Job Description
Salary: $55,000.00 Annually
Location : DOC - Upper Marlboro, MD
Job Type: Fulltime/Permanent/Classified
Job Number: CO1-2025-2
Department: Department of Corrections
Opening Date: 09/01/2024
Closing Date: 10/31/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Nature and Variety of Work Come join our team! Prince George's County Government provides a dynamic and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive, learn, and grow across its 30 diverse agencies, all dedicated to serving the County's residents with essential resources and services. Nestled just minutes away from Washington, DC, Prince George's County combines urban vibrancy with serene surroundings, offering an ideal setting to live, work, and enjoy life.
We are Prince George's Proud! SIGNING BONUS!$10,000 BILINGUAL APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. The Prince George's County
Department of Corrections is seeking qualified individuals to fill multiple permanent full-time
Correctional Officer Private positions, (Grade D-21) for its
January 2025 Correctional Officer Entrance Level Training Academy.
About the Position :
Correctional Officers provide quality inmate care in a secure environment while positively impacting their community. As an integral part of the criminal justice system, Correctional Officers maintain security, safety, and control at the County facility. Correctional Officers must be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing, apply interpersonal skills and techniques to direct inmates, exercise good judgment in controlling inmates, and act calmly and decisively in stressful and emergency situations.
About the Agency: The Department of Corrections is an adult correctional center with a direct supervision design operating under the unit management concept. We have 18 Housing Units, and the daily inmate population is 1,039. We offer alternative incarceration programs for eligible offenders as well as provide educational services and programming to incarcerated individuals.
Examples of Work - Provide care, custody, and control of inmates in a direct supervision environment.
- Conduct regular head counts of inmates on assigned posts.
- Monitor inmate behavior and report unusual activity to ensure safety and security.
- Assist other Correctional Officers in the management of inmates.
- Conduct regular searches of inmate areas such as cells, recreation rooms, and showers for contraband.
- Manage confrontational situations as they arise to maintain security.
- Perform CPR and/or first aid when necessary.
- Investigate and respond to emergencies within the Department of Corrections.
- Prepare routine reports and records electronically.
- Maintain the inventory of various security equipment.
- Provide counsel and assistance to inmates.
- Ensure inmates are afforded fair and equitable treatment.
This position is designated "essential," and the incumbent must be willing to participate as a critical/essential employee during emergencies, such as natural or manmade disasters or special activities/events. Essential employees are expected to report to work or remain at work when other County employees are granted administrative leave. Employees in this classification may be assigned to any of the three shifts to ensure 24-hour coverage to maintain the facility's security.
Qualifications Qualified applicants must be a:
- U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien Status
- High School graduate or possess a GED certificate recognized by the Maryland State Board of Education
- At least 18 years old and with valid driver's license issued in the United States
We anticipate our next academy class will start this winter beginning in January 2025; however, candidates may be hired after meeting all background requirements are successfully met. Before applying, serious applicants will:
- Be prepared to take the Correctional Officer Physical Ability Test (COPAT)
- Review your credit report at
- Review your driving history
- Additionally, all male U.S. citizens and male aliens living in the U.S. who are 18 and over are required to register with Selective Service. Please register at
Additional Information DO NOT use a mobile device, such as a phone, to complete this application. You are highly encouraged to use a desktop or laptop computer so that you can carefully and thoroughly read and understand all aspects of applying for this position.
Upon selection, the candidate:
- Must be willing to work in a correctional facility.
- Must be available for shift work, which includes weekends and holidays, as required.
- Must be willing and able to wear issued uniforms.
- Must pass the Dept of Corrections Correctional Entrance Level Training Academy.
SELECTION PROCESS: To be considered for this position, applicants must successfully complete all of the following phases:
Phase 1 - Submit an online application
- Complete the Preliminary Questionnaire and Criminal History Check
- Pass the Correctional Officer Physical Ability Test (COPAT)
- Pass the Oral Board Interview
Phase 2 - Provide a valid photo ID, signed social security card, and high school diploma or GED. A bachelor's degree may be accepted in lieu of a high school diploma.
