What Do I Have To Do To Become A Correctional Officer?

Question

Alright I;m Going Into My Junior Year In High School.I Know What College I Want To Go To And The Correctional Academy After College.But What Should I Do.Do I Apply After The Academy Or What? Would It Take Long To Get Hired.Please Tell Me Everything About Becoming A C.O

I Would Really Appreciate It.

Answer 1

WOW!

Night-ride saved me a lot of typing, thank you! LOL

What Night-ride said!!

Answer 2

There are 4 levels of Corrections Officer. You have munincipal ( called Jailers, not Correction Officer), County, State and Federal Corrections.

Munincipal and County are High School diploma or GED, have a clean background, be in resonably good health and you will attend their own training classes. These two usually have the lowest pay and least benefits.

State and Federal Corrections are High School diploma or GED,  a minimum of 18 years of age, clean background ( you will be weapons qualified), clean driver's license and in good enough physical condition to pass the entrance exam plus the Academy.

The entrance exam can vary, but will usually be along the lines of carrying a 180 pound dummy to "safety", lifting a 50 pound box five feet in the air and placing it on a shelf and a 600 yard run in a set time ( which is age/gender specific. The average time for this run for a female is around 8 minutes).

You will be taking an MMPI psychological test for both. A 600 question test that is graded by computer where you are answering questions on how to deal with varying situations. The purpose of this test is to see how you evaluate situations and if your judgment is constant.

The Academy is only after you are offered a job (this is the last thing done in the process). From the time you apply until you start the Academy, it can take 7 to 10 months.

Although a HS diploma is needed to get hired, if you plan on advancing, you will need at least a 2 year college degree or better. But you can work on that while on the job.

Depending on what state, Academy usually takes 5 to 7 weeks and you will be on probation for up to 1 year while working.

I hope this helps and you can find it useful

Answer 3

Come up to Montana!!  If you are breathing and can walk....You're a shoe in for a correctional officer job.  I've heard that in the more populated states they actually have some kind of standards for CO's, but not here in the Big Sky State.