Correctional Officer

Pay Rate : $40,000 - $53,000

The State of West Virginia is hiring for three jobs : Correctional Officer 1, 2, and 3. Candidate experience and qualifications will be assessed by WV Division of Personnel upon application submission.

Based on experience and qualifications, candidates will be categorized into one of the three roles. Please read the job information below :

Pay Rate & Special Hiring Rate :

Correctional Officer 1 :

$40,000 upon hire and $42,500 after 6 months OR $45,000 upon hire and $47,500 after 6 months if the applicant will work at one of the Critical Vacancy Pay Facilities (inquire upon interviewing).

Promotion and salary increase to Correctional Officer 2 after one year as Correctional Officer 1.

Correctional Officer 2 :

$45,000 upon hire and $46,500 after 6 months OR $50,000 upon hire and $51,500 after 6 months if the applicant will work at one of the Critical Vacancy Pay Facilities (inquire upon interviewing).

Promotion and salary increase to Correctional Officer 3 after one year as Correctional Officer 2.

Correctional Officer 3 :

$48,000 upon hire OR $53,000 if the applicant will work at one of the Critical Vacancy Pay Facilities (inquire upon interviewing).

Annual salary increases follow.

Nature of Work

Correctional Officers enforce rules necessary for the control of offenders and the maintenance of public safety. Positions may be in any type of facilities such as : Adult Centers / Prisons, Regional Jails, or Juvenile Centers.

Applications for Correctional Officer 1 are accepted continuously to build a list of eligible candidates. The list will be used to fill openings as they occur.

Contact the individual Centers for specific vacancy information.

HOW TO APPLY : You MUST apply online at the WV Division of Personnel website. You may apply from any internet connected computer.

Public access computers are available at many WorkForce WV Offices, Correctional Centers, and some public libraries. If you must use a paper application due to disability or other valid reason, please call our office (304) 558-3950 (8 : 00am-4 : 30pm) for special instructions.

Applications remain active for six months.

Correctional Officer 1 Examples of Work

Learns to implement training materials, post orders, administrative regulations, log entries and / or memoranda.

Learns to obtain information from the previous shift regarding activities occurring on that shift.

Learns to observe and monitor offenders to detect unusual or prohibited behavior and maintains custody and control within the correctional facility.

Learns to perform counts at regular, or other, intervals to insure offender accountability.

Escorts offenders to and from various facility areas; learns to search persons, personal property and areas.

Learns to supervise offenders in performing assigned tasks.

Learns to conduct and assist with intake / discharge procedures for offenders.

Maintains public safety and control of offenders by enforcing rules, regulations and state law; reports violations.

Testifies at internal disciplinary hearings and in court.

Learns to transport offenders to and from correctional facilities.

Learns to listen and respond appropriately to offender requests, problems and complaints.

Learns to model appropriate personal and social living skills when interacting with offenders.

Learns to recognize and respond to potential or actual emergencies, such as, but not limited to, fires, physical altercations, disturbances, or escapes in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.

Participates in staff, team and committee meetings.

Handles and operates security / communications equipment and / or firearms as directed and in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.

Learns to inspect, inventory, maintain physical control of, and log keys, tools, weapons and related equipment.

Learns to report damaged or missing items or other noted irregularities.

Learns to perform safety and sanitation inspections.

Oversees cleaning of facility areas and inmate hygiene activities.

Correctional Officer 2 Examples of Work :

Reads and implements training materials; posts orders, administrative regulations; logs entries and memorandums.

Obtains information from previous shift regarding activities occurring on that shift.

Conducts / assists with offender intake / discharge procedures; observes, monitors and supervises offenders to detect unusual or prohibited behavior and maintains custody and control within the correctional facility.

Performs counts at regular, or other, intervals to ensure offender accountability; transports offenders to and from correctional facilities;

searches persons, personal property and areas; instructs and supervises offenders in performing assigned tasks.

Maintains public safety and control of offenders by enforcing rules, regulations and state law; reports violations.

Testifies at internal disciplinary hearings and in court.

Listens and responds appropriately to offender requests, problems and complaints.

Models appropriate personal and social living skills when interacting with offenders.

Participates in staff, team and committee meetings.

Recognizes and responds to potential or actual emergencies such as, but not limited to, fires, physical altercations, disturbances or escapes in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.

Handles and operates security / communications equipment and / or firearms as directed in a manner which is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and which ensures public safety.

Inspects, inventories, maintains physical control of and logs keys, tools, weapons and related equipment; reports damaged or missing items or other irregularities.

Performs safety and sanitation inspections; oversees cleaning of institutional areas and inmate hygiene activities.

Correctional Officer 3 Examples of Work :

Conducts the orientation and / or on-the-job training of subordinate officers.

Reads and implements training materials, post orders, administrative regulations, log entries and / or memoranda.

Provides guidance and direction to subordinate officers.

Monitors the performance of subordinate officers, making assignments to units as necessary.

Obtains information from previous shift regarding activities occurring on that shift.

Conducts / assists with offender intake / discharge procedures.

Observes offenders to detect unusual or prohibited behavior and maintain custody and control within the correctional facility.

Performs and trains subordinate officers to perform offender counts and trains subordinate officers to perform offender escort / transport security.

performs and trains subordinate officers to perform contraband searches.

Instructs offenders in performing assigned tasks.

Maintains public safety and control of offenders by ensuring the enforcement of rules, regulations and state law; reports violations.

Testifies in internal disciplinary hearings and in court.

Listens and responds appropriately to offender requests, problems and complaints.

Models appropriate personal and social living skills when interacting with offenders.

Recognizes and trains subordinate officers to respond to potential or actual emergencies, such as but not limited to, fires, physical altercations, disturbances, or escapes in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.

