Finding a Job in Minnesota Corrections (June 2008)

Finding a Job in Minnesota Corrections
Prepared by the Minnesota Corrections Association Student Services Committee, June 2008

This is a guide for those seeking a career in corrections. If you are in college, you should start your preparation now. If you have graduated there are things you can do to enhance your employability. Your experience and preparation will be determining factor if you are selected for a job in correction’s field. Careers in corrections include, but are not limited to: probation/parole agent, caseworker, correctional officers (guards), adult or juvenile work service crew leaders (STS), and child care counselors. In Minnesota there are four correctional delivery systems operating within the state: Department of Corrections (DOC), Community Corrections Act counties, (CCA), County Probation Offices (CPO), and the Federal Correctional System. There are also private vendors, which provide and operate a variety of services such as, group homes, residential facilities, shelter homes, detention centers, work camps, treatment centers, halfway houses, electronic monitoring companies, and privately operated correctional facilities.

The hiring practices, pay scales, and benefits among the four delivery systems will vary, but are comparable to one another. Entry level positions with DOC, CCA, and CPO delivery systems are similar with an approximate starting salary of $34,000. Private vendor's pay scales will be variable, based on your training and experience. Benefit packages offered may vary regarding retirement, health, dental, and other insurance programs.

MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS:

The Department of Corrections has established minimum criteria for the Probation Officer (Corrections Agent) position. Qualifications include: A Bachelor’s degree in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Social Work or Sociology; AND have completed a full-time internship (minimum duration of one semester or 10 weeks or 400 hours) with the Minnesota Department of Corrections as a Corrections Agent or Corrections Security Caseworker or in county court services as a Probation Officer; OR A minimum of 400 hours (approximately three months) of work or volunteer experience as a Corrections Agent, Corrections Security Caseworker or in county court services as a Probation Officer; OR Two years experience supervising offenders in a correctional environment.

Other qualifications include: The ability to document and maintain case records, human relations skills, the ability to maintain effective working relationships, and work with a diverse and adversarial/resistive offender population. Oral and written communication skills sufficient to speak in public and write clear and concise reports. The ability to make case decisions, set priorities and schedule/use time effectively. You must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.

County Probation Officer delivery systems follow similar hiring practices as the DOC and requiring an individual to be on the State eligibility list. Community Corrections Act counties may have their own test, use the State requirements, or have their own eligibility list. It is recommended that individuals contact the County Human Resource Department in the CCA counties for job specifics.

Private facilities and vendors will have skill requirements and some will also require a college degree. Correctional officers (guard) positions require a minimum of a high school diploma, but a BA degree in any of the above-cited fields would be preferred.

The federal correctional system for pre-trial and probation officers requires a 4-year college degree in criminal justice or other related fields. There is no testing requirement, but selected applicants will undergo an extensive background investigation conducted by the FBI. There is an age requirement that applicants cannot be over the age of 37, because of the mandatory retirement policy at age of 57. Individuals considering careers in the federal system should be aware that Masters Degrees are PREFERRED. Preference is given to prior correctional experience, but it is not required. Beginning salary is approximately $37,000.

There are four federal correctional facilities located at Duluth, Rochester, Sandstone and Waseca, Minnesota.The minimum requirements for correctional counselor and officer positions, is a high school diploma plus previous work experience in a related correctional field. College degrees in related fields are required for case manager positions, and preferred for any of the other positions offered within the federal correctional system. Starting salary in a federal correctional facility for a correctional officer/counselor (guard) is approximately $35,000, with pay differentials for holidays, nights and weekends.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

To obtain employment in any of the correctional systems, an internship is essential. Internships provide the experience of working with clients and networking with other professionals in the field. Most Internships are unpaid positions, and not all agencies or facilities accept interns. The Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers (MACPO) has an internship listing of all probation agencies and adult and juvenile correctional facilities offering internships. The MACPO website is www.macpo.org and the information is located under education. Not all agencies allow interns to supervise case loads and some only allow you to observe. Therefore you should inquire during the interview what the work expectations are for the internship. It is preferable to complete an internship at a site that will allow direct contact with offenders or clients.

To conduct chemical dependency evaluations and make recommendations for treatment programming, a Rule 25 certification is required. Some agencies will require this certification for certain positions. Not all agents, case managers, correctional officers conduct Rule 25 assessments. The training is beneficial for individuals working with offenders who have alcohol and drug problems. Some colleges and universities provide this training and some counties will make training available for new employees. The Eden’s Group offers the training www.edensgroup.com .

