Correction Officer - WCI

Contact: Sherri Talley – DRC.WCIRecruit@drc.ohio.gov, 513‑438‑4264. Work location: 5787 State Route 63, Lebanon, OH 45036. Classified, union (OCSEA), primary skill: Corrections.

About the role

Guided by the mission “To reduce recidivism among those we touch,” the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction operates a safe, secure, and humane correctional environment focused on rehabilitative treatment and programming. Staff serve as role models for pro‑social behavior, conveying dignity and respect. The agency protects the public by helping individuals turn away from crime and become productive community members.

Responsibilities

• Maintain control of the institution to provide for safety and security of the facility, inmates, staff, and general public by enforcing rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Supervise and direct inmate activity in assigned areas of the facility/institution
• Assure assigned area is clean, safe, and secure
• Monitor and operate security controls, equipment, and computers
• Operate automotive vehicles in perimeter security and the transportation of inmates
• Conduct inmate counts, security rounds, and searches
• Complete required reports and serve on committees
• Prevent escapes or incidents which threaten security
• When necessary, use physical force, unarmed self‑defense, firearms, or other force to detain or secure inmates

Pay

• Starting rate (Step 1): $24.88 per hour
• Step 2 after 6 months employment: $25.61 per hour
• Shift differential: additional $0.60 per hour for 2nd or 3rd shift

Schedule

Permanent, full‑time. Work hours vary.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after eligibility period
• Paid time off: vacation, personal, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave
• Education and development opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, etc.)
• Public retirement systems (OPERS, STRS, SERS, HPRS) and optional deferred compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

Benefits eligibility depends on several factors; the agency contact can provide specifics for this position.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Valid driver’s license required for positions assigned to transportation section and/or requiring a commercial driver’s license for commercial vehicles
• Must successfully pass the correction officer assessment, or have passed it within the past 24 months, or be a current ODRC employee previously certified as a correction officer
• Probationary period: 365 days
• Pre‑employment drug testing (urinalysis) required; positive test disqualifies applicant. Medical marijuana is not accepted as a valid explanation for a positive result. Position subject to federal ATF regulations prohibiting firearm/ammunition possession by marijuana users.
• Pre‑employment background investigation required; criminal convictions assessed individually. Hiring prohibited for: individuals under federal/state weapons disability if position requires firearms; those who engaged in sexual abuse in confinement facilities; those civilly/administratively adjudicated or convicted of sexual activity facilitated by force or without consent; those convicted of soliciting/providing support for terrorism or money laundering for terrorism; those convicted of a felony with direct correlation to the position (e.g., fraud, deceit, theft for positions with substantial management/control over state agency property).
• Tobacco‑free workplace

Skills

• Corrections
• Law Enforcement
• Communications
• Criminology/Criminal Justice
• Security
• Ethics and Values
• Listening
• Situational Awareness
• Teamwork
• Observation