Department of Correction...

Correctional Officer

Eligibility Requirements

1. At least 19 and 1/2 years of age.
2. Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
3. Possession of a valid Driver’s License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Military

If you have been separated from any branch of the armed forces, you must have a discharge that is “honorable” or “under honorable conditions”. You must produce a copy of your DD214 before you can be hired.

Background Investigation

You must complete a lengthy Personal History Statement (PHS). The information given will be checked by the Internal Affairs Unit of the Department of Correction. The investigator will complete a check of employment, criminal history, DMV history and personal references.

Applicants with any of the following cannot be considered for employment:

• Currently on probation or have been on probation within the last four (4) years;
• Two misdemeanor convictions;
• Felony conviction;
• Drug or domestic violence convictions;
• Two or more DUI convictions or DUI (First Offenders Option) sentence within two (2) years of applying.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted for applicants who have completed and been successfully cleared through a background investigation. During this selection interview, you will be asked a series of questions. Questions will be based on: employment history/education; judgment and problem-solving skills; career interest; and personality/interpersonal skills. Some of these questions will be very specific to the position of Correctional Officer. However, you are not expected to have specific job knowledge.

Drug Testing

Upon a conditional offer, the applicant must undergo a pre-employment drug test and base line two step tuberculin skin test (TST) as part of the hiring process.

Physical Condition

Individuals selected for this position are required to participate in and pass all phases of a mandatory training program.

• You must be in good physical condition.
• You must be able to run a mile, break-up fights, carry persons of varying heights and weights, restrain one or more persons in violent encounters and engage in strenuous activity while wearing a gas mask in a smoke-filled environment.

Mental Aspects

Correctional security work involves exposure to a great deal of mental stress by working in a pressure-oriented environment. Officers are exposed to verbal harassment, inmate attempts to manipulate them, working among large numbers of inmates and the need to act civilly and within legal guides in the performance of assigned functions.

Basic Training: Requires that Trainees participate daily in a vigorous Aerobic Circuit Exercise Training program (A.C.E.T.) throughout eleven weeks of initial basic training.

• Must pass the formal physical fitness test that is administered during the fourth week of training.

• Complete Defensive Tactics and Restraint Training which includes knife disarming, defense from violent assault and control and come-along techniques, as well as blocking, escape and handcuffing techniques.

• Complete Weapons Training involving moderate stress in live fire operations at the range. Maximum supervision is provided to ensure operational safety. It includes the description, nomenclature, operation and safety precautions of the weapons covered. Dry firing is followed by live firing and finally qualification with each weapon.

• Complete Riot Control Training including instruction in the use of 36" batons, gas masks, and exposure to harassing chemical agents and direct contact with Oleoresin Capsicum. Marching and squad tactics are vigorously executed directly as trainees perform scenarios as a team.

• Complete Self Contained Breathing Training involving fire rescue work. Training includes the use of self-contained breathing equipment, thermal inversion, and exposure to a smoke-filled maze type setting. Carrying heavy backpacks and safety apparatus is required as well as movement on hands and knees in a smoke-filled environment.

Physical Fitness Test

As a condition of employment with the Delaware Department of Correction, Correctional Officer applicants must take and pass a pre-employment Physical Fitness Test. The Physical Fitness test will comprise of an approximate 400-yard run; climbing and descending a set of steps 3 times including picking up job related equipment from one side of the steps and placing them on the ground of the other side of the steps; and finally dragging a dummy simulating the weight of a human.

Psychological Examination

As a condition of employment with the Delaware Department of Correction, Correctional Officer applicants must take and pass a pre-employment Psychological Examination. The test and interview with a Licensed Psychologist is performed to determine an applicant's suitability to serve as a law enforcement officer.