Other helpful trainings geared toward evidence-based practices could increase your employability. These programs include Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) and the Youth Level of Service Inventory (YLSI), which are assessment tools used by many corrections departments. Training in cognitive skills programs such as “Thinking for a Change” could also be beneficial.

Writing Contract Pre-sentence Investigations (PSI's) provides additional work experience. Contract writers have contact with offenders, perform background investigations, and make recommendations to the sentencing court. Writers are paid approximately $150 per PSI, and may be reimbursed for typing and mileage. Not all probation/parole agencies offer this opportunity. Internships may be required as a prerequisite to contract writing.

Volunteer work is not required, but it will provide additional work experience. The volunteer work should be related to your career of choice. Big Brothers/Sisters, church youth groups, crisis centers, and other agencies are good choices. Volunteering demonstrates commitment, responsibility, and dedication to the community. This may be a determining factor in the hiring process.

Background criminal history investigations will be conducted for interns, volunteers or job applicants. Individuals will be asked to sign a release for their adult records and perhaps juvenile records. An individual with a criminal background may be precluded from some positions. Applicants should be honest about any criminal background.

HOW TO FIND A JOB IN CORRECTIONS:

Graduating from college with a degree in Criminal Justice or other related field does not ensure employment in corrections. Some agents and correctional officers have worked in the private sector to gain experience before being hired to work in one of the correctional delivery systems. Many individuals chose to pursue careers in the private sector.

Planning a career in corrections starts with selecting a major, arranging an internship for the junior or senior year, and possible Rule 25 certification. Working for private corrections vendors during college and summer vacations will provide job excellent experience. Group homes, detention centers, residential facilities, and work camps are often hiring part time or seasonal employees.

WHERE TO FIND CURRENT JOB LISTINGS:

The Minnesota Department of Corrections www.doc.state.mn.us publishes a newsletter titled “The Hotline”, which lists many of the corrections employment opportunities. The Minnesota Department of Employee Relations www.doer.state.mn.us/employment.htm has information relating to all state correctional positions. The Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) home page also has job listings at www.mn-ca.org . Other positions are advertised in local newspapers or at county websites. Federal probation jobs are located under www.uscourts.gov and federal institution positions are posted under www.bop.gov .

INTERVIEWING:

Interviewing can be difficult without preparation. Many employers use a structured interview, which consists of a panel of three to five members asking questions. The interview is formal and timed. The questions are asked by one of the panelist, but they cannot elaborate or provide further explanation about the question. There is no feedback to the answers. The interviewing experience is a learning experience and they may become more comfortable if a second interview is required. Most interviews will require a written portion to test writing ability, clarity, and understanding. In some areas the interviews are less formal and may be with a judge, the county personnel director, the court services director, a county commissioner, or the district probation supervisor.

An applicant should apply for every job opening within the state and to dress professional for each interview. Research the agency and be prepared to ask questions regarding caseloads, additional training required, or other expectations of the supervising agency.

Below is some sample interview questions for probation agents:

How will you handle a situation where you made a recommendation to the judge and he/she does not follow it, despite all your research and documentation?
What are your future career goals?
What is restorative justice?
What is best practices?
Tell about a difficult time you had with a friend or neighbor and how did you resolve the problem.
Your good friend works with you and you know she has been stealing from your employer. How would you handle this problem?
What would you do if you observed a fellow employee behaving unethically?
Please describe how you would respond to the following scenario: You receive a case file where the offender has had extensive involvement in the corrections system and is coming back before the court on a new charge. You are expected to make a recommendation to the court regarding incarceration of the individual or his/her return to the community. What information would you want to develop the recommendation?
You receive a call in the middle of the night asking you to decide whether or not to detain or incarcerate a suspected probation violator. Describe the types of things that would be important to you in making your decision.
Please describe how you would develop a case plan with a resistive offender.
Describe your knowledge, training, and experience with group cognitive-behavioral programming for offenders.
Please describe your education, any coursework or corrections specific training you have taken, and your experience working with adult offenders on probation, supervised release, non-traditional programs, and/or institutions.

You may be required to complete a writing assignment as part of the interview.There maybe a time limit to respond to the given question(s). You will be evaluated on the content of your answer, as well as your writing skills. The following is an example question: Describe your understanding of the purpose of probation, the role of the probation officer, and your personal philosophy of probation with regard to high-risk offenders.

Please contact Shannon Marks at 763-241-8780 if you have any questions.

Information compliments of MCA Student Services Committee.