Correctional Officer Opportunities
Correctional Officers (COs) work in many different locations, from inside institution walls, to rural conservation camps, to transporting prisoners and more. COs may be assigned to one or more of the following jobs inside of an institution:
- Visitor Processing
- Visiting Room
- Central Control/Communications
- Perimeter Security Towers
- Perimeter Security Roving Patrol
- Transportation
- Vocational/Work (Prison Industries or Education - area)
- Receiving and Release
- Culinary Service (Central Kitchen, Food Transportation/Dining Room)
- Search and Escort
- Pedestrian & Vehicle Sally Port
- Staff Entrance
- Hospital Security
- Security Squad/Investigative Services Unit
- Work Crew
- Housing Unit Control Booth
- Housing Unit Floor/Tier
- Yard
- Yard Observation Post
- Gym/Dining Gun
- Recreation
- Administrative Segregation - Housing Unit
- Administrative Segregation - Housing Floor
- Administrative Segregation - Yard
- Administrative Segregation - Mental Health
- Administrative Segregation - Search & Escort
SPECIALIZED ASSIGNMENTS:
After completing the probationary period, any CO may be considered for specialized assignments, such as:
CRT (Crisis Response Team)
CRT teams respond to emergency situations inside the institutions, as well as working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies if the need arises. Individuals on the CRT teams receive training with special weapons and are in excellent physical shape.
Transportation
Inmates are transported from the reception centers to their permanent institution or to other institutions for medical care and reassignment. Inmates are also transported to or from other states. COs on the transportation teams play an important role in safely transporting California's inmate population.
Security and Investigations
Security and investigations officers gather information relating to inmate crimes, may be assigned as evidence officer, institutional photographer, tool control officer, or lead investigator during criminal proceedings (which would include working with the local district attorney's office)
K-9 Unit
Dog Handlers and their dogs complete an eight week, two-part training session. The first session is for protection training and the second session is for narcotics detection training. The dogs are used mostly to detect narcotics inside the institutions.
Institution Recruitment Team Member
Institution Recruitment Team Members are trained to recruit qualified Peace Officers for the department in the local communities. Recruiters attend Job/Career Fairs, College Classes, Military Transition Assistance (TAP) Classes, County Fairs, Nursing School Presentations, and a variety of other local community based activities.
Honor Guard Team Member
The Honor Guard Team provides the Color Guard for a number of social functions throughout the local community. Additionally, members perform the Twenty-One Gun Salute at funeral services for departmental employees, along with the presentation of the flag to family members after the ceremony.
Rangemaster
Rangemasters train and requalify CDCR peace officers in the proper use and handling of departmental firearms and chemical agents; they also maintain, service and repair departmental firearms.
Camp Officers
Camp officers are responsible for the safety, security, and welfare of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) inmates in a rural camp setting. They work in conjunction with Department of Forestry or other agencies during emergencies such as wildland fires, floods, and earthquakes by supervising inmate crews throughout the state.
PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is the largest state department, employing more than 56,000. Personnel changes follow the same civil service rules as other state agencies. State employees can transfer or promote to other civil service job classifications, as long as they meet State Personnel Board criteria.
Other CDCR peace officer series include:
Custody
- Correctional Sergeant
- Lieutenant
- Correctional Captain
Counseling
Correctional Counselor testing is not being given at this time and most positions are filled via promotions from within, so the best bet would be to apply for CO first.
- Correctional Counselor I
- Correctional Counselor II
- Correctional Counselor III
Parole
Parole Agent testing is not being given at this time and most positions are filled via promotions from within, so the best bet would be to apply for CO first.
- Parole Agent I
- Parole Agent II
- Parole Agent III
Managerial
- Associate Warden
- Chief Deputy Warden
- Warden
- Parole Administrator I
- Parole Administrator II
- Regional Parole Administrator
For more detailed information on these and other classifications (including minimum qualifications and salary) visit the State Personnel Board web site at http://www.spb.ca.gov/.
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