Correctional Officer – Direct Hire Job

Vacancy No. DHA-2026-0001 Department Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Salary $49,739.00 to $94,537.00 Grade 05 to 08
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/1/2025 Close Date 9/30/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Aliceville, ALMaxwell AFB, ALTalladega, ALForrest City, AR


Summary

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

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

THIS IS A DIRECT HIRE ANNOUNCEMENT OPEN TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SERVES AS A PUBLIC NOTICE FOR DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. PLEASE REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS IN THE HOW TO APPLY SECTION IN ORDER TO APPLY.

Duties

Provides supervision, care and correctional treatment of inmates and guidance to lower-graded Correctional Officers. Incumbent is concerned with maintenance of institution security contributing to the health and welfare of the inmates and the promotion of good public relations.

Enforces rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody. From time to time, may be authorized to carry firearms and to use physical force, including deadly force, to maintain control of inmates.

During institution emergencies or other periods of heavy workload or limited staff, may be required to work long and irregular hours, unusual shifts, Sundays, holidays and unexpected overtime. Information as to operations and procedures is provided by post orders, BOP program statements, local supplements, custodial manual, internal correspondence and staff meetings. Incumbent must be flexible and have a broad knowledge base to use own initiative in the resolution of problem situations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is Required.
  • See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
  • Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

  • 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
  • 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
  • 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

NOTE: Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must complete all assessment questions to be rated under the established category rating criteria.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Education:

GL-05: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

GL-06: Nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate level education in a major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to this position.

GL-07: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position is qualifying for GL-07.

GL-08: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

OR

Experience:

GL-05: At least 3 years of full-time general experience, one year of which was equivalent to the GL-04 grade level. This experience must have demonstrated the aptitude for acquiring the qualifications required for correctional work, and, in addition, demonstrate the possession of personal attributes important to the effectiveness of correctional officers, such as:

  • Ability to meet and deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns.
  • Ability to be persuasive in selling and influencing ideas.
  • Ability to lead, supervise, and instruct others.
  • Sympathetic attitude towards the welfare of others.
  • Ability to reason soundly and to think out practical solutions to problems.
  • Ability to make decisions and act quickly, particularly under stress.
  • Poise and self-confidence, and ability to remain calm during emergency situations.

General experience may have been gained in work such as:

  • Social case work in a welfare agency or counseling in other types of organizations.
  • Classroom teaching or instructing.
  • Responsible rehabilitation work, e.g., in an alcoholic rehabilitation program.
  • Supervising planned recreational activities or active participation in community action programs.
  • Management or supervisory work in a business or other organization that included directing the work flow and/or direct supervision of others.
  • Sales work, other than taking and filling orders as in over-the-counter sales.

GL-06: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained:

  • Correctional Officer
  • Detention Officer
  • Police Officer
  • Border Patrol Agent
  • State Trooper
  • Sheriff
  • Park Ranger
  • Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail
  • Mental Health Counselor in a Residential Facility

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Experience with instructing inmates with proper housekeeping and sanitation.
  • Experience working as a Police Officer responding to domestic disturbances and issuing citations for law violations.
  • Experience in investigating crime scenes as a State Trooper.
  • Experience as a Mental Health Worker in a Mental Health Lockdown facility.

GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained:

  • Correctional Officer
  • Jailer
  • Detention Officer
  • Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail.
  • Military Corrections (Brig, Internment/Resettlement Specialist, etc.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Providing supervision, care and security of inmates in a correctional environment.
  • Experience supervising inmates throughout the institution and providing instructions related to institutional procedures and sanitation.
  • Experience with enforcing rules and regulations governing correctional institution security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct.
  • Experience with conducting various count procedures of inmates.
  • Experience working various correctional posts, assignments (such as Control Room, Rear-gate, Housing Units, etc.).

GL-08: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience must have been gained in a correctional facility with responsibilities in correctional treatment, care, custody, and control of inmates.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

  • Experience with assignments made to those areas requiring the maximum skill and expertise in dealing with inmates, the public, and the security of the institution.
  • Experience in supervising and instructing inmates regarding proper sanitation, personal hygiene and work habits.
  • Experience in maintaining the control and discipline of inmates in such areas as the auditorium, housing units, segregation, recreation areas, dining rooms, etc.
  • Experience in having responsibility for the custody and control of inmates who require special handling.

AND

Medical Requirement:

GL-05, GL-06, GL-07 and GL-08: 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.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

Although 5 U.S.C. 3307 established a maximum entry age for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution, applicants can be considered up to age 39.  If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.

Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age.  Refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility.

LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants will remain on the inventory until the closing date of the announcement. 

NOTE: This announcement is posted on a yearly cycle.  The announcement will EXPIRE on the listed closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to receive consideration for the next cycle, applicants MUST reapply to the new vacancy announcement.

