Correctional Officer

DutiesSummary

Our Mission: To protect society and positively change the lives of those in our care. You have a vital role in that mission. You are valued and trained to be prepared. You are rewarded beyond benefits with careers that offer endless professional potential and personal growth.

Together, we are the Bureau of Prisons.

OUR AGENCY IS IMMEDIATELY HIRING IN THE NORTH CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREAS. Please visit: https://www.bop.gov/jobs to learn more regarding these vacancies.



Responsibilities

Provides supervision, care and correctional treatment of inmates. Incumbent is concerned with maintenance of institution security contributing to the health and welfare of the inmates and the promotion of good public relations.

Enforces rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody. From time to time, may be authorized to carry firearms and to use physical force, including deadly force, to maintain control of inmates.

During institution emergencies or other periods of heavy workload or limited staff, may be required to work long and irregular hours, unusual shifts, Sundays, holidays and unexpected overtime. Information as to operations and procedures is provided by post orders, BOP program statements, local supplements, custodial manual, internal correspondence and staff meetings. Incumbent must be flexible and have a broad knowledge base to use own initiative in the resolution of problem situations.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Training may be required for training and/or work related issues.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

07

• Job family (Series)

  0007 Correctional Officer

  Similar jobs
  • Jailers

• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • U. S. Citizenship is Required.
  • See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
  • Selective Service Requirement: Go to http://www.sss.gov

  Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1)this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: Click Here
  
  The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

  Qualifications

  To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:
  
  Education:
  
  GL-05: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  
  GL-06: Nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate study, from an accredited school, in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position.

  GL-07: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position is qualifying for GL-07.

  OR
  
  Experience:
  
  GL-05: At least 3 years of full-time general experience, one year of which was equivalent to the GL-04 grade level, or one year of specialized experience. This experience must have demonstrated the aptitude for acquiring the qualifications required for correctional work, and, in addition, demonstrate the possession of personal attributes important to the effectiveness of correctional officers, such as:

  • Ability to meet and deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns.
  • Ability to be persuasive in selling and influencing ideas.
  • Ability to lead, supervise, and instruct others.
  • Sympathetic attitude towards the welfare of others.
  • Ability to reason soundly and to think out practical solutions to problems.
  • Ability to make decisions and act quickly, particularly under stress.
  • Poise and self-confidence, and ability to remain calm during emergency situations.

  General experience may have been gained in work such as:

  • Social case work in a welfare agency or counseling in other types of organizations.
  • Classroom teaching or instructing.
  • Responsible rehabilitation work, e.g., in an alcoholic rehabilitation program.
  • Supervising planned recreational activities or active participation in community action programs.
  • Management or supervisory work in a business or other organization that included directing the work flow and/or direct supervision of others.
  • Persuasive sales work or commissioned sales work, other than taking and filling orders as in over-the-counter sales.

  GL-06: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in federal service. This experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, performing duties, such as, ensuring individuals confined in a correctional or mental health facility adhere to the rules and regulations; responding to domestic disturbances; or apprehending and arresting individuals violating the law. Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained:

  • Correctional Officer
  • Detention Officer
  • Police Officer
  • Border Patrol Agent
  • State Trooper
  • Sheriff
  • Park Ranger
  • Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail
  • Mental Health Residential Facility Worker

  Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Providing supervision, care and security of inmates and guidance to lower-graded Correctional Officers.
  • Supervising inmates in living quarters and instructing them in proper housekeeping and sanitation.
  • Experience working as a Police Officer responding to domestic disturbances and issuing citations for law violations.
  • Experience in investigating crime scenes as a State Trooper.
  • Experience as a Mental Health Worker in a Mental Health Lockdown facility.

  GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in federal service. This experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, performing duties, such as, the supervision of individuals confined in a correctional facility, the application of rules and regulations relative to a correctional institution, or guiding lower graded correctional officers. Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained:

  • Correctional Officer
  • Jailer
  • Detention Officer
  • Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail
  • Military Corrections (Brig, Internment/Resettlement Specialist)

  Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Providing supervision, care and security of inmates in a correctional environment.
  • Experience supervising inmates throughout the institution and providing instructions related to institutional procedures and sanitation.
  • Experience with conducting various count procedures of inmates.
  • Enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody.
  • Experience working various correctional posts, assignments (such as Control Room, Rear-gate, Housing Units, etc.)