- Complete the Personal History Statement (PHS)
- Complete Fingerprinting
- Complete Background Investigation & PHS Orientation
- Complete and successfully pass Medical Examination & Drug Screening Test
- Complete Polygraph Examination
- Complete Psychological Screening
Phase 3- Accept the offer of employment
- Complete onboarding and new employee orientation
- Upon acceptance of employment as a Correctional Officer Private, candidates may be offered a temporary support position as a Green Officer until the start of the Correctional Entrance Level Training Academy
- Completion of and graduation from the Prince George's County Department of Corrections Entry Level Training Academy
Signing bonus payout timeline:
1st
$3,000
1st month of hire
2nd
$3,000
Graduation from DOC CELT Academy
3rd
$4,000
After 24 months of employment
Reasons for disqualification may include (but are not limited to) the following: - Previous disqualification for this or other public safety positions
- Deception or falsification of application or other documents
- Poor work history
- Poor driving record which includes suspended license/DWI/DUI
- History or pattern of crimes, both reported and not reported; felony/misdemeanor conviction; illegal drug usage, possession, distribution, sale, or purchase
- Failure to meet physical and mental standards.
Notifications Notifications for this position will be made via email.
Applicants must monitor the e-mail account provided and update their online profile with any changes to personal information.
Applicants must ensure your e-mail account allows emails from all addresses ending in "@co.pg.md.us".
ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED Eligibility to Work : Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, an employer is required to hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Applicants who are selected for employment will be required to provide and verify authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S., only after an offer has been accepted and the Form I-9 is completed. For information on E-Verify, or if you believe the County has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 888-897-7781 or visit their website at dhs.gov/E-Verify.
INTERNAL APPLICANTS : If you are a current Prince George's County Government employee and seeking a promotion, in accordance with Section 16-200 of the Personnel Law, you have the right to appeal a rejection rating within five (5) working days of receiving a rejection notice. Union employees should refer to their respective collective bargaining agreement and/or union representative for their grievance procedure.
Prince George's County Government is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace General Plan Information: The Prince George's County benefits plan year is from January 1 to December 31.
A spouse (to include a same sex spouse) can be added to the health benefit plans. A marriage certificate and social security number is required to add a spouse.
Children under the age of 26 are eligible for coverage under the health benefit plans. This includes stepchildren and children of the same-sex spouse. A birth certificate(s) and social security number(s) is required to add a child(ren). If you are only adding the stepchildren or child(ren) of a same-sex spouse, you will need to submit a marriage certificate. You will also need to submit the birth certificate of the child(ren) and your spouse must be listed as a parent.
The premiums for health benefits are deducted on a pre-tax basis with the exception of Long-Term Disability, Extra Life Insurance and Voluntary Benefits (Short-Term Disability, Whole Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Cancer Indemnity, Hospital Indemnity Protection, Accident Indemnity Plan, Supplemental Dental and Group Legal Services).
New employees must enroll in the County's health benefit plans within thirty (30) days of the hire date. The effective date of the health benefits coverage is the
beginning of the month following a waiting period of forty-five (45) days from the date of hire. After enrolling in the County's benefit plans, employees may only make changes to the plans either during the open enrollment period, which occurs annually (usually each October), and/or during the year, due to a family status change (i.e., marriage, births, divorce and adoption).
Employee Benefits
Prince George's County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:
- Medical/Prescription/Dental/Vision Insurance Coverage (part time employees are eligible for medical insurance if they work 15 + hours, per week)
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Long & Short-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance Program
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account
- Paid Leave (Annual, Personal, & Sick)
- 13 Paid Holidays
- Retirement Benefits
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan
- Employer Contribution Rate-11.71%
- Supplemental Pension Plan
- Employee Contribution Rate (Pre-Tax)-3.48%
- 457(b)
- 403(b)
- Employee Discounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Voluntary Benefits
- Critical Illness
- Whole Life Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Legal Services
For additional details, please visit:
01
(MQ1) In order to proceed with your Public Safety application, you must comply with Prince George's County's honesty policy. Utilize the link below to watch the required video. You will be provided the answer to MQ1 at the completion of the video. To be directed to the video, please click
02
(MQ1A) I understand that I am applying for a career in Public Safety with Prince George's County which is an essential position. Further, I acknowledge, understand and certify that this application is an
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT that will be used to determine if I meet the selection requirements mandated by Federal, State, and County laws and regulations.
03
(MQ1B) I certify I will
carefully and thoroughly read and answer ALL questions honestly and without error.
04
(MQ1) I understand my ability to successfully complete this Application and the Supplemental Questions is one of the requisite skills to be considered for this position.