SALARY RANGE:  The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GL-05/01 @ $49,739 to highest GL-08/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA @ $94,537.  See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at www.opm.gov and search pay tables.

Special Conditions of Employment Section: 

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office. On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered. The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score must be obtained. Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score.  Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Exceptions may apply. See 5 CFR part 11.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION:

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Is authorized at:

  • FDC Honolulu, HI - 8.64%
  • MDC Guaynabo, PR - 2.49%

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous public notice. Given our continuing need for Correctional Officers, we will routinely review application and refer for potential candidate's multiple times during the open period of the announcement.

All applications received will be reviewed to determine if the basic qualifications for this position and grade are met. Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualification for any/all grade(s) will be referred to desire locations listed in applicant location preference and referred to the selecting officials for further review and consideration.

From that point on the selecting official determines all aspects of the hiring process. If they wish to contact, you for an interview or for selection they will do so directly. Equal consideration will be given to all applications received.

Applications received under Direct Hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked. Veteran's Preference does NOT apply.

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?

The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA’s) are required:

GL-05, GL-06, GL-07 and GL-08:

  • Stress Tolerance
  • Writing
  • Oral Communication
  • Decision Making
  • Teamwork

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration.  If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc.  Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

  •  Veterans' Preference Documentation:
    • Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
    • DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
    • SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit:
      • A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" AND all required documentation identified on the SF-15. 
      • NOTE: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran’s Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation. For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
    • If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; (2) and the character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and (3) any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
  • Resume: Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.)
  • To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented:
    • Reflecting start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
    • Include the number of hours worked per week.
  • College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
    • NOTE:  If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.
  • SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable.

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.

Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration. Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. USAJOBS Help Center - How to add a resume to your profile

Claiming Veterans Preference? If yes, you MUST claim preference on-line during the application process and upload documentation to support preference claimed. Failure to claim Veterans Preference or provide supporting documentation may result in you not receiving appropriate consideration during the assessment process.

Required supporting documentation must be electronically uploaded or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded).

All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation.

Supporting documentation for announcements with an application limitation MUST be uploaded the same day you apply, as these positions may close earlier than stated in the announcement.

Paper applications: If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.

If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants. 

Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
E-Mail: BOP-HRM-HRSC-ConsolidatedStaffingUnit-S@bop.gov
Phone: 972-352-4200

Agency contact information

CSU/BOP-HIRES
Address
JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
United States

Next steps

Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Once the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted by the Human Resource Department of the requesting location.

Applicants can contact the Human Resource Department of their preferred locations for questions regarding the applications hiring process. Contact information for the Human Resources Departments can be found at BOP Locations.

Additional Locations

  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Safford, AZ
  • Tucson, AZ
  • Atwater, CA
  • Herlong Sierra Ordnance Depot, CA
  • Lompoc, CA
  • Long Beach, CA
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Mendota, CA
  • San Diego, CA
  • Victorville, CA
  • Florence, CO
  • Littleton, CO
  • Danbury, CT
  • Coleman, FL
  • Marianna, FL
  • Miami, FL
  • Miami-Dade County, FL
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Jesup, GA
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Chicago, IL
  • Greenville, IL
  • Marion, IL
  • Pekin, IL
  • Thomson, IL
  • Terre Haute, IN
  • Leavenworth, KS
  • Ashland, KY
  • Inez, KY
  • Lexington, KY
  • Manchester, KY
  • Pine Knot, KY
  • Oakdale, LA
  • Pollock, LA
  • Fort Devens, MA
  • Cumberland, MD
  • Milan, MI
  • Duluth, MN
  • Rochester, MN
  • Sandstone, MN
  • Waseca, MN
  • Springfield, MO
  • Yazoo City, MS
  • Butner Federal Correctional Complex, NC
  • Berlin, NH
  • Fairton, NJ
  • Fort Dix, NJ
  • Kings, NY
  • Otisville, NY
  • Ray Brook, NY
  • Elkton, OH
  • El Reno, OK
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • Sheridan, OR
  • Gregg Township, PA
  • Kelly Township, PA
  • Lewis Run, PA
  • Loretto, PA
  • Minersville, PA
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Waymart, PA
  • Guaynabo, PR
  • Bennettsville, SC
  • Edgefield, SC
  • Estill, SC
  • Salters, SC
  • Yankton, SD
  • Memphis, TN
  • Bastrop, TX
  • Beaumont, TX
  • Big Spring, TX
  • Bryan, TX
  • Federal Medical Center Carswell, TX
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • Houston, TX
  • La Tuna, TX
  • Seagoville, TX
  • Texarkana, TX
  • Three Rivers, TX
  • Jonesville, VA
  • Prince George, VA
  • Seatac, WA
  • Grand Marsh, WI
  • Alderson, WV
  • Beaver, WV
  • Bruceton Mills, WV
  • Glenville, WV
  • Morgantown, WV
  • Welch, WV


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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