Correctional Officer

Hennepin County’s Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) is hiring multiple Correctional Officers for the Adult Corrections Facility (ACF). These roles promote public safety and victim restoration by holding offenders accountable and providing opportunities for change through assessment and supervision. The ACF is a medium-level security facility for adult offenders serving a maximum sentence of one year.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. Learn more about the employee referral program.

Location and hours

• Positions are located at the Adult Corrections Facility, 1145 Shenandoah Lane, Plymouth, MN 55447 (13 miles from downtown Minneapolis; no public transportation available).
• New Employee Orientation (NEO) for benefit-earning employees is held in-person in downtown Minneapolis; details provided upon hire.
• Candidates must be available for various 12-hour shifts, including day, evening, overnight, holiday, and weekend hours. Limited availability will disqualify applicants.
• Shift differentials: $1.10 per hour for nights, $2.00 per hour for weekends.
• Meals are provided; qualifying positions receive a uniform allowance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe institution for staff and residents by building relationships, employing de-escalation techniques, using verbal commands, and applying physical or mechanical restraints when necessary.
• Enforce Minnesota laws, American Correctional Association (A.C.A.) standards, and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards related to prisoner confinement, security regulations, rules of conduct, and work rules.
• Search residents and inspect cells, recreation areas, work locations, and other activity areas for unauthorized objects or materials.
• Respond to and manage emergency or crisis situations using communication skills to resolve volatile situations.
• Observe resident behavior, utilize behavioral management techniques to assist residents in self-management, and report unusual behaviors to medical or social service personnel.
• Escort individuals and groups of residents to work and other activities; supervise and instruct residents in work crew activities (e.g., laundry, kitchen, industrial production, stockroom, cleaning, and grounds maintenance) and equipment operation; participate in work crew activities as needed.
• Write reports (e.g., disciplinary and incident reports) and maintain records of residents’ funds and personal property.

Requirements

One of the following:

• Two years or more (90 quarter/60 semester credits) of college or vocational/technical coursework in corrections, law enforcement, or a related criminal justice or behavioral/social science field.
• Two years or more of experience in corrections, law enforcement, or criminal justice.
• Active military duty with an honorable discharge.

Note: Completion of an Evidence Based Practice Corrections Professional Certificate from an approved school may substitute for one year of relevant coursework or experience.

• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver permit.
• Ability to stand, stoop, bend, reach, run, and walk both inside and outside.
• Candidates must pass an initial respirator fit test and annual retests (OSHA safety requirement). To comply, Correctional Officers must maintain facial hair styles that do not interfere with respirator use (e.g., clean shaven).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with customers or clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience as an intern, volunteer, or employee in a correctional institution or similar secured environment.
• Experience working under stressful conditions and interacting with aggressive or confrontational individuals.
• Experience supervising, training, or directing individuals secured in a facility.
• Experience using de-escalation techniques in workplace disagreements or confrontations.
• Understanding of human relations, bias, and their impacts to promote equitable and respectful handling of situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively (verbally and in writing), interpret and enforce rules, manage difficult situations objectively, identify suspicious behaviors, and take appropriate action.
• Fluency in a language other than English. Bilingual candidates who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.

About the Department

The Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation enhances community safety, promotes restoration, and reduces re-offense risk. Serving Hennepin County at over 20 locations—including correctional facilities, probation offices, and training centers—the department delivers sustainable services to more than 26,000 adult and juvenile clients. It is the largest community corrections organization in Minnesota. Learn more.

About Hennepin County

Hennepin County is Minnesota’s largest government organization. Employees improve residents’ health, safety, and quality of life through transformative services that eliminate disparities, inequities, and create opportunity. Competitive benefits include meaningful work, competitive pay, work-life balance, and professional growth opportunities. Learn more.

This posting may be used to fill current and future full-time, Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ), and limited-duration (temporary) vacancies.

Additional Information

• Convictions for certain crimes may affect hiring eligibility per Minnesota Statute 245C.15. Individuals convicted of any level of Criminal Sexual Conduct are disqualified from DOCCR positions under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Other criminal history is reviewed confidentially on a case-by-case basis.
• Invitations to interview will be based on education and experience.
• Final candidates must pass a drug test (including cannabis) and background check.
• Under Minn. Stat. 144.445, subd. 2, applicants or employees commissioned at Hennepin County correctional facilities must undergo tuberculosis (TB) testing.