Correctional Officer

State of Tennessee Job Information

Location: Department of Correction, Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, Bledsoe County.

Pre‑employment checks will include a Motor Vehicle Records screening, a pre‑employment drug screen, and a criminal background check. A $5,000 sign‑on bonus will be paid over an 18‑month period.

Education and Experience: Graduation from a standard high school and one year of full‑time adult correctional security work, or equivalent experience with a U.S. federal, state, or A.C.A. accredited local agency.

Substitution of Experience for Required

Education:

Experience as a Tennessee State Correctional Officer may be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.

• Be willing and able to qualify for, carry, and use assigned weapons.
• Be at least 18 years of age on the date of application.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Have good moral character as determined by investigation.
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form approved by the appointing authority.
• Agree to release all records regarding criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Supply a fingerprint sample in accordance with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation requirements.
• Have no felony conviction or have been discharged under any conditions other than honorable from any branch of the U.S. armed forces.
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician consistent with the ADA and related to essential functions.
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional consistent with the ADA and related to essential functions.
• Submit to and pass a pre‑employment screening test for illegal drug use.
• Hold a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment for some positions.
• Upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy.

The Correctional Officer 2 performs correctional work of average difficulty at a state penal institution, including custody, transport, and rehabilitation of inmates. The role may involve any shift and is distinct from the entry‑level Correctional Officer 1 and the supervisory Correctional Corporal.

• Supervise inmate activities in housing units, dining areas, recreation, and work areas, and address inmates’ medical, visitation, personal property, and recreational needs.
• Inspect and patrol grounds to detect contraband, unauthorized personnel, and other security risks.
• Check in new inmates: assign accommodations, search for contraband, issue clothing, and store personal property.
• Observe inmate behavior; counsel inmates and families on problems; evaluate inmates’ personal hygiene, attitudes, and communicate findings to the counseling department.
• Attend staff meetings, disciplinary board meetings, and training in riot control, escape prevention, and first aid.
• Prepare reports such as daily logs, disciplinary reports, inmate job and pay records, daily inmate counts, and requisition forms.
• Operate and utilize equipment including two‑way radios, firearms, mace, electronic gates, television cameras, and motor vehicles.
• Ensure resident safety through supervision of daily activity.
• Break up fights or other potentially dangerous situations by persuasion or physical force.
• Communicate existing policies and procedures to others.

• Decision Quality
• Conflict Management
• Effective Communication
• Accountability
• Situational Adaptability

• Public Safety and Security
• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government

• Active Learning and Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Learning Strategies
• Writing

• Number Facility
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition
• Written Comprehension