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Trainee-Corrections Officer

Join our team to help transform lives for a safer Minnesota. Earn competitive pay, & great benefits!

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 07/01/2021
Closing Date: 06/30/2022
Hiring Agency: Department of Corrections (DOC)
Locations: Various Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) locations.  MCF-Faribault, MCF-Lino Lakes, MCF-Oak Park Heights, MCF-Red Wing, MCF-Rush City, MCF-Shakopee, MCF-St. Cloud, MCF-Stillwater, MCF-Togo and MCF-Willow River/Moose Lake
Division/Unit: Facility Safety & Security
Work Shift: Day shift for the initial 6-week training academy, then the shift will be assigned.
Days of Work: Monday - Friday for the initial 6-week training academy, then the work schedule will be assigned based on the scheduling needs of the MCF where you work.
Travel Required: No
Salary for Trainee-Corrections Officer*: $21.06 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 the rate of pay will remain the same. Corrections Officer 1 employees are promoted to Corrections Officer 2 after successfully completing a 1-year probationary period and will receive a pay increase at this time. (*NOTE: Current state employees may contact Sue Ricci at susan.ricci@state.mn.us or 651-361-7298 for more information related to rate of pay.)
Current Salary Range for Corrections Officer 1: $21.06 to $22.27 per hour ($43,973 to $46,500 per year)
Current Salary Range for Corrections Officer 2: $21.63 to $31.25 per hour ($45,163 to $65,250 per year)
Classified Status: Non-status during the initial 6-week training academy. Classified status thereafter.
Connect 700 Program Eligible: No

Job Duties:
Are you seeking a career path, competitive pay and great benefits? Become a Corrections Officer with the Minnesota DOC! No corrections experience is 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. The training will take place at the MCF where you will work.

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 include but are not limited to:
  1. Ensure the safety, security and control of the correctional facility.
  2. Supervise incarcerated people to ensure the environment encourages positive behavior and prepares them for successful transition into the community upon release.
  3. 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.
  4. Be competent in the use of all equipment ensuring it is operated in an efficient and safe manner.
  5. Prepare for and respond to any unusual or emergency situations utilizing the appropriate Incident Command System (ICS) procedures ensuring the safety, accountability, welfare and security of the general public, facility, on-site personnel and incarcerated people.
  6. Follow all agency and state policies and statutes. Support the vision, mission, values, goals and initiatives of the DOC.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
To qualify for further consideration and assessment, you must:
  1. 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) unless you are enrolled or have completed course work in a post-secondary education program to pursue a degree in a behavioral science; AND
  2. Possess a high school diploma or GED; AND
  3. Be able to pass a criminal history check, which will be conducted prior to hire. In order to pass, you must have successfully completed all sentencing and/or restitution requirements of law enforcement jurisdictions, including probation; AND
  4. Be able to possess a firearm; AND
  5. Have a valid driver's license.

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

  1. 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; OR
  2. Completion of a Bachelor's degree in ANY field from an accredited college/university; OR
  3. One or more years of full-time work experience in ANY field. (NOTE: The work experience does NOT have to be in Corrections); OR
  4. 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); OR
  5. Honorable discharge from active military duty in any branch of the United States' Armed Forces; OR
  6. Current member in good standing in any branch of the United States' Armed Forces; OR
  7. Successful completion of an internship in a Minnesota Correctional Facility in a related security area.

Interview Process:
If you meet the above minimum qualifications, you may apply for further consideration. Within a few days after you apply, the Minnesota DOC will e-mail you information on how to and where you may schedule an interview. Please ensure that your contact information (i.e. e-mail address, mailing/home address, cell and work phone numbers) is up-to-date so that we are able to contact you. You must receive a passing score on the interview to be considered for hire as a Trainee-Corrections Officer.
If you pass the interview and background check processes (see Additional Requirements below), you will be placed on an eligible list to fill Trainee-Corrections Officer vacancies at a MCF location where you are interested in working. You may remain on the eligible list for a period of one year or until you are hired.

Physical and Training Requirements
If you are offered a job, you must pass a pre-placement medical exam and evaluation, which is based on the job responsibilities. These components consist of a physical examination, a drug test, tuberculosis screening, and/or 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 Katie Wynn at katie.wynn@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 will include screening candidates for Trainee-Corrections Officer positions on their criminal history, predatory offender registration, offender associations and/or other applicable background information in accordance with Minnesota DOC policy.
Employment history/reference checks, including incidents of sexual harassment, will also be conducted in accordance with MN DOC policy. This may include a review of job performance and discipline records.
New employees will be fingerprinted within the first 30 days of employment.

Application Details

Why Work For Us 
Want to make a difference in your community? The Minnesota DOC plays a critical role in public safety and is a national leader in correctional programming. Along with providing security, you act as an important role model to those under our care. By modeling good behavior, respect, and professionalism, you can help bring about change in incarcerated people. Your positive actions and interactions with incarcerated people can positively impact our goal of reducing future crime.
Employment with the Minnesota DOC is not just a job, it can be a rewarding career. Our dedicated and professional staff have found the DOC to be a place to grow. You will receive a great starting salary, excellent health and dental insurance, and a clear path for advancement.
Have student loans to pay off? As a State of Minnesota employee you may qualify to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If that isn’t enough to make you excited to work for the Minnesota DOC, we also provide generous vacation and sick leave.
How does early retirement sound? If you serve in a security position with the Minnesota DOC, you are eligible to retire from state service at an earlier age than other positions.
If all of this excites you and you’d be proud to transform lives for a safer Minnesota, then employment with the DOC sounds like a perfect fit! We embrace a dynamic and diverse workforce, and strive to foster a welcoming and encouraging work environment. We also strongly support veterans, as 15% of our employees have served in the United States Armed Forces. In 2016, we were named a Yellow Ribbon Company.
Taking care of yourself today
  • Low-cost Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Short-and Long-term Disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Generous Vacation and Sick leave
Preparing for your future
  • Retirement
  • Tax-Deferred Savings
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance and Optional Life Insurance

How to Apply
NOTE: Please do not apply to this posting if you are scheduled to interview or have been interviewed for Trainee-Corrections Officer within the last 90 days or you are currently in the background check portion of the selection process.
Click “Apply” at the bottom of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637.
For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you are a former DOC employee with prior experience in the Corrections Officer 1 (CO1) or 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 the CO1 or CO2 job class who have separated from the class within the past 4 years. For more information regarding reinstatement opportunities to the CO1 or CO2 job classification, please contact Katie Wynn at katie.wynn@state.mn.us 

Contact
If you have questions about the position, contact Katie Wynn at katie.wynn@state.mn.us or 651-361-7673 or Sue Ricci at susan.ricci@state.mn.us or 651-361-7298.