made through treatment programs in accordance with policy and procedure.

• Education:
  
  Possession of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, correctional administration, criminology, psychology, social work, counseling and guidance, child development, sociology, school social work, social work administration, family relations, human services, or theology.
• Experience:
  
  Prison Counselor 9 – No specific type or amount is required. Prison Counselor 10 – One year of professional experience providing prison counseling services equivalent to a Prison Counselor
  9. Prison Counselor P11 – Two years of professional experience providing prison counseling services equivalent to a Prison Counselor, including one year equivalent to a Prison Counselor 10.
• Alternative pathway:
  One year of Department of Corrections experience with a bachelor’s degree in any major, OR educational level typically acquired through the completion of high school and one year as an Assistant Resident Unit Supervisor 11 or Corrections Shift Supervisor 11; or, two years as a Corrections Field Services Assistant E10, Corrections Medical Unit Officer E10, Corrections Resident Representative E10, Corrections Security Representative E10, Corrections Transportation Officer E10, Resident Unit Officer E10, or Special Alternative Incarceration Officer E10;
  
  or, three years as a Corrections Medical Officer E9 or Corrections Officer E9.

• Apply for this position online via NEOGOV; click on Apply in the job posting for instructions on submitting your electronic application. Hard copy applications are not accepted.
• Attach a resume identifying specific experience and dates of employment. Dates of employment should include month and year and hours per week.
• If applicable, you would like credit for your education, attach an official transcript.
• Official transcripts must be provided; unofficial transcripts are not accepted.
• Provide at least three professional references and their contact information, including phone number, address, email address and fax number.
• Current MDOC employees must include their current supervisor as one of the three professional references.

Employment in the state classified service requires a high degree of loyalty and high ethical standards. All employees must meet these standards and are required to report any possible conflict of interest. The Department of Corrections will not hire individuals who have been convicted of a felony or have felony charges pending, in accordance with Public Act 140 of 1996. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony are ineligible for employment until satisfactory completion of any sentence imposed, including parole or probation.

New hires and returning employees after more than two years will complete Non-Custody New Employee Training (NCNET) either 40 or 80 hours of initial in-person training based on level of offender contact and job classification. All new employees will complete additional online training to successfully complete their non-custody new employee training.