Becoming a Correctional Officer in Massachusetts

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The Massachusetts Department of Corrections clearly states that their mission is to employ officers and correctional support workers that will assist the state in its rehabilitative attempts while ensuring that communities and individuals remain safe. The Department's vision is to ensure that behavioral changes are positive and work to eliminate factors such as violence, recidivism, and victimization both inside and outside the correctional environment. Massachusetts' Department of Corrections is one of the state's largest employers; front line correctional staff work with 9,643 inmates in 18 correctional facilities across the state. Officers oversee a variety of inmate activities at a number of security levels. With the impetus on reducing recidivism and targeting prisoner needs for successful rehabilitation, economists studying the corrections industry predict that it will experience a steady increasing trend of 5% over the next 10 years, leading to the creation of almost 600 new jobs. At the federal, state, and local levels, there will also be job vacancies as officers retire, switch careers, and advance professionally. In order to see if the field of corrections is for you, scroll down for more information regarding correctional jobs in Massachusetts.

43
Schools Analyzed
20
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).

1

Curry College

1071 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA 02186-2395

Curry College ranks 1st in our latest rankings with 115 students completing programs in criminal justice and law enforcement administration out of a total a thousand students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 7.56%
  • Program Graduates: 115
  • Total Graduates: 1,522
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Criminal Justice

School Details

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

Westfield State University

577 Western Ave, Westfield, MA 01086-1630

Westfield State University ranks 2nd in our rankings with 225 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total three thousand graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 7.10%
  • Program Graduates: 225
  • Total Graduates: 3,168

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: westfield.ma.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
3

Anna Maria College

50 Sunset Lane, Paxton, MA 01612-1198

Anna Maria College ranks third in our latest rankings with sixty-three students graduating from programs in corrections and security and loss prevention services out of a total 930 students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 6.77%
  • Program Graduates: 63
  • Total Graduates: 930
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Security And Loss Prevention Services
    • Securities Services Administration and management
    • Corrections

School Details

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

Bristol Community College

777 Elsbree St, Fall River, MA 02720-7395

Bristol Community College ranks 4th in our rankings with 175 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration and criminal justice out of a total two thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 6.50%
  • Program Graduates: 175
  • Total Graduates: 2,694
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Criminal Justice

School Details

5

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854-5104

University of Massachusetts-Lowell ranks 5th in our latest rankings with 441 students completing programs in criminal justice and law enforcement administration out of a total 7,000 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 6.30%
  • Program Graduates: 441
  • Total Graduates: 7,000
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Criminal Justice

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: uml.edu
  • School Size: 10,000 - 20,000
6

Roxbury Community College

1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120-3400

Roxbury Community College ranks 6th in our rankings with 33 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 628 students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 5.25%
  • Program Graduates: 33
  • Total Graduates: 628

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: rcc.mass.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
7

Massasoit Community College

One Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton, MA 02302-3996

Massasoit Community College ranks seventh in our rankings with ninety-four students completing programs in corrections and criminal justice out of a total 1,932 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.87%
  • Program Graduates: 94
  • Total Graduates: 1,932
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Police Science
    • Corrections

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: massasoit.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
8

North Shore Community College

1 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, MA 01923-0840

North Shore Community College ranks eighth in our latest rankings with 109 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.65%
  • Program Graduates: 109
  • Total Graduates: 2,342

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: northshore.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
9

Quinsigamond Community College

670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606-2092

Quinsigamond Community College ranks 9th in our rankings with 111 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.42%
  • Program Graduates: 111
  • Total Graduates: 2,514

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: qcc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
10

Springfield Technical Community College

1 Armory Sq, Springfield, MA 01105-1296

Springfield Technical Community College ranks tenth in our latest rankings with ninety-seven students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.41%
  • Program Graduates: 97
  • Total Graduates: 2,198

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: catalog.stcc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
11

Bridgewater State University

131 Summer Street, Bridgewater, MA 02325

Bridgewater State University ranks eleventh in our latest rankings with 224 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 5,284 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 4.24%
  • Program Graduates: 224
  • Total Graduates: 5,284

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: bridgew.edu
  • School Size: 10,000 - 20,000
12

Mount Ida College

777 Dedham Street, Newton, MA 02459

Mount Ida College ranks twelfth in our rankings with 22 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 572 graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.85%
  • Program Graduates: 22
  • Total Graduates: 572

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: mountida.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
13

Berkshire Community College

1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201-5786

Berkshire Community College ranks 13th in our rankings with twenty-three students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 618 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.72%
  • Program Graduates: 23
  • Total Graduates: 618

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: berkshirecc.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
14

Bunker Hill Community College

250 New Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129-2925

Bunker Hill Community College ranks 14th in our rankings with ninety-four students completing programs in law enforcement administration and criminal justice out of a total two thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.63%
  • Program Graduates: 94
  • Total Graduates: 2,590
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Police Science

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: bhcc.mass.edu
  • School Size: 10,000 - 20,000
15

