Trainee Corrections Officer

About the role

This job announcement will fill multiple openings at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Pass a criminal history check, which will be conducted before hire.
• Successfully complete 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.
• One or more years of full-time work experience in ANY field.
• Two or more years of part-time (at least 20 hours per week) work experience in ANY field.
• 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.

Qualifications

• 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).
• A high school diploma or GED.
• Pass a criminal history check, which will be conducted before hire.
• Successfully complete 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.
• One or more years of full-time work experience in ANY field.
• Two or more years of part-time (at least 20 hours per week) work experience in ANY field.
• 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.

SkillsAbility to operate and maintain all equipment used in the correctional facility.

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Knowledge of incident command system (ICS) procedures.

Ability to handle stressful situations and emergencies.

Strong organizational and time management skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Basic computer skills.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• 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.

Pay

• $29.61 / hourly; $61,826 / annually 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.

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.

Benefits

• No hotel accommodations are offered for St. Cloud hires during training.
• 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.

Application

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers. If you are a former Minnesota Department of Corrections employee with prior experience in the Corrections Officer 2 (CO2) job classification, you may be eligible for reinstatement. In accordance with Minnesota Statute 43A.15, Subd. 15, eligibility for reinstatement is limited to former permanent or probationary employees of CO2 job classification who have separated from the class within the past 4 years. For more information regarding reinstatement opportunities to the CO2 job classification, please search for Job ID for more information and to apply. Contact Kristen Hanson at kristen.hanson@state.mn.us or 651-361-7542 if you have questions about this position.