Correctional Officer

Salary: $33.45 - $41.01 Hourly
Location : Lincoln, NE
Job Type: Full time/probationary or status
Job Number: 202600107CR
Department: Corrections
Opening Date: 02/10/2026


Job Posting Information
Are you ready to put the U in J_stice? If you're looking for a job that does you justice, offers you benefits to take advantage of on day one, and provides a place where you can make an impact, the time is now for you to apply to be a correctional officer. Work at one of the most progressive criminal justice agencies in the Midwest. The Lancaster County Department of Corrections prides itself on the impact our officers make on people in some of the more difficult moments of their lives. With excellent starting wages, career advancement opportunities, great insurance, and much more, our benefits go far beyond your average job.
With full-time and on-call positions starting at $33.45 with an annual merit increase up to $41.01 an hour, competitive pay is always an option. Your increased pay can start from your first day on the job with qualifying previous corrections experience as well. So don't miss out on this opportunity, say hello to better pay and a better career opportunity.

Nature of Work/Examples of Work Performed
Correctional Officers are direct contact positions in the Lancaster County Department of Corrections.


Our officers are responsible for providing security and care to incarcerated individuals, ensuring inmate safety, enforcing rules and regulations, maintaining order, escorting inmates, and supervising various inmate activities and programs. Officers also provide input into the treatment of individual inmates and the correctional facility population in general through reporting observations to counseling, medical, and supervisory staff. All work is performed under general supervision of a superior and includes work reviews though reports, conferences, and observations. This job gives our officers the opportunity to make an impact on lives in ways that no other job can. Do you have what it takes?
What are the work requirements of officers?

• Process new inmates; supervise inmate activities, recreation, personal visits, and phone calls; provide inmates with services such as laundry, meals, mail, sanitation & numerous others.
• Prevent and control volatile situations among the inmates; conduct searches or shakedowns to control contraband; escort inmates to any medical or legal appointments.
• Supervise inmate activities including educational, recreational, and trustee duties.
• Listen openly to inmate questions or grievances to help resolve or refer problems/issues to appropriate staff.
• Document inmate activities and relevant incidents and complete oral and written reports when required.

Desirable Knowledge, Abilities & Skills/Desirable Training & Experience

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of correctional facility operations.
• Knowledge of minority cultures and religions.
• Ability to effectively manage inmate behavior in custody environments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to observe and assess inmate behavior for signs of potential suicide, riot, and/or other violent behavior.
• Ability to respond to medical and life threatening emergencies.
• Ability to work with outside agencies, inmates, attorneys, co workers, and the public in a professional manner.
• Ability to perform computer data entry and word processing.
• College-level coursework in criminal justice and some experience in the following, or any combination thereof: a correctional setting, as a counselor in a social setting, law enforcement work, military, particularly in law enforcement or corrections, or with responsibility for individuals in other institutional settings.

Minimum Qualifications/Necessary Special Requirements
Graduation from a senior high school or equivalent.

Must be a citizen of the United States and be at least nineteen (19) years of age.


At the time of employment, must be fingerprinted for a criminal history search; must be free of any convictions of crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for a term of one (l) year or more, from which a pardon has not been received.

Must submit to and successfully pass a substance abuse test.

Must be examined by a licensed physician and meet the medical requirements of the Corrections Department. Possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to be insured by the County's insurance carrier is required in the performance of assigned duties.
We value each Lancaster County employee and one way we demonstrate this is by providing an attractive and competitive total compensation package that adds value to our employees' professional and personal lives. The following benefits are available for this position:

• Pay increases are available upon completion of the 12-month new employee probationary period, and annually thereafter based on performance.

• We encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering 10 days of vacation leave and 13 days of sick leave that begin accruing upon hire; plus 11 paid holidays and up to 16 hours of non-cumulative personal holidays per year.

• All medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family begin the first of the month following hire, no need to wait!

• 30 days of Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.

• Up to 3 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave

• Eyeglasses and Watch Reimbursement

• $40,000 of Life Insurance

• 401(a) Retirement Plan . When you make an 8% contribution, the County will match your contribution 100%.

• Employer provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses after you leave County employment.