05
Are you an Experienced Correctional Officer (ECO) that is currently certified by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC)
and have completed at least 1 year as a full-time Correctional Officer in the State of Maryland?
06
If you meet the definition above as an ECO, please provide your MPCTC Certificate No. and Expiration Date:(Please skip to the next question if you are not an ECO.)
07
I would make an excellent candidate for this position because:
08
(MQ2A) I will provide complete and truthful answers to all parts of this application and supplemental questions.
09
(MQ2B) I understand that I must complete all required processes by the timeframe provided in order to be considered for a position.
10
(MQ2C) I will save and review the information I provided in this application often to avoid errors, prevent omissions, and to recheck what I have submitted. I understand that failure to do so will result in being
PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED from consideration for any Public Safety position with Prince George's County. I also understand that should I be offered employment and accept a position with Prince George's County and subsequently it is discovered that any information I provided is false, I may be terminated from employment in accordance with Personnel Law.
11
What is your current age?
- Less than 18 years old
- 18 - 21 years old
- 22 - 25 years old
- 26 - 30 years old
- 31 - 35 years old
- Greater than 36 years old
12
(MQ4A) I am willing to undergo a comprehensive background investigation, including contact with all my references, current and former employers, current and former co-workers, and close personal associates.
13
(MQ4B) I am willing to undergo a comprehensive background investigation of my driving record, credit and financial history, criminal history, educational history, and military service.
14
(MQ4C) I am willing to undergo a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, physical examination, and drug testing.
15
(MQ5) Are you a United States citizen or resident alien and can submit proof of citizenship or legal residency or an honorably discharged veteran from the United States Armed Services?
16
(MQ6) I acknowledge that:(a) this process is highly competitive;(b) there are many highly qualified applicants for only a few positions;(c) every step in the process, and all interaction with any County personnel, is designed to assess my character, knowledge, skills and and capabilities to determine if I have the aptitude and suitability for this position.
17
(MQ8) Which best describes your HIGHEST level of education?You must have at least a High School diploma or GED in order to apply.
- None
- High School Diploma or GED
- Some College (less than 60 credit hours)
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Advanced Degree
18
(MQ9A) I, as the applicant, am the only person that has provided any information in this application. I understand and willingly accept that I will be PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED for a Public Safety position if anyone has completed any part of this application on my behalf.
19
Please select the languages for which you are fluent(select all that apply)
- English
- Spanish
- Korean
- Vietnamese
- Sign Language
- Other
20
(MIL1) Which of the following best describes your Military experience?
- No Military experience
- Active
- Retired
- Discharged
21
(MIL2) Are you currently serving in the US Armed Forces Reserves or National Guard?
22
(MQM1)
Male Applicants Only. Have you registered with Selective Service?
23
(MQM2)
Male Applicants Only. Please provide your Selective Service Number and Date of Registration:
24
(MQ10A) I will update my online profile with any changes to my personal information as soon as they occur.
25
(MQ10B) I will check my online profile regularly, including the email account I provided, because I understand that all information, notices and scheduling regarding this application and evaluation process will be provided only in my online profile and/or through the email account I provided.
26
(MQ10C) I will update my junk/spam settings to allow emails from all addresses ending in "@co.pg.md.us".
27
(MJ1) Have you ever used, tried, ingested, inhaled or experimented with marijuana in the past 12 months?
- No, I have NEVER used, tried, ingested, inhaled or experimented with marijuana.
- Yes, I have used marijuana at least one time within the last year (12 month period prior to date of application).
- Yes, I have used marijuana at least one time within the last two years (24 month period prior to date of application).
- Yes, I have used marijuana at least one time within the last three years (36 month period prior to date of application).
- Yes, I have used marijuana at least one time, but it has been more than three years since my last usage.
28
(DRG1) How many times have you used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected or experimented with cocaine?
- I have NEVER used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected or experimented with cocaine.
- 1-2 times
- 3-4 times
- 5 or more times
29
(DRG3) How many times have you used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected or experimented with Heroin, PCP, LSD, or other hallucinogens?
- 0 times
- 1 or 2 times
- 3 or 4 times
- 5 or more times
30
(DRG3) How many years has it been since you used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected or experimented with narcotic drugs (which were not prescribed to you) for the purpose of getting high?
- I have NEVER used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected or experimented with narcotic drugs not prescribed to me for the purpose of getting high.
