Correctional Officer

Correctional Officer

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About Chain O'Lakes Correctional Facility: Chain O'Lakes Community Re-Entry Center is a minimum-security facility located in Albion, Indiana, with a capacity of 140 incarcerated adult males. Positioned within Chain O'Lakes State Park in Noble County, the center provides a unique natural setting focused on the final 12-36 months of an individual's sentence. Incarcerated individuals participate in educational and treatment programs designed to support re-entry. The facility also operates work crews that help maintain Pokagon State Park, Chain O'Lakes State Park, and other community projects. Partnerships with agencies such as the Noble County Surveyor's Office and the Indiana Department of Transportation, give incarcerated individuals hands-on work experience. Staff emphasize responsibility, growth, and community engagement.

Role Overview: As a Correctional Officer at the Chain O'Lakes Community Re-Entry Center, you will be responsible for working as a part of a team in a minimum security Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) facility for adult males. During a typical 12 hour shift, you will maintain the security of the unit as well as the safety of staff and incarcerated individuals, while ensuring daily activities and programs proceed on schedule. During the 2 week pay period, Correctional Officers will work 85.75 hours. This consists of 7 total shifts, including 1 weekend.

Salary: This position starts at a $22.00/hour base pay, equating to $1,886.50 biweekly or $49,049.00 annually. Candidates with relevant experience may qualify for a higher base pay. These figures do not account for any overtime pay an employee may earn.

A Day in the Life: The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Maintain your own personal safety and the safety of all staff and incarcerated individuals.
• Monitor assigned areas at various intervals for security of incarcerated individuals, count of incarcerated individuals, and security of buildings and grounds.
• Follow and ensure compliance with established security procedures.
• Manage incarcerated individuals in various work details including general clean-up of institutional grounds and buildings.
• Escort incarcerated individuals to and from various locations across the facility for food, medicines, work assignments, and recreation.
• Keep records and make reports on such matters as incarcerated individuals movements, activities, and rule violations.
• Search incarcerated individuals housing areas and visitors for possible unauthorized items.
• Workday attendance at assigned worksite(s) is an essential function of this position.

What You'll Need for Success: Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• At least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Be willing to travel with reasonable accommodation.
• Must test negative on all drug screenings.
• Veteran/law enforcement candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Ability to work with and around incarcerated individuals per DOC mission statement.
• Ability to work mandatory/voluntary overtime in any shift; up to 16 consecutive hours per day.
• Ability to understand and utilize chemical agents properly.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including giving clear directions to incarcerated individuals, completion of incarcerated individual/conduct reports etc.
• Strong critical thinking skills and the ability to apply as needed.
• Ability to successfully complete the personal protection training.
• A High School Diploma or High School Equivalent (HSE) is required.
• Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports: This role provides supervision for incarcerated individuals and requires a high level of judgment and care.

Difficulty of Work: Your work is physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. As a Correctional Officer you must maintain constant vigilance for periods of up to sixteen (16) hours at a time. The environment tends to be stressful with a threat of physical harm or injury to oneself, coworkers, incarcerated individuals and/or the general public due to errors in judgement. You must be able to react to emergency situations including the ability to determine the need to use force as well as the ability to recognize suicidal behavior. Work normally consists of relatively standardized tasks, following departmental and institutional policy. However, work at times requires on-the-spot decision-making when coping with one or more unruly or irate incarcerated individual. You will carry weapons when assigned to tower duty, transportation assignments, escape assignments or special assignments as determined by the appointing authority (or designee).

Physical Effort: Depending on the duties performed or environment setting, frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs or ladders, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and/or similar movements may be involved. This role requires above average strength when restraining one or more patients or incarcerated individuals as per departmental policy and procedure. This role requires the ability to run short distances to provide immediate care, protection, or attention to patients or incarcerated individuals. Due to the high physical demand of tasks performed in this role, individuals may be required to meet minimum physical standards as demonstrated through fitness training and/or assessment. This role requires keen observational and hearing skills to stay alert for possible dangerous situations. This role requires strong discretion in the appropriate use and maintenance of a firearm.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana: The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.