Colorado correctional officers take pride in maintaining area security and inmate accountability to keep order both in the facility and the surrounding area. Colorado currently has 20,371 incarcerated persons housed in 21 public facilities and a lesser number of privately contracted facilities. Some, like the Denver Correctional Center, consist of several facilities in one mega complex - which facilitates staff professional development, administration, and inmate care. Smaller facilities throughout the state, like Fremont Correctional Facility, Limon Correctional Facility, and the Rifle Correctional Center house fewer inmates. Over the next 10 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that Colorado will experience steady growth in the industry on par with the rest of the country as the corrections field expands, and existing officers retire. The state and its private contractors will hire for approximately 500 new jobs created from this growth, coupled with other positions that will be filled. To learn more about the role of correctional officer in Colorado, continue reading.
Top Schools Supporting Careers in Criminal Justice & Corrections
The following rankings are based on student data, published surveys, and other school and career data collected from several sources which include the following government agencies:
Data Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
By obtaining our base data set from the above data sources, schools were ranked using the criteria below:
- Schools with less than 10 total graduates per year were omitted in order to maintain statistical integrity
- Schools must have at least 1 graduate in the field of criminal justice
- Only 4-year, 2-year, and technical public and private non-profit schools were included
Schools were sorted in order of the highest percentage of total students graduating with a degree in the field of criminal justice (CIPCODES: 43.0102, 43.0110, 43.0113, 43.0103, 43.0104, 43.0107, 43.0109, 43.0111, 43.0112, 43.0199).
Delta Montrose Technical College
Delta Montrose Technical College ranks first in our latest rankings with twenty-two students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 336 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Remington College-Colorado Springs Campus
Remington College-Colorado Springs Campus ranks 2nd in our rankings with twelve students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 200 students.
Community College of Aurora
Community College of Aurora ranks third in our latest rankings with 69 students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total a thousand students from the 2012-2013 school year.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metropolitan State University of Denver ranks 4th in our rankings with 204 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 6,336 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University ranks 5th in our rankings with 73 students completing programs in criminal justice and law enforcement administration out of a total two thousand students.
Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Colorado
| Program | Website |
|---|---|
Pikes Peak Community College 5675 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906-5498 Phone: (719) 502-2000 | ppcc.edu |
Arapahoe Community College 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80160-9002 Phone: (303) 797-4222 | arapahoe.edu |
Otero Junior College 1802 Colorado Ave, La Junta, CO 81050 Phone: (719) 384-6831 | ojc.edu |
Red Rocks Community College 13300 W Sixth Ave, Lakewood, CO 80228-1255 Phone: (303) 914-6600 | rrcc.edu |
Trinidad State Junior College 600 Prospect St, Trinidad, CO 81082 Phone: (719) 846-5011 | trinidadstate.edu |
Pueblo Community College 900 West Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004-1499 Phone: (719) 549-3200 | pueblocc.edu |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Phone: (719) 255-3000 | uccs.edu |
Colorado Mountain College 802 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601-0233 Phone: (800) 621-8559 | coloradomtn.edu |
University of Northern Colorado Carter Hall - Rm 4000, Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970) 351-1890 | unco.edu |
Aims Community College 5401 W. 20th St., Greeley, CO 80632 Phone: (970) 330-8008 | aims.edu |
Johnson & Wales University-Denver 7150 Montview Blvd, Denver, CO 80220 Phone: (303) 256-9300 | academics.jwu.edu |
University of Colorado Denver 1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400, Denver, CO 80217-3364 Phone: (303) 556-5600 | ucdenver.edu |
University of Denver 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80208 Phone: (303) 871-2000 | du.edu |
Colorado Christian University 8787 West Alameda Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80226 Phone: (303) 963-3000 | ccu.edu |
What Correctional Officer Training Can’t Prepare You For
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Colorado Correctional Officer Certification Requirements
The Department of Corrections in Colorado has a targeted recruitment campaign whenever a new position becomes available eon order to staff state, federal and county corrections facilities with staff that are fit, able, and committed to helping criminals rehabilitate within the justice system. Work in corrections is challenging, with lots of opportunity for advancement as other corrections staff are promoted or retire. In order to have a valid application, candidates must submit proof of the following in addition to their application paperwork:
- Must be 21 years of age;
- Possess a driver's licence valid in Colorado
- Possess a High School Diploma or equivalent;
- Have no felony convictions
Upon successful submission of these requirements, successful applicants will be subject to
- Comparative Analysis
- Physical assessment
- Fitness testing
- Initial drug screening
- Fingerprinting
- Background and profession checks for the last 10 years of employment
Hiring is conditional upon completion of the Department of Corrections Basic Training, random drug screening and assessment as to whether or not they are able to learn and perform the PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) used by the state. Tuberculosis screening is also required of all newly hired staff. Applicants that are dissatisfied with their disqualification may appeal in writing to the state for assessment and adjudication.
Colorado Department of Corrections
2862 S Circle Dr
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Phone: (719) 579-9580
https://www.colorado.gov/cdoc/
Colorado Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook
Correctional Officer Salary: Colorado vs National Salary Comparison
Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011
The state Department of Corrections in Colorado encourages civic-minded citizens to look toward the corrections field for fulfilling and lucrative career opportunities. At this time, the median income for correctional officers throughout Colorado is higher than the national average at $43,700, with the national median income at $39,800. and according to occupational data for the state of Colorado, available at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=08&x=45&y=8 and published by CareerInfoNet.org, state trends are predicted to experience a 16% growth curve from now until 2022 as compared to the national growth rate of 5%. This predicted growth pattern translates into 370 new openings and existing vacancies annually.
Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)
Colorado Correctional Officer Salaries By Area
The table below lists career information retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Colorado. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.
| Area | Total Employment | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, Aurora, Broomfield | 2,060 | $25.55 | $53,140 |
| Pueblo | 610 | $20.85 | $43,370 |
| Colorado Springs | 520 | $25.23 | $52,470 |
| Greeley | 290 | $23.42 | $48,720 |
