Correctional Officer Position

The following is directly from the Washington State's Department of Corrections and is currently an open position at the pen. I posted the whole thing for those who are interested, but bolded what I found most interesting.


Corrections and Custody officer 1 (CO1) On-Call

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)


The Washington State Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated and talented individuals for the positions of on-call Correctional Officer 1 at the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) in Walla Walla, WA. The Washington State Penitentiary is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These are on-call/intermittent positions with no minimum hour guarantee.


Whether the work is inside a prison, in community corrections, or in an administrative office, the Washington State Department of Corrections professional staff experience a high degree of personal satisfaction knowing they are creating environments in which all offenders can learn to make choices that contribute to a safer society.

Duties:
This job class is designated as in-training. The Employee will advance to CO2 after satisfactory completion of the CO1 training requirements.

In an adult correctional facility, Correctional Officers provide safety and security, and assist in controlling, directing, and monitoring the activities and movement of adult offenders. This includes maintaining security of the institution and controlling movement into, out of and within the institution in accordance with established department methods and procedures.

Correctional Officers are expected to be a positive role model for offenders and work to help them become productive members of society from the day they arrive under supervision. Correctional Officers use psychology and good communication skills to correct and counteract criminal thinking of offenders while maintaining safe confinement environments for offenders to pursue a successful re-entry into communities. The successful candidates for Correctional Officer 1 will posses creative thinking, self-confidence, strong role-modeling and good conditioning.

Correctional Officers must successfully complete Correctional Worker Core (CWC), a six-week academy for all correctional workers employed in DOC prison facilities. We know that managing difficult people takes more than force. It takes observation, knowledge, skills and continual practice. Every DOC employee is provided with initial training designed to help assure safe working conditions. In addition, officers participate in the Correctional Officer Achievement Program (COACH), a unique in the nation, comprehensive, year-long, structured on-the-job training program for new correctional officers. In COACH, new officers continue to build on the skills and knowledge they learned in the CWC. With the supervision and coaching of Correctional Sergeants and Job Coaches, new officers gain competency and fluency in the core skills needed to perform duties of a correctional officer. 46 college credits are earned during CWC and COACH.

For more information on CWC visit http://www.doc.wa.gov/jobs/cwc.html

For more information on COACH visit http://www.doc.wa.gov/jobs/coach.html

Qualifications:
Graduation from high school or GED AND a valid driver's license.


Note: The ability to carry a firearm is required; pre-employment process includes drug testing and psychological evaluation.


Supplemental Information:
'The mission of DOC is to improve public safety.'



For additional information about the Department of Corrections, please visit www.doc.wa.gov.

Due to the economic downturn and subsequent state budget short-fall, the Governor has ordered mandatory unpaid temporary layoffs for employees. This position may be required to take temporary layoffs on up to ten scheduled work days during the fiscal year July 2010 – June 2011.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

· Please include a minimum of three professional references with your application. The Department of Corrections defines a professional reference as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.

· All Department of Corrections employees are fingerprinted for a criminal history background check.

· Employees work with offenders in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.

· Tuberculosis is a priority health issue for Department of Corrections' employees. A baseline TB skin test is required prior to employment for all health care providers and those staff who supervise offenders. Testing is voluntary for all other employees. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment may also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.

· If this position is included in a Union Shop, employees will be required to become members within thirty (30) days of employment.

The Department of Corrections is committed to hiring individuals who possess core diversity competencies. DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring any information in an alternative format may contact 888-727-9925 or TTY format at 360-664-6211.

For questions about this recruitment, please email aaponti@DOC1.WA.GOV or call us at (509)524-7643.