  Medical Requirement:

  The Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons has established the following medical requirements for Correctional Officer positions:

  The duties of these positions involve unusual mental and nervous pressure, and require arduous physical exertion involving prolonged walking and standing, restraining of prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts. Applicants must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of these positions, and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others. The duties of a Correctional Officer are arduous; and sound health as well as physical fitness is required.
  
  If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.
  
  **Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

  Education

  See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.
  
  ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.
  
  Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications
  
  If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

  Additional information

  AGE REQUIREMENTS:

  In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.
  
  Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age of 37. Refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.

  LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the announcement.
  
  NOTE: This announcement is posted on a yearly cycle. The announcement will EXPIRE on the listed closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to receive consideration for the next cycle, applicants MUST reapply to the new vacancy announcement.

  SALARY RANGE: Salary listed is for the Rest of U.S. (RUS) salary area. See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at www.opm.gov and search pay tables.

  Special Conditions of Employment Section:
  
  Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

  All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.
  
  The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score must be obtained. Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score. Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.
  
  Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.
  
  Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

  
  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Based upon your self-reported responses to the assessment questions during the application process, your application will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Applications will be reviewed from the top quality category. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are found qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to the responses you provided on the online assessment questionnaire.
  
  NOTE: Candidates within the top quality category and who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligible.
  
  If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans preference you are claiming on your resume. Although veterans preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated", veterans preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.
  
  In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest qualified category as defined by category rating procedures.
  
  What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?
  
  The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:
  
  GL-05 and GL-06:

  • Oral Communication
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Writing
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Managing Human Resources
  • Stress Tolerance

  GL-07:

  • Ability to communicate
  • Ability to observe and pay attention to detail in order to recognize signs of discord, abnormal behavior.
  • Ability to communicate in writing.
  • Ability to supervise inmates/participants.
  • Ability to react and remain calm and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
  
  To preview questions please click here.
  
  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Other

  Drug test required

  Yes

• Required Documents

  Required Documents
  • Veterans' Preference Documentation: Veterans must demonstrate that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge). Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214 indicating type of discharge); or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal).
  • If you are currently on active duty, a statement from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: Name, Rank, Branch of Service, Active Duty time, Projected Separation Date and type of anticipated discharge must be provided.
  • SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you SHOULD submit a completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim. Documentation to support a disability must reflect the overall evaluation or percentage disability rating. Veterans must also demonstrate that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
  • Resume: showing relevant experience (cover letter optional).
  • In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week. Failure to follow this format may result in disqualification.
  • A college transcript: which includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day).
  • SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.

  Failure to provide these documents could possibly result in removal from consideration for this vacancy. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD214, or Transcripts.

  We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

  We are prioritizing hiring at:

  North Central Region: Institutions

  Western Region: Institutions

  ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION:

  Recruitment Incentives: will be paid to selectee(s) who meet the criteria for a Recruitment Bonus. Upon completion of the Recruitment Service Agreement, Retention Incentives may be initiated. A 17% Recruitment Incentive at:
  • Atwater USP
  • Herlong FCI
  • Mendota FCI
  A 15% Recruitment Incentive at:
  • Dublin FCI
  • Victorville FCC
  A 25% Recruitment Incentive at:
  • Brooklyn MDC
  • New York MCC
  • Thomson USP
  A 10% Recruitment Incentive may be paid to selectee(s) who meets the criteria for Recruitment Bonuses and MUST have a firm offer of employment on or before December 31, 2020:
  • Aliceville FCI
  • Berlin FCI
  • Englewood FCI
  • Florence FCC
  • Fort Worth FMC
  • Lompoc FCC
  • Petersburg FCC
  • Sandstone FCI
  • SeaTac FDC
  • Waseca FCI
  • Yazoo City FCC

  Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is authorized at:

  • FDC Honolulu, HI - 10.28%
  • MDC Guaynabo, PR - 3.13%

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• The public

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

THIS IS A DELEGATED EXAMINING ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS.