Correction Officer

Correction Officers, under supervision, maintain security and are responsible for the care, custody, control, job training and work performance of sentenced and detained inmates within New York City correctional facilities. They supervise inmate meals, visits, recreational programs, and other congregate activities; inspect assigned areas for conditions which threaten safety and security; conduct searches in order to detect contraband; complete forms and reports; maintain appropriate log books; communicate with other area Correction Officers to exchange pertinent information; issue verbal orders, announcements and explanations to inmates; observe inmates and make recommendations concerning medical and/or psychiatric referrals; safeguard Department supplies and equipment; escort inmates within and outside of the facility including their transportation in Departmental vehicles; respond to unusual incidents and disturbances; enforce security procedures in accordance with Department guidelines; request medical assistance for inmates when necessary; count and verify the number of inmates present in assigned areas; verify identification of inmates; supervise inmates of either sex; operate a motor vehicle; and perform related work.
Special Working Conditions:
Correction Officers will be required to work various shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Some of the physical activities performed by Correction Officers and environmental conditions experienced are: walking and/or standing in an assigned area for 8 ½ to 17 hours continuously; walking up several flights of stairs; working outdoors in all kinds of weather; exposure to chemical agents; being subjected to close contact with inmates; possible physical restraint of an inmate; interactions with different inmate categories e.g., inmates under mental health observation; responding to various incidents as required; carrying or donning heavy equipment; lifting/moving heavy objects. (This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)

Education And Experience Requirements:
By the time you are appointed to this position, you must have:
1. At least 39 semester credits at an accredited college or university. Satisfactory completion of Academy training will provide an additional 21 semester credits for a total of 60 semester credits; or
2. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and either:
a. At least 6 months of honorable full-time United States military service; or
b. At least 6 months of full-time, satisfactory experience in the provision of social services or casework, dealing directly with clients, mental health counseling, or services to the homeless; or
c. At least 6 months in Law Enforcement positions described as follows:
i. In positions classified as Police Officers pursuant to Section 1.20, subdivision 34, of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law; or
ii. In positions classified as Peace Officers pursuant to Section 2.10 of the New York State Criminal Procedure Law, or

iii. In positions designated as Special Patrolman pursuant to Section 14-106 of the Administrative Code and Chapter 13 of Title 38 of the Rules of the City of New York, or
iv. In positions in Federal Law Enforcement or Law Enforcement in other states or municipalities with status or designations equivalent to (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or
3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least 1 year of satisfactory, fulltime paid general work experience; or
4. Two years of active service in the Army Reserve, the Army National Guard, the Navy Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, the Marine Corps Reserve, or the Coast Guard Reserve with an honorable discharge. Time spent in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) will not count towards two years of active service. The high school diploma or its educatioal equivalent must be approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization. The college or university must be accredited by regional, national, professional, or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). If you were educated outside the United States, you must have your foreign education evaluated to determine its equivalence to education obtained in the United States. You will receive instructions from the Department of Correction during the pre-employment screening process regarding the approved evaluation services that you may use for foreign education.
Age Requirement:
You must be at least 17 years of age by the date you take the multiple-choice test. Additionally, you must have attained age 21 to be appointed as a Correction Officer. If you are too young for appointment on the date the eligible list is terminated, you will have no further opportunity for appointment from this list.
Driver License Requirement:
You must possess a New York State learner's permit at the time of appointment and must obtain a valid driver license from the State of New York prior to graduating from the Department of Correction Academy. If you already have a license you may be disqualified for any moving violation(s), license suspension or an accident record. You must maintain a NYS driver license for the duration of your employment.
Character and Background:
Proof of good character and satisfactory background will be absolute prerequisites to appointment. The following are among the factors which would ordinarily be cause for disqualification: (a) arrest record or conviction of an offense, the nature of which indicates lack of good moral character or disposition towards violence or disorder; (b) repeated arrests or convictions of an offense, where such convictions or arrests indicate a disrespect for the law; (c) discharge from employment, where such discharge indicates poor behavior or an inability to adjust to discipline; (d) dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces; and (e) conviction of petit lar

The multiple-choice test for the Correction Officer position will be conducted at a computer terminal, and your score will determine your ranking on the eligible list. To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of 70%. The test assesses abilities important for the role. The test may include questions requiring the use of any of the following abilities: Deductive Reasoning: applying general rules to specific problems and coming up with logical answers. It involves deciding if an answer makes sense. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to assign inmates tasks and jobs, and needs to determine which tasks can be assigned to which inmate using specific rules. Inductive Reasoning: combining separate pieces of information, or specific answers to problems, to form general rules or conclusions. It involves the ability to think of possible reasons for why things go together. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to determine the validity of inmate complaints based on information such as observations and discussions with inmates. Information Ordering: correctly following a rule or set of rules of actions in a certain order. The rule or set of rules used must be given. The things or actions to be put in order can include numbers, letters, words, pictures, procedures, sentences, and mathematical or logical operations. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to report for roll call ready to receive work assignment orders and ready to be instructed to do things in a particular order. Mathematical Reasoning: understanding and organizing a problem and then selecting a mathematical method or formula to solve the problem. It encompasses reasoning through mathematical problems to determine appropriate operations that can be performed to solve problems. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to calculate average number of miles driven for each tour.

Memorization: remembering information, such as words, numbers, pictures and procedures. Pieces of information can be remembered by themselves or with other pieces of information. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to memorize information such as numbers, pictures, or persons or items in a room or location. Number Facility: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing quickly and correctly. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to compile and verify data such as coordinating the distribution of special meals to different correctional facilities. Problem Sensitivity: being able to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It includes being able to identify the whole problem as well as elements of the problem. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to observe behavior, conduct and activities of inmates to verify compliance. Spatial Orientation: determining where you are in relation to the location of some object or where the object is in relation to you. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to appear before criminal court and may need to find the most direct route in a given map. Visualization: imagining how something would look when it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. It requires the forming of mental images of how patterns or objects would look after certain changes, such as unfolding or rotation. One has to predict how an object, set of objects, or pattern will appear after the changes have been carried out. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to identify the location of an item or items after entering a room through a different entrance. Written Comprehension: understanding written sentences and paragraphs. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to interpret policies and regulations in a correctional facility and carry out procedures based on the written materials. Written Expression: using English words or sentences in writing so that others will understand. Example: A Correction Officer may use this ability to write reports using

The New York State Public Officers Law requires that at the date of appointment, you must be a resident of the City of New York or of Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland or Putnam counties.