Correctional Officer 2

Job Description

Job Title: Correctional Officer 2

State of Tennessee, Department of Correction

Job Information & Key Details

• Opening Date/Time: 02/24/2026 12:00 AM Central Time
• Closing Date/Time: 03/09/2026 11:59 PM Central Time
• Salary Range (Monthly): $4,057.00 – $6,099.00
• Salary Range (Annually): $48,684.00 – $73,188.00
• Approved Starting Salary for Correctional Officer 2: $4,480.00 per month ($53,760.00 per year)
• Job Type: Full-Time
• City, State Location: Wartburg, TN
• Department: Correction
• Positions Available: 5 at Morgan County Correctional Complex, Morgan County

Special Conditions & Bonuses

• Sign-on Bonus: Newly hired Correctional Officers are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, payable over an 18-month period.
• Motor Vehicle Records Screening: A screening will be conducted prior to employment.
• Criminal Background Check: This position requires a criminal background check. You may be required to provide information about your criminal history.

Job Overview

The Correctional Officer 2 performs correctional work of average difficulty, involving the custody, transport, and rehabilitation of inmates at a state penal institution. This is the working level class in the Correctional Officer sub-series. An employee in this class performs duties beyond entry-level work (Correctional Officer 1) but does not hold the minor supervisory responsibilities of a Correctional Corporal. This position may be assigned to work any shift.

During their careers, most correctional security employees can expect to be assigned to any one of three different work shifts and any number of different post assignments. While employee work preferences are considered, there is no guarantee that the employee will remain assigned to any specific shift and/or post assignment.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school AND
• Experience equivalent to one year of full-time adult correctional security work, or adult correctional security work with a federal or state agency, or a local agency accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

Substitution of Experience for Required Education:

• Qualifying full-time employment as a Correctional Officer with the State of Tennessee may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Applicants for this class must:

• Be willing to and able to qualify with, carry, and use assigned weapons.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of application.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation.
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority.
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority.
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint-based criminal history records check.
• Have no conviction for a felony or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces.
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position.
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license at the time of appointment in some positions.
• Upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of instruction at the Tennessee Correction Academy.

Responsibilities (Work Activities)

As a Correctional Officer 2, your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising inmate activities in housing units, dining areas, recreation and work areas.
• Attending to the medical, visitation, personal property, and recreational needs of the inmates.
• Inspecting and patrolling the grounds for contraband, unauthorized personnel, and other security risks.
• Checking in new inmates by assigning accommodations, searching for contraband, issuing clothing, and storing personal property.
• Observing inmate behavior; counseling with inmates and family about problems.
• Evaluating inmates on room and personal hygiene, attitudes towards employees and other inmates, and sending this evaluation to the counseling department.
• Attending a variety of meetings such as staff meetings, disciplinary board meetings, and training for riot control, escape prevention, and first aid.
• Preparing a variety of reports such as daily logs, disciplinary reports, records of inmates’ jobs and pay, daily inmate counts, and requisitions for office supplies.
• Operating and utilizing a variety of equipment including two-way radios, firearms, mace, electronic gates, television cameras, and potentially operating motor vehicles.
• Ensuring the safety of residents through the supervision of their daily activity.
• Breaking up fights or other potentially dangerous situations by persuasion or the use of physical force.
• Carrying out and explaining existing policies and procedures to others.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Competencies:

• Decision Quality
• Manages Conflict
• Communicates Effectively
• Ensures Accountability
• Situational Adaptability

Knowledges:

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

Skills:

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

Abilities:

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