Trainee Corrections Officer

About the role

Are you seeking a career path, competitive pay, and great benefits? Become a Corrections Officer with the Minnesota DOC! No corrections experience necessary - we will train you to maintain security, supervise activities, and promote change in people who are incarcerated at one of the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) locations. Experience as a security officer, law enforcement, a probation officer or in the criminal justice field? Share your experience with our team!

Corrections Officers are responsible for providing a controlled setting to ensure the safety and security of the correctional facility by supervising incarcerated people, encouraging positive behavior, and preparing them for successful release into the community.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety, security, and control of the correctional facility.
• Supervise incarcerated people to ensure the environment encourages positive behavior and prepares them for a successful transition into the community upon release.
• Give and receive written and verbal information in a clear, understandable, accurate, timely, and dependable manner so that information is evaluated, sound decisions are made, and appropriate action is initiated.
• Be competent in the use of all equipment ensuring it is operated efficiently and safely.
• Prepare for and respond to any unusual or emergency situation utilizing the appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) procedures ensuring the safety, accountability, welfare, and security of the general public, facility, onsite personnel, and incarcerated people.
• Follow all agency and state policies and statutes.
• Support the DOC's vision, mission, values, goals, and initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for further consideration and assessment, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old to work at an adult correctional facility, and at least 21 years old to work at a juvenile correctional facility (MCF-Red Wing).
• Possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Be able to pass a criminal history check, which will be conducted before hire. To pass, you must have successfully completed all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation.
• Be able to possess a firearm. You may be asked to obtain a permit to purchase to qualify for meeting this requirement.
• Have a valid driver's license.

In addition, you must possess at least ONE of the following to qualify for further consideration and assessment:

• One or more years of full-time work experience in ANY field. (Note: The work experience does NOT have to be in Corrections).
• Two or more years of part-time (at least 20 hours per week) work experience in ANY field. (Note: the work experience does NOT have to be in Corrections).
• Completion of an associate degree in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or a Human Services related field with an emphasis in corrections/criminal justice.
• Completion of a bachelor's degree in ANY field from an accredited college/university.
• Honorable discharge from active military duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
• Current member in good standing in any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
• Successful completion of an internship in a Minnesota Correctional Facility in a related security area.

Interview Process

• Within a few days after you apply, the Minnesota DOC Human Resources (HR) will review your application to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications.
• If you meet the minimum qualifications, a HR Specialist will email you an interview link. We use SparkHire One-way video interviews. The interview can be completed using your device. The interview must be completed within one (1) week. Some facilities offer in-person interviews.
• If you do not meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified by email. Please ensure your contact information (i.e., email address, mailing/home address, cell, and work phone numbers) is up to date so that we can contact you.
• You must receive a passing rate on the interview to be considered for hire as a Trainee Corrections Officer.
• Background and reference checks will be conducted if you are offered a position and must be satisfactory to move forward in the hiring process.

Physical Requirements

If you are offered a job, you must pass a tuberculosis screening and respirator clearance. You will also be required to review and sign a Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) for the position. For a copy of the PDA, please email Tiffany.Werner@state.mn.us. In addition, an employee must receive an area exposure to a DOC-approved chemical irritant, which is a core training requirement of the Minnesota DOC.

Additional Requirements

• The selection process may include screening the top candidate(s) on their criminal history, predatory offender registration, offender associations, and/or other applicable background information in accordance with the Department of Corrections policy.
• Employment history/reference checks, including incidents of sexual harassment, will also be conducted on the top candidate(s) in accordance with the Department of Corrections policy. This may include a review of job performance and discipline records.
• New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.
• The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) does not participate in E-Verify. The DOC will not sponsor applicants for work visas, including F-1 STEM OPT extensions. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Pay

• $29.61 per hour during the initial 6-week training academy (for new hires to the State of Minnesota).
• After successful completion of the 6-week training academy, Trainees will move to the Corrections Officer 1 classification, and their pay will remain the same.
• Employees in the Corrections Officer 1 classification are promoted to Corrections Officer 2 after successfully completing one (1) year probationary period and will receive a pay increase at that time.
• Current State employees may contact Kristen Hanson (Kristen.Hanson@state.mn.us or 651-361-7542) for more information related to rate of pay.
• Current Salary Range of Corrections Officer 1: $29.61 / hourly; $61,826 / annually
• Current Salary Range of Corrections Officer 2: $30.35 - $40.35 / hourly; $63,371 - $84,251 / annually

Schedule

• Day Shift for the initial 6-week training academy, then a shift will be assigned.
• Monday - Friday for the initial 6-week training academy, then the work schedule will be assigned based on the scheduling needs of the Minnesota Correctional Facility where you work.
• Travel required during the initial 6-week academy. All centralized training will be held at the DOC Central Office starting the week after your date of hire, with the exception of a one-day training session at MCF-St. Cloud held at the conclusion of the academy. No hotel accommodations are offered to hires of facilities within the metro region during training.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
• Support to help you reach your career goals: Training, classes, and professional development opportunities

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Kristen Hanson at kristen.hanson@state.mn.us or 651-361-7542.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.