Correctional Officer (Correctional Counselor)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System • Atlanta, GA

9h

About The Position

Correctional professionals foster a humane and secure environment and support public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into the community. The Correctional Counselor develops and implements unit programs to meet the individual needs of inmates, including individual and group counseling. As part of the institution’s Admissions and Orientation process, the counselor interviews newly admitted inmates. The position helps maintain and enhance unit and institution security through extensive contact with inmates. The counselor serves as the unit expert and coordinator for inmate personal property, including incoming and outgoing package approvals, and trust fund activities, including inmate withdrawals and special purchase orders. Like all correctional institution employees, the incumbent is responsible for maintaining institutional security; correctional responsibilities take precedence over other duties and are performed regularly and recurringly.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the qualification requirement through either one full academic year of graduate education in criminal justice, social science, or another field related to the position, or at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.
• Qualifying experience may include work as a correctional officer, residential counselor for at-risk individuals, or re-entry services specialist; obtaining information and resources; knowledge of policies regarding inmate programs; enforcing rules and regulations in a correctional environment; or making decisions in a crisis.
• Be physically capable of performing the duties, which involve unusual mental and nervous pressure, prolonged walking and standing, arduous physical exertion, restraining prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts; be free from defects or disease that could create employment hazards.
• If qualifying based on education, provide legible transcripts with the application; education must be from an institution accredited or pre-accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. An official transcript must be provided before the first day on duty if selected based on education.
• Pass a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, background investigation, NCIC screening, and credit check.
• Complete a qualification inquiry regarding misdemeanor domestic violence convictions if not currently working in an institution, to determine authorization to carry a firearm.
• Successfully complete the three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques training course in Glynco, Georgia.
• Meet the maximum entry age of 36 for original appointment to a Bureau of Prisons institution, unless an applicable exception applies; applicants above the age limit with prior federal law enforcement coverage must submit an SF-50 verifying prior coverage.
• Applicants seeking CTAP or ICTAP selection priority must meet program eligibility criteria, be rated well-qualified with at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies, and submit the required eligibility documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement unit programs tailored to inmates’ individual needs, including individual and group counseling.
• Interview newly admitted inmates as part of the Admissions and Orientation process.
• Help maintain and enhance the security of the unit and institution through extensive contact with inmates.
• Coordinate inmate personal property matters, including approval of incoming and outgoing packages.
• Coordinate trust fund activities, including inmate withdrawals and special purchase orders.
• Maintain institutional security as a regular and recurring responsibility, taking precedence over other duties.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time