CORRECTIONAL OFFICER 1* - 08112026-79907

Location: Tiptonville, TN – Department of Correction, Lake County (5 positions). A Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) screening and criminal background check will be conducted prior to employment. Newly hired Correctional Officers are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, payable over an 18-month period. This position has a hiring rate starting at $4,267 per month.

Pay

$3,631.00 – $5,434.00 monthly ($43,572.00 – $65,208.00 annually).

Schedule

Full-time. Most correctional security employees can expect to be assigned to any one of three different work shifts and any number of different post assignments. While employee work preferences are considered, there is no guarantee of remaining on a specific shift or post.

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school.
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of application.
• Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Must have a good moral character, as determined by investigation.
• Must complete a criminal history disclosure form and agree to release all records involving criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Must supply a fingerprint sample for a fingerprint-based criminal history records check.
• Must have no conviction for a felony or discharge under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces.
• Must pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Must pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Must submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.
• Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment in some positions.
• Must be willing and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons.
• Upon appointment, must successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy.

About the Role

The Correctional Officer 1 is responsible for correctional work of average difficulty and performs related duties as required. This is the entry-level position in the Correctional Officer sub-series, involving the custody, transport, and rehabilitation of inmates. An applicant appointed to this class will be reclassified to Correctional Officer 2 after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic demotion or termination.

Responsibilities

• Supervises inmate activities in housing units, dining areas, recreation, and work areas, attending to medical, visitation, personal property, and recreational needs.
• Inspects and patrols the grounds for contraband, unauthorized personnel, and other security risks.
• Checks in new inmates by assigning accommodations, searching for contraband, issuing clothing, and storing personal property.
• Observes inmate behavior, counsels inmates and families about problems, and evaluates inmates on hygiene, attitudes, and interactions, sending evaluations to the counseling department.
• Attends staff meetings, disciplinary board meetings, and training for riot control, escape prevention, and first aid.
• Prepares reports such as daily logs, disciplinary reports, records of inmates’ jobs and pay, daily inmate counts, and requisitions for office supplies.
• Operates equipment including two-way radios, firearms, mace, electronic gates, television cameras, and may operate motor vehicles.
• Ensures the safety of residents through supervision of daily activity.
• Breaks up fights or other potentially dangerous situations by persuasion or the use of physical force.
• Carries out and explains existing policies and procedures to others.