Correctional Officer

State of Oklahoma•McAlester, OK

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities related to maintaining the security, control and custody of inmates in a state adult correctional facility. Applicants must be willing to attend an 8-week live-in academy in Oklahoma City from Sunday 6:00 PM through Thursday 6:00 PM and return home on the weekends. Applicants will work at their selected facility with a Field Training Officer until the academy begins. Lodging and meals are provided. Academy Start Date: August 3, 2026.

Requirements

Minimum age of 20 years.
Possession of thirty (30) semester hours from an accredited college or university; OR possession of a high school diploma acquired from an accredited high school or GED equivalent testing program and graduation from a training course conducted by or approved by the Department and certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training either prior to employment or during the first six (6) months of employment.
12 months of experience in correctional or security work for a governmental agency or private corrections agency (for Corporal level).
Knowledge of the fundamentals of English usage.
Knowledge of basic math.
Knowledge of reporting writing.
Knowledge of the use and care of firearms.
Knowledge of proper restraint methods and techniques.
Knowledge of self-defense methods.
Knowledge of the methods and objectives of discipline required for inmates under restraint.
Knowledge of the psychology of inmate behavior.
Ability to evaluate situations and adopt effective courses of action.
Ability to exercise alertness and be able to act quickly and effectively in an emergency situation.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to gather and organize facts and complete clear, concise reports.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to maintain proficiency with firearms.
Ability to assess and manage conflicts within the inmate population.
Satisfactory completion of minimum testing or professional evaluation through Human Capital Management.
Satisfactory completion of pre-employment and annual physical examination.
Possession of a valid driver’s license at the time of appointment.
Subject to drug testing.
Willing and able to work any assigned shift or day of the week, and additional shifts as required.
Must meet training and screening requirements conducted by the Department and certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training to include any psychological or physical testing required for eligibility to complete a basic police course or be certified as a peace officer.
No person who has been found guilty of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any offense requiring registration under the Sex Offenders Registration Act is eligible for employment as a peace officer.
No person who has been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude who has not received a full pardon from the proper agency is eligible for employment as a peace officer.
No person who has been convicted of a nonviolent felony and who has not received a full pardon from the proper authority, or who has been convicted of any other felony offense, is eligible for employment in this job classification.
No person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, who has not been pardoned for, or had the conviction expunged or set aside, or is subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or the partners’ child or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner or the partners’ child in reasonable fear of bodily injury and includes a finding that the person is a credible threat; or who has been dishonorably discharged from any branch of the armed services is eligible for employment in this job classification.

Nice To Haves

Successful completion of the GED test is based upon standards established by the Oklahoma Department of Education.

Responsibilities

Provides security and supervision to inmates in a variety of situations and activities; maintain security of an assigned area or post.
Provides security and supervision over inmate work crews; escorts inmates to work sites; inventories and controls all equipment, weapons, tools and keys.
Patrols yards, grounds, cell houses, corridors, dormitories and work areas on an assigned shift; observes activities and movements of inmates; manages inmate conduct, work and discipline.
Maintains order and discipline in programs and during meals and recreation periods; inspects living areas, facilities and work locations for unauthorized objects or materials; makes reports on incidents.
Operates manually or electronically controlled security equipment maintaining controlled movement of inmates, staff and the public.
Conducts inmate counts; performs searches of inmates and living quarters for contraband; enforces institutional rules and regulations.
Prepares written documentation and reports concerning inmate behavior, status and movement.
Participates on escape and apprehension teams; responds to riots and fires.