Correctional Officer Trainee - Davidson County Sheriff's Office

Salary: $52,850.00 Annually
Location : Nashville, TN
Job Type: Full-Time Civil Service
Job Number: C100 FY27
Division: Davidson County Sheriff's Office
Department: SHE Training Key
Opening Date: 05/06/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Position Description
This position is with the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. A Correctional Officer assists with securing and overseeing the care and well-being of inmates housed in a correctional facility. Performs related duties as required.
Salary $57,633.00 upon completion of the training academy
Salary $64,209.00 upon completion of 6 month probationary period
**If you have applied for Correctional Officer Trainee (COT) and successfully passed the Civil Service Exam and were placed on the eligible register within the past 12 months, you are not required to reapply.


Applicants who applied and have not taken the COT Civil Service Exam and applicants who took the Civil Service Exam and did not receive a passing score will be required to submit a new application.**

If you have any questions about your status, please contact DCSO HR at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
Typical Duties

• Assisting with securing and overseeing care and well-being of inmates
• Monitoring inmate movement within a facility
• Conducting searches of cells, inmates and visitors
• Preparing reports
• Submitting appropriate incident and disciplinary write-ups
• Supervising inmate work assignments. Overseeing the feeding of inmates
• Providing inmate security at hospitals, courts, and other assigned destinations
• Assisting with inmate processing as needed
• May transport inmates to various locations

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Work involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress that require a range of safety and other precautions. Employee works in a correctional environment that requires physical stamina and exposure to hazardous and stressful situations. Employees may be required to work varying shifts and weekends and must be able to defend themselves or others against physical attack.

Minimum Qualifications


High School Diploma or state issued GED, twenty-one (21) years of age, and an U.S. Citizen.
Valid Driver License may be required for some positions.

Candidates must participate in a Written Examination and Physical Standard Test as part of the qualifying process. Invitations to the examinations areemailedto qualified candidates. Be sure your email address is up-to-date.Candidates must pass both parts of the test to be placed on the eligibility register. Our physical standards test consists of: a practical skills course that must be completed in one minute and twenty seconds. The test also includes a stair climb of 90 steps that must be completed in 36 seconds.

Applicants who have served in any branch of the military MUST provide a copy of their DD214 long-form. Any discharge status other than "honorable" may preclude you from being considered for employment due to state law under T.C.A 41-4-144. - * If you received an Entry Level Separation or General Discharge under Honorable Conditions, you may be eligible to apply for a waiver. Provide all relevant documents along with your DD214 to online application.

Per state law any applicant who has been convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to, or has entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge or to any violation of any federal or state laws or municipal ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances will not be considered for employment. *For misdemeanor convictions, you may be eligible for a waiver.
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to compile and maintain accurate records and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to physically restrain violent or unruly individuals.
• Ability to deal courteously with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work in a stressful and physically demanding environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.
Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.

Requests for ADA accommodation for the recruitment process should be directed to View phone number on click.appcast.io.
Metro offers a generous core benefit package to eligible employees who are regularly and consistently working 20 or more hours per week. Insurance and benefit coverage is effective the first of the month after the employee has worked 30 days. Employees can change their benefits within 60 days of an eligible change in status or during Annual Enrollment. Metro also offers optional benefits from which the employee may choose. Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs.

CORE BENEFITS
Medical : Choice of two plans; Metro pays 75% of premium
Dental : Choice of two plans; Metro pays for single coverage
Basic Life : $50,000 basic term life coverage; Metro pays 100% of premium
Pension : Formula-driven pension; 100% Metro funded; 10 year vesting for new employees
Paid Family Leave : Runs concurrently with time designated as FMLA leave (up to 30 days)


Longevity : Annual bonus beginning after 5 years of service; increases annually up to 20 years
Work Life/ Employee Assistance Program : Wide variety of counseling, referral and consultation services provided free
Other* : In-line-of-duty injury benefits, AD&D insurance, and Medical Disability eligibility after 10 years with Metro
Paid leave : (Full-time employees)

• Vacation: 10 vacation days a year; increasing after 5 years of service (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Holidays: 12 holidays per year (For Non Civil Service departments, contact the department's human resources office)
• Sick leave: 12 days of sick leave per year
• Other leaves: Judicial leave, military leave, bereavement leave

*See the Human Resources webpage for more details and optional benefits at nashville.gov/hr
01


Are you at least 21 years of age?

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a citizen of the United States of America?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a High School diploma or a state issued G.E.D.?

• Yes
• No

04


Have you been released or discharged under any other than honorable discharge from any of the armed forces of the United States?

• Yes
• No

05


I understand that as an applicant for Correctional Officer 1, I must provide a copy of my educational documents and if I have served in the military, I must also provide a copy of my DD214 long form with "honorable" discharge. This information must be provided with my online application. NOTE: Due to state law under T.C.A. 41-4-144 any discharge status other than "honorable" will preclude a candidate from being considered for a position as a Correctional Officer.

• Yes
• No

06


Are you bilingual?

• Yes
• No

07


If you are bilingual, use the area below to list the language(s) and the level of communication.
08


Are you a member of or affiliated with a gang (for example: Crips, Bloods, Latin Kings, etc.)?

• Yes
• No

09


DCSO is a 24/7 operation. Applicants for Correctional Officer 1 must be available to work any shift. Are you available to work shifts, holidays, and weekends?

• Yes
• No

10


I plan to include the required documents to my Correctional Officer 1 application by way of: (check appropriate box)

• I will attach documents to my online application.
• I will email the documents to View email address on click.appcast.io
• I have already submitted my documents with a previous online application. NOTE: documents must be attached to the Master Application file
• I do not have the required documents - NOTE: Not providing the required documents will exclude candidate from being scheduled for testing
• I will mail my documents to: Sheriff's Office Headquarters, 710 S. 5th Street, Nashville, TN 37206

11


Per TCA code applicants for Public Safety positions shall "Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge OR to any violation of any federal or state laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor, controlled substances". Do you have any violations related to the above stated code that would prevent you from continuing in the application process?

• Yes
• No

Required Question