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Posted: December 30, 2025 (15 days ago)

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Correctional Officer (Correctional Counselor)

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Older

Salary

$63,148 - $81,480

per year

Closes

January 22, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a correctional counselor in a federal prison, where you'll help inmates through counseling, manage their personal items and finances, and support their preparation for life after release while ensuring the facility stays secure.

It's a hands-on role that combines direct interaction with inmates, program coordination, and emergency response duties.

A good fit would be someone with experience in counseling or law enforcement who is physically fit, mentally resilient, and committed to rehabilitation and public safety.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, such as in police work, social services, mental health counseling, or detention in a residential facility
  • Ability to conduct individual and group counseling sessions with inmates
  • Experience in inmate intake processes, including admissions and orientation interviews
  • Knowledge of coordinating inmate personal property, trust funds, and re-entry programs
  • Familiarity with administrative processes like grievance responses and internal/external audits
  • Physical fitness for arduous duties, including prolonged standing, walking, restraining inmates, and participating in escape hunts
  • Sound mental and physical health, free from conditions that could pose employment hazards

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

This experience must have equipped the applicant with the qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience in work such as police officer, social worker or mental health counselor in a residential facility or detention officer.

Experience in conducting individual and group counseling sessions. Experience conducting internal and external audits.

Experience in coordinating matters pertaining to inmate personal property and involvement in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Intake Process and inmate Admission and Orientation process.

Experience following policy to respond to the Administrative Remedy grievance process. Experience coordinating re-entry programs.

AND Medical Requirement: The Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons has established the following medical requirements for Correctional Officer positions: The duties of these positions involve unusual mental and nervous pressure and require arduous physical exertion involving prolonged walking and standing, restraining of prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts.

Applicants must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of these positions and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others.

The duties of a Correctional Officer are arduous; and sound health as well as physical fitness is required. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

The Correctional Counselor develops and implements programs within the unit to meet the individual needs of the inmates confined, to include individual as well as group counseling.

As part of the institution intake process (Admissions & Orientation), must interview newly admitted inmates.

The Correctional Counselor plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing the security of the unit and institution by their extensive contacts with the inmates.

Serves as the unit expert and coordinator on matters pertaining to: (a) inmate personal property, including incoming and outgoing package approvals; and (b) trust fund activities, including inmate withdrawals and special purchase orders.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff’s correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 12/30/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/31/2025

Source: USAJOBS | ID: BEN-2026-0012