• Optional benefits include:
  • Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Allstate Voluntary Plans
  • Supplemental Term Life
  • Deferred Compensation Plans

01


CONFIDENTIALITY DISCLOSURE AND APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGMENT:This application process uses a combination of automated and hand scoring of all application materials against screening criteria that have been established by the employer.1. I understand that if I have not completely and fully answered all application questions and/or supplemental questions with details, I may not receive full credit for my education and/or experience.2. Further, I understand that merely referring to my resume (e.g. "see resume" in lieu of providing detailed responses) is not sufficient for purposes of ensuring accurate application evaluation.3. All employers, work and volunteer experience, and education described in the following Supplemental Questions must also be listed on the application.4. I understand that I am responsible for the accuracy and completeness of my application and my responses to the supplemental questions.

• Acknowledge

02


Are you a United States Citizen? (Required per State Jail Standards, Chapter 2 004.01A)

• Yes
• No

03


Are you a High School Graduate/GED? (Required per State Jail Standards, Chapter 2 004.01D)

• Yes
• No

04


Are you 19 years old or older? (Required per State Jail Standards, Chapter 2 004.01B)

• Yes
• No

05


What type of employment are you seeking?

• Full-Time
• On-Call
• Either

06


I understand that applicants for Lancaster County positions will have their driving records checked through the State of Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicle to ensure they meet the insurable standards under the County's automobile insurance policy.

• Yes
• No

07


Have you ever been convicted of a felony offense?

• Yes
• Yes, pardon/set aside received
• No

08


If you answered yes to the felony offense question please explain below:
09


Do you FLUENTLY speak, read, or write in a language other than English (Sign Language included)?

• Yes
• No

10


If yes, to the above question please indicate what language(s).
11


Have you ever held a job as a Correctional Officer?

• Yes
• No

12


If yes to the above question, please list the employer(s) where you acquired this experience, describe your work experience, and length of time employed.
13


Have you ever held a position as a correctional supervisor or administrator?

• Yes
• No

14


If yes to the above question, please list the employer(s) where you acquired this work experience, describe your work experience, and length of time employed.
15


Do you have at least one year experience in any of the following? (Click all that apply)

• Police Officer/Deputy
• Probation Officer
• Military Police
• Supervisory experience
• Military experience
• Counseling in a Therapeutic setting
• Working in an institutional setting (Regional Center, Crisis Center, Detox, mental health facility, group home)
• None listed

16


If yes to the above question, please list the employer(s) where you acquired this experience, describe your work experience, and length of time employed.
17


Education: (Please click on any that apply)

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology or Human Services
• Bachelor's degree in any other field
• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology or Human Services
• Associate's degree in any other field
• None of the above

18


If answered "other field", please indicate what field of study.
19


Have you ever successfully completed a corrections/law enforcement training academy?

• Yes
• No

20


Do you have a certificate as an EMT or as a CPR instructor?

• Yes
• No

21


You are a correctional officer assigned to a housing area. You have been assigned to this area several times, and one of the inmates in the housing area seems to never violate any of the rules and always does what he/she is asked to do. He/She has a good reputation as not being a troublemaker and has a good job assignment that could be taken away if he/she was to violate a rule. One day he/she asks if you would take and mail a letter that he has written to his mother, who is dying of cancer and who is not able to visit and he/she cannot contact by phone. Which of the options is the most preferred?

• Leave your duty post without permission and without back-up so you can immediately inform the supervisor on duty of the request.
• Refuse to take the letter.
• Take the letter and promise the offender that you will mail it, but really plan on giving it to your supervisor instead.
• Counsel the offender on why he should not make such a request because you do not want to see him lose his/her argument.
• Take the letter and mail it.

22


Which of the options is the least preferred for the question listed above?

• Leave your duty post without permission and without back-up so you can immediately inform the supervisor on duty of the request.
• Refuse to take the letter.
• Take the letter and promise the offender that you will mail it, but really plan on giving it to your supervisor instead.
• Counsel the offender on why he should not make such a request because you do not want to see him lose his/her argument.
• Take the letter and mail it.

23


You are a correctional officer assigned to the kitchen area. You are responsible for offenders who work in the kitchen. There are other non-correctional employees who also work in the kitchen. One day you notice that an employee who has only worked there for two days returns from his lunch hour and sneaks what appears to be a sack lunch from a local fast-food place to an offender. Which of the options is the most preferred?

• Tell the offender to give you the sack and immediately notify your supervisor.
• Take the sack lunch and tell the employee that this is against the rules.
• Watch the offender to see what he will pull out of the sack
• Take the sack lunch.
• Ignore the situation.

24


Which of the options is the least preferred for the question listed above?

• Tell the offender to give you the sack and immediately notify your supervisor.
• Take the sack lunch and tell the employee that this is against the rules.
• Watch the offender to see what he will pull out of the sack.
• Take the sack lunch.
• Ignore the situation.

Required Question