Handles and operates security / communications equipment and / or firearms as directed in a manner that is consistent with policy, procedure and state law and ensures public safety.

Conducts incident inquiries / investigations as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Correctional Officer 1 :

Knowledge of correctional security, treatment and support program operations.

Knowledge of rules, regulations and state law.

Ability to read and understand training materials, policies, procedures and related written material.

Ability to follow verbal instructions and written directives and to follow a formal chain of command.

Ability to provide an accurate count of offenders.

Ability to safely handle and use mechanical restraints, intermediate weapons and firearms and be certified as required.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to run, jump, climb stairs and physically restrain violent offenders.

Ability to plan, organize and direct offender activities and work details.

Ability to resolve offender problems and conflicts and to handle requests.

Correctional Officer 2 :

Knowledge of correctional security, treatment and support program operations.

Knowledge of rules, regulations and state law.

Knowledge of emergency procedures.

Ability to follow and issue written and oral direction within the chain of command.

Ability to interact positively with staff, inmates and the public.

Ability to run, jump, climb stairs and physically restrain violent residents.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to use appropriate physical force to control offenders when necessary.

Ability to safely handle and use firearms, chemical agents and mechanical restraints and to obtain certification in the use of this equipment.

Ability to conduct correct contraband searches.

Ability to perform accurate offender counts.

Correctional Officer 3 :

Knowledge of correctional security, treatment and support program operations.

Knowledge of rules, regulations and state law.

Skill in locating and identifying contraband.

Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to train subordinate officers on the rules, regulations and state law.

Ability to plan, organize and direct subordinate staff and offender activities and work details.

Ability to resolve offender and subordinate staff problems and conflicts.

Ability to follow and issue written and oral direction within a formal chain of command.

Ability to interact positively with staff, inmates and the public.

Ability to run, jump, climb stairs and physically restrain violent residents.

Ability to use appropriate physical force to control offenders when necessary.

Ability to safely handle and use firearms, chemical agents and mechanical restraints and to obtain certification in the use of this equipment.

Ability to conduct correct contraband searches.

Ability to write routine reports and complete standard forms.

Ability to read, understand and apply training and directive materials.

Ability to complete tasks in a specialized assignment.

Minimum Qualifications

For all Correctional Officer roles : Graduation from a standard high school or the equivalent.

For Correctional Officer 2 : One (1) year of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience as a correctional officer, probation / parole officer, any US Military Service (Part-time National Guard service may be included as military service using the Division of Personnel's internal conversion calculation), police officer or in criminal justice or related field.

Substitution : Successfully completed coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in corrections, criminal justice or related field may be substituted at the rate of one (1) year for every thirty (30) hours of study.

For Correctional Officer 3 : Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience as a correctional officer, probation / parole officer, any US Military Service (Part-time National Guard service may be included as military service using the Division of Personnel's internal conversion calculation), police officer or in criminal justice or related field.

Substitution : Successfully completed coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in corrections, criminal justice or related field may be substituted for the required experience at the rate of one (1) year for every thirty (30) hours of study.

Conditions of Employment :

Applicants must successfully complete a psychological examination prior to appointment and as required thereafter.

Applicants must successfully complete a medical examination prior to appointment and as required thereafter.

Applicants must successfully complete a physical performance test prior to appointment and annually thereafter.

Applicants must successfully complete a chemical urinalysis drug-screening test prior to initial employment.

All employees in this job class shall be subject to random drug testing, as well as drug testing for reasonable suspicion as set forth in agency policy.

Applicant's character and suitability for employment as a Correctional Officer must be verified through an agency investigation prior to employment.

Applicant's background must be clear of felony convictions.

Applicant's background must be clear of any activity prohibited by the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Applicants are subject to recurring background checks as may be required by law, rule, standard, or policy.

Applicants will be required to work various shifts and it is understood schedules are subject to change at any time.

Applicants are subject to mandatory overtime requirements and must be available for assignment to any location in the State of West Virginia.

Applicants must possess a valid driver's license prior to appointment and continuously maintain such license while employed in this classification.

Applicants must maintain a working telephone in order for the agency to contact them.

Applicants shall successfully complete training as may be required by policies established by the Commissioner, or as may be required by law, rule, or standard.

Applicants must possess the ability to perform the essential functions and tasks of the classification.

Other Information

Upon completion of the first year of continuous service in the position, any employee hired into the rank of the Correctional Officer series shall receive a retention incentive of $2,000.

Employees in this classification shall receive an annual base building pay differential of $250 on July 1st, beginning July 1, 2024.

This pay differential shall be allowed to take DCR employees’ salaries above the maximum of the compensation range.

If an employee is hired into a Critical Vacancy Pay Facility (CVPF) and leaves the facility, the additional pay differential of $5,000 shall be removed from their salary, unless transferring to another CVPF.

Probationary period 1 year

Please note that there are other Corrections job opportunities available at other facilities across the state of West Virginia.

If you are interested, please click here to see other Corrections opportunities. See below for a list of all cities where Correctional Facilities exist :

Augusta, WV

Barboursville, WV

Beaver, WV

Beckley, WV

Belington, WV

Charleston, WV

Columbia, WV

Davis, WV

Dunbar, WV

Fairmont, WV

Glenville, WV

Grafton, WV

Greenwood, WV

Hillsboro, WV

Holden, WV

Huntington, WV

Huttonsville, WV

Industrial, WV

Julian, WV

Martinsburg, WV

Moundsville, WV

Mt Olive, WV

Mt. Hope, WV

Parkersburg, WV

Princeton, WV

St Marys, WV

Sutton, WV

Weirton, WV

Wheeling, WV

White Sulphur Springs, WV

Winfield, WV

Last updated : 2024-04-09