- One year
- Two years
- Three years
- Four years
- More than five years
31
(DRG4) How many years has it been since you used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected, or experimented with any drug or substance for the purpose of getting high?
- I have NEVER used, tried, inhaled, ingested, injected, or experimented with any drug or substance for the purpose of getting high.
- One year
- Two years
- Three years
- Four years
- More than five years
32
(DRG6) How many times have you used, tried, inhaled, injected, ingested or experimented with synthetic drugs in any form?
- I have NEVER used, tried, inhaled, injected, ingested, experimented with synthetic drugs in any form.
- 1-3 Times
- 4-5 Times
- 6 or more times
33
How many times have you sold or distributed any illegal drugs?
- 0 times
- 1 or 2 times
- 3 or 4 times
- more than 5 times
34
In the space provided below, please completely explain your history with using, or experimenting with any drugs, marijuana, or other controlled substances, whether legal or illegal, prescribed or not prescribed, etc., for the purpose of getting high.You must include detailed information on:1) what you used2) how many times you used it3) when you used it (month/year)4) any other important information we should know about your drug or marijuana usePlease note that if you progress through the process, your statements here will be subject to a truth verification examination, such as a polygraph, etc.
35
(CRM2A) Are you currently on probation or parole? If yes, please explain below
36
(CRM2B) To the best of your knowledge, do you have any outstanding warrants, protective/ex-parte orders or are awaiting any pending criminal proceedings?
37
(CRM2A) If you answered yes to the previous question(s), please explain. If no, put N/A.
38
(CRM3) Have you ever been convicted, entered a guilty plea, been given Probation Before Judgement (PBJ) or STET Docket for an assault that occurred in a domestic setting? If yes, please explain below.
39
(CRM3A) If you answered yes to the previous question, please explain. If no, put N/A.
40
(CRM4) Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty to, a felony? If yes, please explain below.
41
(CRM4A) If you answered yes to the question, please explain. If no, put N/A.
42
(CRM5) Have you ever stolen anything of value?
- I have NEVER stolen anything
- Yes, it was valued less than $100
- Yes, it was valued more than $100 but less than $500
- Yes, it was valued more than $500 but less than $1,000
- Yes, it was valued more than $1,000
43
(CRM5A) If you answered yes to the question regarding theft, please explain. If no, put N/A.
44
(DRV1) Do you have a valid motor vehicle driver's license and at least 6 months' driving experience?
45
(DRV2) Do you currently have 6 or more
negative points on your driver's license, or the equivalent for an out of state license?
46
(DRV3) In the
last 3 years , have you been convicted of or plead guilty to any DWI or DUI charge?
47
(DRV4) How many times have you been convicted of or plead guilty to a DWI or DUI charge?
- i have NEVER be convicted of, or plead guilty to a DWI or DUI charge.
- 1 time
- 2 times
- 3 or more times
48
(DRV5) Are you currently awaiting any pending traffic proceedings? If yes, please explain ibelow.
49
(DRV5A) If you answered yes to pending traffic proceedings, please explain. If no, put N/A.
50
(PREA1) Have you
ever engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility or other institution?
51
(PREA2) Have you been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse?
52
(PREA3) Have you been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse?
53
Have you ever been terminated, or resigned in lieu of termination, from a Public Safety agency (Police, Sheriff, Fire/EMS, Corrections, Homeland Security, Emergency Dispatch, etc.)?
54
(MQ11) If hired, I am:(A) willing and able to work any shift I am assigned on any day of the week, including holidays and weekends. (B) I understand that I am an essential government employee and will always report to work on time regardless of weather or other circumstances.
55
(MQ12A) Effective law enforcement requires organization and teamwork. Are you willing and able to adhere to County and Departmental rules and regulations?
56
(MQ12B) Are you willing and able to take orders from superiors?
57
(MQ13) Prior to submitting my application for this position, I
CERTIFY that: (a) I have
THOROUGHLY reviewed my entire application and
ALL of the answers I have provided to all of the questions and have verified that
ALL of the information is complete, honest and accurate;(b) I have
CORRECTED any and all errors, mistakes and/or omissions, and will not claim that any of my answers were mistakes or made in error; and(c) I have
CAREFULLY read and completely understand the position announcement.
58
I understand that I may be temporarily or permanently disqualified based on the information I have provided.
Required Question Prince George's County
Job Tags
Holiday work, Permanent employment, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Trial period, Relocation bonus, Flexible hours, Shift work,