Becoming a Correctional Officer in Indiana

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The Department of Corrections in Indiana has 20 adult prison facilities on a tiered system within the state. Designed to separate and incarcerate offenders based on violence of offense, rehabilitative opportunities, and length of sentence, each tier requires professional and accredited correctional officers to fill roles within the system. In Tier One facilities such as Chain O’ Lakes Correctional Facility and Edinburgh Correctional Facility, officers enforce living conditions for offenders who are transitioning to life in the community. In Tier Four (Maximum Security) facilities like Wabash Valley Correctional Facility and Indiana Women's Prison, officers enforce very restrictive security measures and inmates are confined to celled space. BLS.gov reports steady growth in the corrections industry over the next decade. While Indiana currently employs 6,303 front line correctional officers, that number is expected to increase by 5% to approximately 6,619 to account for new positions. There will be additional vacancies as officers retire, pursue other career paths, or advance to supervisory roles. For more information regarding this career in Indiana, read on.

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Schools Analyzed
10
Schools Ranked

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).

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Calumet College of Saint Joseph

2400 New York Ave, Whiting, IN 46394

Calumet College of Saint Joseph ranks 1st in our latest rankings with 117 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 544 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 21.51%
  • Program Graduates: 117
  • Total Graduates: 544

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: ccsj.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
2

Trine University

9910 Dupont Circle Drive East, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses ranks 2nd in our latest rankings with forty students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 398 students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 10.05%
  • Program Graduates: 40
  • Total Graduates: 398

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: trine.edu
  • School Size: Less than 1,000
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Martin University

2171 Avondale Place, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0567

Martin University ranks third in our latest rankings with 9 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 106 students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 8.49%
  • Program Graduates: 9
  • Total Graduates: 106

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: martin.edu
  • School Size: Less than 1,000
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Ancilla College

9601 S. Union Road, Donaldson, IN 46513-0001

Ancilla College ranks fourth in our rankings with ten students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 168 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.95%
  • Program Graduates: 10
  • Total Graduates: 168

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 2-year
  • Website: ancilla.edu
  • School Size: Less than 1,000
5

Indiana University-Northwest

3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408-1197

Indiana University-Northwest ranks fifth in our rankings with seventy students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 1,690 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.14%
  • Program Graduates: 70
  • Total Graduates: 1,690

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: iun.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
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Indiana Institute of Technology

1600 E Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803-1228

Indiana Institute of Technology ranks 6th in our latest rankings with seventy-one students completing programs in criminalistics and criminal science, law enforcement administration, and corrections out of a total a thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.69%
  • Program Graduates: 71
  • Total Graduates: 1,924
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Criminal Justice
    • Criminalistics And Criminal Science
    • Corrections

School Details

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Indiana University-Kokomo

2300 S Washington St, Kokomo, IN 46904-9003

Indiana University-Kokomo ranks seventh in our latest rankings with thirty-six students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 982 students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.67%
  • Program Graduates: 36
  • Total Graduates: 982

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: iuk.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
8

Saint Josephs College

1498 South College Avenue, Rensselaer, IN 47978-0722

Saint Josephs College ranks eighth in our rankings with 12 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 420 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.86%
  • Program Graduates: 12
  • Total Graduates: 420

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: saintjoe.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
9

Vincennes University

1002 N First St, Vincennes, IN 47591

Vincennes University ranks 9th in our latest rankings with 110 students completing programs in corrections and securities services administration and management out of a total 3,950 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.78%
  • Program Graduates: 110
  • Total Graduates: 3,950
  • Programs:
    • Corrections
    • Police Science
    • Security And Loss Prevention Services
    • Securities Services Administration and management

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: catalog.vinu.edu
  • School Size: 10,000 - 20,000
10

Indiana University-East

2325 Chester Blvd, Richmond, IN 47374-1289

Indiana University-East ranks 10th in our latest rankings with twenty-seven students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total a thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.19%
  • Program Graduates: 27
  • Total Graduates: 1,234

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: iue.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000

Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Indiana

ProgramWebsite

Indiana University-Southeast

4201 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, IN 47150
Phone: (812) 941-2000

Ball State University

2000 University Ave, Muncie, IN 47306
Phone: (765) 289-1241

Ivy Tech Community College

50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46208-5752
Phone: (317) 921-4800

Indiana University-South Bend

1700 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46634-7111
Phone: (574) 520-4872

Indiana Wesleyan University

4201 S Washington St, Marion, IN 46953-4974
Phone: (765) 674-6901

Indiana University-Bloomington

107 South Indiana Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: (812) 855-4848

University of Indianapolis

1400 E Hanna Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
Phone: (317) 788-3368

Grace College and Theological Seminary

200 Seminary Dr, Winona Lake, IN 46590-1274
Phone: (574) 372-5100

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

425 University Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5143
Phone: (317) 274-5555

Oakland City University

138 N Lucretia St, Oakland City, IN 47660-1099
Phone: (812) 749-4781 x404

University of Southern Indiana

8600 University Blvd, Evansville, IN 47712
Phone: (812) 464-8600

Anderson University

1100 E 5th St, Anderson, IN 46012-3495
Phone: (765) 649-9071

University of Evansville

1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47722
Phone: (812) 488-2000

Bethel College-Indiana

1001 Bethel Circle, Mishawaka, IN 46545-5591
Phone: (574) 807-7000

Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne

2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
Phone: (260) 481-6100

Indiana Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Indiana Department of Corrections is constantly seeking career-minded men and women who value a life of public service and safety as a corrections officer. Due to the dynamic nature of the role, it is crucial for applicants to be fully qualified and fully eligible to take on such a position. Candidates must first prove their eligibility by providing the following along with their completed job application:

  • Proof of age and citizenship
  • Proof of military 'honorable discharge' if applicable
  • No felony convictions
  • Valid driver's license
  • High school diploma or GED

Applicants who have these eligibility components in place may create an application online and submit as per the DOC instructions. Candidates will be contacted in regard to the next round of assessment. Assessments by the DOC ensure that candidates are the best fit for a career as a corrections officer and may include:

  • Fitness testing
  • Physical assessment
  • Mental health assessment
  • Written test of knowledge
  • Extensive background checks to determine ethics and professionalism

Having successfully completed the assessment portion of the hiring process, recruits are offered conditional employment that is dependent on their successful completion of training camp. Indiana's training camp focuses on teaching practical measure for the job, with a hands-on approach. Hires who are not successful at this stage will be released to find other employment.

Indiana Department of Correction

302 W. Washington Street, Room E-334
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (866) 362-4473
http://www.in.gov/idoc/

Indiana Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Indiana vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

Indiana's State Department of Justice is committed to growth and development for the state's correctional field. Median income for this role throughout the state is $30,900, compared to the national median income level of $39,800, however professional development and seniority can boost salary. According to the employment profile for the state, published by CareerInfoNet.org at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=18&x=70&y=14 state trends predict a 4% increase in correctional jobs by the year 2022. In the state of Indiana, this translates to 240 jobs per year, both in newly created and existing vacancies.

Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)

Indiana Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information obtained from the BLS for correctional officers in Indiana. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Indianapolis, Carmel1,900$16.38$34,080
Terre Haute910$18.87$39,240
Gary370$14.46$30,080
Evansville270$14.47$30,090
Fort Wayne200$17.14$35,650
Bloomington130$15.83$32,920
Lafayette110$16.09$33,460