Corrections Officer Trainee
(Please see Additional Salary Information below for a description of the progression from Trainee to Corrections Officer 2.)

Salary Range:  $13.59 per hour during the six-week Pre-Service Academy

Additional Salary Information:  Applicants who qualify and successfully complete the six-week training program will be appointed to a Corrections Officer 1 position with a salary range of $15.10 to $17.92 per hour ($31,529 to $37,417 per year). Employees who are appointed to Corrections Officer 1 will be eligible for promotion to Corrections Officer 2 after one year with a salary range of $16.47 to $23.81 per hour ($34,389 to 49,715 per year).

Work Locations:  Positions are located at Minnesota Correctional Facilities (MCF) located in Faribault, Lino Lakes (Twin Cities Suburbs-North), Oak Park Heights, Rush City, St. Cloud, Shakopee, Stillwater, Togo and Willow River/Moose Lake.

NOTE:  As of December 5, 2006, applicants must apply directly to vacancies at MCF-Red Wing when announced.  Vacancy announcements for MCF-Red Wing will be placed on the State Careers Website.

From January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009, Trainee positions were filled as follows:  MCF-Faribault (79) – This reflects a larger number than usual due to an expansion at the facility, which is now complete; MCF-Lino Lakes (5); MCF-Oak Park Heights (8); MCF-Rush City (2); MCF-St. Cloud (12); MCF-Shakopee (9); MCF-Stillwater (14); MCF-Togo (0) and MCF-Moose Lake/Willow River (12).

Job Duties:  Complete a six-week training program to learn to enforce Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF) rules and maintain security; supervise offenders in daily living routines; monitor offender movement and activities, including acting as an offender work crew supervisor; exercise disciplinary control over offenders; and write reports.  The training includes a two-week academy program in St. Paul plus job location training.

Minimum Qualifications/Selection Process:
To qualify for further consideration and assessment, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age to work at an adult facility.  Must be 21 years or older to work at a juvenile facility unless enrolled or have completed course work in a post-secondary education program to pursue a degree in behavioral science; AND
2. Possess a high school diploma or GED; AND
3. Possess a valid driver’s license (may be required for specific assignments); AND
4. Be able to pass a criminal history background 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
5. Be able to possess a firearm.

   
In addition, you must possess one of the following in order to qualify:

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; OR 
2. Two year Associate’s degree in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or a related field; OR 
3. One year of full-time or full-time equivalent security experience in a correctional setting, such as a security hospital or state or county correctional facility; OR
4. Successful completion of an internship in a Minnesota Correctional Facility in a related security area; OR
5. Honorable discharge from active military duty or National Guard duty or current member in good standing with the National Guard; OR
6. Three years of full-time equivalent work experience in any field of work.

REACT TEST/INTERVIEW PROCESS:  If you meet the above qualifications, you may apply for further consideration when it is open for application.  The Department of Corrections (DOC) will notify you by e-mail (U.S. mail if no e-mail available) with information on how to schedule an appointment to take the REACT test.  There is limited space available, and reservations for testing will be on a first come, first serve basis.  You will be asked to verify that you meet the above-stated minimum qualifications at the time of the test.

The REACT test will be administered by the DOC at its Central Office location in St. Paul.  The test is comprised of the following components:  human relations (situational video test), counting, reading and report writing.

If you pass the REACT test, you will be invited back to interview in St. Paul.  Please ensure that your contact information (i.e. e-mail address, mailing address and home, cell and work phone numbers) is up-to-date so that we are able to contact you.

Please note that criminal history and employment reference checks will be conducted on the successful candidates prior to an offer of employment.  In addition, new employees will be fingerprinted by the DOC within the first 30 days of employment.

Physical Requirements: For a copy of the Physical Demands Analysis, contact Jamie Niedzielski(651) 361-7301.  Once a job offer is made, you must pass a physical examination based on the job responsibilities, Tuberculosis (Mantoux) test, and a drug screen.

Link to Application Form