Corrections Counselor 1 - SCI Mercer

About the Role

Start your career with the Department of Corrections (DOC) as a Corrections Counselor 1 and guide inmates as they build better futures. At the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Mercer, you will help with basic counseling, casework, and re‑entry support while developing communication skills and learning to work with staff, families, and outside agencies. This role provides a strong foundation for growth and long‑term success.

Responsibilities

• Basic Counseling: Meet with inmates, listen to concerns, and offer support for personal, family, and community issues.
• Recordkeeping: Assist with preparing records, updating reports, and sharing information with staff and agencies.
• Information Gathering: Review basic assessments and histories to help identify inmate needs and recommended programming.
• Program Support: Help coordinate activities, educational programs, counseling sessions, and other services.
• Re‑entry Assistance: Provide guidance for obtaining identification, understanding community resources, and preparing for parole.
• General Duties: Complete additional tasks that support inmate adjustment and reintegration goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum Experience and Training: Three years and six months as a corrections officer, and 18 college credits in any combination of sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree including those 18 credits; or an equivalent combination of experience and training that includes the required credits. Applicants within three months of graduating with a qualifying degree will be considered to have met the educational requirements.
• Special Requirements: Obtain Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certification within two months of employment and maintain certification for the duration of employment.
• Other Requirements: Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA; meet the Pennsylvania residency requirement; be able to perform essential job functions.
• Legal Requirements: Pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

Schedule

Full‑time employment, 40 hours per week. Work hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday, with a 30‑minute lunch. Telework is not available for this position.

Pay

In some cases, the starting salary may be non‑negotiable.