State of Maryland

A Correctional Officer I is the entry level of work in the custody, security and supervision of adult inmates confined in a correctional facility. Employees in this classification do not supervise other Correctional Officers.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Correctional Officer Lieutenant or other designated officer. Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts. Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages. Work is performed primarily in a correctional facility and employees are continually exposed to inmates who may be abusive and hostile. When assigned to outside security posts employees are exposed to all types of weather conditions. Employees are required to physically subdue and restrain inmates during fights, riots and escape attempts and must wear protective clothing such as gloves, helmets and riot vests when the need arises.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.  

Correctional Officer I and Correctional Officer II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. Correctional Officer I learns to perform duties under close supervision. Correctional Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision within established guidelines.

Attends an entrance level training program certified by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission;

Attends firearms training;

Learns specific duties on various security posts through on-the-job training;

Maintains control of inmates while escorting individuals or groups within the prison;

Keeps accurate head counts of inmates in the assigned security post;

Conducts inspections and searches of inmates and inmate access and work areas for drugs, weapons and other unauthorized materials;

Enforces rules of conduct among inmates and learns when to prepare reports of infractions;

Operates manual and electronic locking systems;

Subdues and restrains inmates during fights, riots and escape attempts;

When standing an armed post, learns how to determine the need for the use of firearms and uses them when necessary;

Assists in the search for escapees, their capture and return to the institution;

Assists in maintaining the custody of inmates during transport to other institutions or court appearances;

Drives motor vehicles when transporting inmates, making outside security rounds, searching for escapees and related activities;

May search visitors for contraband;

May place inmates in handcuffs, restraining belts and leg irons;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn and follow detailed procedures contained in correctional regulations, institutional directives and post orders;

Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and respond in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures;

Ability to observe and remember incidents and to recall details such as identity of persons, location of items, conversations and sequence of events and actions taken during the incident;

Ability to work in an institutional setting where personal physical attack by convicted felons is a constant possibility and where the use of physical force to restrain inmates is a required part of the job;

Ability to prepare concise, accurate reports of events and incidents;

Ability to learn to use and care for firearms;

Ability to effectively communicate with inmates, other correctional officers and with other institutional staff.

Education: High School diploma or high school equivalency certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Correctional Training Commission regulation.

Experience: None

Note: The above educational requirement is set by the Correctional Training Commission in accordance with Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to operate busses for the transportation of inmates. Employees assigned such duties will be required to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver's License with passenger and air brakes endorsements valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees who have not already done so must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission for a correctional officer during their probationary period, (Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209). Selection standards for correctional officer training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 10, Chapter 01 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status
Must be at least 21 years of age
A completed background investigation
Oral interview
Physical examination.

2. Employees in this classification hired or reinstated on or after July 1, 2016 shall successfully complete the Entrance Level Firearms Training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission (Code of Maryland 12.10.04.01 and 12.10.04.05) and demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis.  

3. Employees are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, must provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated special appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405.

This classification is assigned to bargaining unit H, Public Safety and Security.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification