Correctional Officer

Job Description

Correctional Officer | State of Utah

The Tone:
This is a full-time, in-office/on-site role at the Utah Department of Corrections, primarily located at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City, with additional opportunities in various correctional centers across Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties. The Utah Department of Corrections is a well-established state agency dedicated to the care and custody of offenders within its facilities. This position is vital for maintaining the safety and security of these correctional environments, requiring individuals who can effectively balance compassion with accountability while supervising those in their care.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-Time
• Location: In-person, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Pay: $30.75–$39.27 hourly
• Mission: Supervise offenders, ensuring facility safety and security through balanced compassion and accountability.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Offender Supervision: Supervise offenders under the care and custody of the Utah Department of Corrections at the Utah State Correctional Facility and various correctional centers.
• Facility Security: Maintain the overall safety and security of correctional facilities, upholding established protocols and procedures.
• Professional Certification: Complete paid training to achieve essential POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification, which is fully covered by the department.
• Career Commitment & Incentives: Fulfill the required commitment during the 18-month probationary period to be eligible for a $6,000 signing bonus, distributed upon academy completion and the one-year anniversary of employment.
• Career Progression: Explore diverse career path opportunities within the department, including roles in training, transportation, programming, Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), and investigations.

The Must-Haves
• Background: This Officer-level role requires candidates to meet all SFO (Special Functions Officer) Standards and POST Standards.
• Experience: No prior experience is required for this position; however, the department offers 1-for-1 years of service credit for prior corrections or law enforcement experience, which will increase the entry pay rate.
• Skills: Candidates must successfully pass a physical fitness test, including a vertical jump of 14.5″ or higher, 14 continuous military-style push-ups, a 30-second plank, and a 1.5-mile run within 16 minutes 11 seconds or less.
• Bonus: Preference may be given to applicants currently employed in Public Safety. A contract buyout of up to $20,000 is available for qualified applicants working for another law enforcement agency in the state of Utah. Applicants must be at least 19 years old before the Academy start date and must not have any tattoos above the shirt collar line, including the neck, head, and face.