Correctional Officer

Correctional Officers enforce rules necessary for the control of offenders and the maintenance of public safety. Positions may be in any type of facilities such as: Adult Centers/Prisons, Regional Jails, or Juvenile Centers.

Examples of Work

• Learns to implement training materials, post orders, administrative regulations, log entries and/or memoranda.
• Learns to obtain information from previous shift regarding activities occurring on that shift.
• Learns to observe and monitor offenders to detect unusual or prohibited behavior and maintains custody and control within the correctional facility.
• Learns to perform counts at regular, or other, intervals to insure offender accountability.
• Escorts offenders to and from various facility areas; learns to search persons, personal property and areas.
• Learns to supervise offenders in performing assigned tasks.
• Learns to conduct and assists with intake/discharge procedures for offenders.
• Maintains public safety and control of offenders by enforcing rules, regulations and state law; reports violations.
• Testifies at internal disciplinary hearings and in court.
• Learns to transport offenders to and from correctional facilities.
• Learns to listen and respond appropriately to offender requests, problems and complaints.
• Learns to model appropriate personal and social living skills when interacting with offenders.
• Learns to recognize and respond to potential or actual emergencies, such as, but not limited to, fires, physical altercations, disturbances, or escapes in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.
• Participates in staff, team and committee meetings.
• Handles and operates security/communications equipment and/or firearms as directed and in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.
• Learns to inspect, inventory, maintain physical control of, and log keys, tools, weapons and related equipment.
• Learns to report damaged or missing items or other noted irregularities.
• Learns to performs safety and sanitation inspections.
• Oversees cleaning of facility areas and inmate hygiene activities.

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of correctional security, treatment and support program operations.
• Knowledge of rules, regulations and state law.
• Ability to read and understand training materials, policies, procedures and related written material.
• Ability to follow verbal instructions and written directives and to follow a formal chain of command.
• Ability to enforce rules, regulations and state law.
• Ability to provide an accurate count of offenders.
• Ability to safely handle and use mechanical restraints, intermediate weapons and firearms and be certified as required.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to run, jump, climb stairs and physically restrain violent offenders.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct offender activities and work details.
• Ability to resolve offender problems and conflicts and to handle requests.

Minimum Qualifications

Training: Graduation from a standard high school or the equivalent.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must successfully complete a psychological examination prior to appointment and as required thereafter.
• Applicants must successfully complete a medical examination prior to appointment and as required thereafter.
• Applicants must successfully complete a physical performance test prior to appointment and annually thereafter.
• Applicants must successfully complete a chemical urinalysis drug-screening test prior to initial employment.
• All employees in this job class shall be subject to random drug testing, as well as drug testing for reasonable suspicion as set forth in agency policy.
• Applicant's character and suitability for employment as a Correctional Officer must be verified through an agency investigation prior to employment.
• Applicant's background must be clear of felony convictions.
• Applicant's background must be clear of any activity prohibited by the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
• Applicants are subject to recurring background checks as may be required by law, rule, standard, or policy.
• Applicants will be required to work various shifts and it is understood schedules are subject to change at any time.
• Applicants are subject to mandatory overtime requirements and must be available for assignment to any location in the State of West Virginia.
• Applicants must possess a valid driver's license prior to appointment and continuously maintain such license while employed in this classification.
• Applicants must maintain a working telephone in order for the agency to contact them.
• Applicants shall successfully complete training as may be required by policies established by the Commissioner, or as may be required by law, rule, or standard.
• Applicants must possess the ability to perform the essential functions and tasks of the classification.

Other Information

Additional Information:
 

Upon completion of the first year of continuous service in the position, any employee hired into the rank of the Correctional Officer series shall receive a retention incentive of $2,000.