Middlesex Community College

Springs Rd, Bedford, MA 01730-9124

Middlesex Community College ranks 15th in our latest rankings with 93 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.59%
  • Program Graduates: 93
  • Total Graduates: 2,592

School Details

16

Holyoke Community College

303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040

Holyoke Community College ranks 16th in our latest rankings with 63 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total a thousand graduates.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.29%
  • Program Graduates: 63
  • Total Graduates: 1,916

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 2-year
  • Website: hcc.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
17

Worcester State University

486 Chandler St, Worcester, MA 01602-2597

Worcester State University ranks 17th in our latest rankings with eighty-eight students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.26%
  • Program Graduates: 88
  • Total Graduates: 2,698

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: worcester.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
18

Salem State University

352 Lafayette St, Salem, MA 01970

Salem State University ranks eighteenth in our latest rankings with 133 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 4,234 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 3.14%
  • Program Graduates: 133
  • Total Graduates: 4,234

School Details

  • School Type: Public, 4-year
  • Website: salemstate.edu
  • School Size: 5,000 - 10,000
19

Nichols College

Center Rd, Dudley, MA 01571-5000

Nichols College ranks 19th in our latest rankings with twenty-two students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 758 students.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.90%
  • Program Graduates: 22
  • Total Graduates: 758

School Details

  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Website: nichols.edu
  • School Size: 1,000 - 5,000
20

Quincy College

1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169

Quincy College ranks twenty in our latest rankings with 30 students completing programs in law enforcement administration and securities services administration and management out of a total 1,152 students from the 2012-2013 school year.

Ranking Details

  • Percent of Graduates: 2.60%
  • Program Graduates: 30
  • Total Graduates: 1,152
  • Programs:
    • Law Enforcement Administration
    • Securities Services Administration and management

School Details

Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Massachusetts

ProgramWebsite

Massachusetts Bay Community College

50 Oakland St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-5399
Phone: (781) 239-3000

Northern Essex Community College

100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830-2399
Phone: (978) 556-3000

Fitchburg State University

160 Pearl St, Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697
Phone: (978) 345-2151

Merrimack College

315 Turnpike St, North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 837-5000

Western New England University

1215 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield, MA 01119-2684
Phone: (413) 782-3111

University of Massachusetts-Boston

100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125-3393
Phone: (617) 287-5000

Newbury College

129 Fisher Ave, Brookline, MA 02445
Phone: (617) 730-7000

Cape Cod Community College

2240 Iyannough Rd, West Barnstable, MA 02668-1599
Phone: (508) 362-2131

Becker College

61 Sever St, Worcester, MA 01609-2165
Phone: (877) 523-2537

American International College

1000 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109
Phone: (413) 737-7000

Endicott College

376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 927-0585

Eastern Nazarene College

23 E Elm Ave, Quincy, MA 02170-2999
Phone: (617) 745-3000 x3706

Bay Path College

588 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106
Phone: (413) 565-1000

Mount Wachusett Community College

444 Green St, Gardner, MA 01440-1000
Phone: (978) 632-6600

Springfield College

263 Alden St, Springfield, MA 01109-3797
Phone: (413) 748-3116

Dean College

99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038-1941
Phone: (508) 541-1900

Northeastern University

360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115-5005
Phone: (617) 373-2000

Boston University

One Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 353-2000

Fisher College

118 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 236-8800

Greenfield Community College

One College Dr, Greenfield, MA 01301-9739
Phone: (413) 775-1000

Suffolk University

8 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108-2770
Phone: (617) 573-8000

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

374 Whitmore Building 181 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-0111

Clark University

950 Main St, Worcester, MA 01610-1477
Phone: (508) 793-7711

Massachusetts Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The state Department of Corrections office in Massachusetts has an open Certification Listing that any legible person may sign. This indicates your willingness to submit to the rigorous procedures that the state has put in place in order to ensure you are the right fit for the role of front-line correctional officer. Basic eligibility requirements on the Certification List are as follows:

  • Proof of age and citizenship or naturalization
  • Valid Massachusetts driver's license
  • No felony convictions, proof that any warrants against you have been closed
  • Proof of high school diploma or equivalent
  • Veterans are to provide proof of honorable discharge (DD-214)
  • Negative drug test

With these criteria met, the following procedure takes place:

  • Candidate Pre-Screening: physical fitness, psychological assessment, and drug testing
  • Criminal History Background Report
  • Civil Service Examination Scoring

After the tier 2 assessments have been completed, candidates can expect a phone call to schedule an interview. If the interview is completed successfully, candidates will receive notice of enrollment at the Basic Training Academy - a ten-week program that teaches new recruits the policies and operating procedures of the Massachusetts DOC. Candidates who successfully complete the Basic Training Academy course will be considered certified and awarded with their first job posting.

Massachusetts Department of Correction

50 Maple Street, Suite 3
Milford, MA 01757
Phone: (508) 422-3300
http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/doc/

Massachusetts Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Massachusetts vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

One of the ways that the state of Massachusetts strives to serve and support correctional officers is through strong working conditions and salary opportunities. Currently, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is considerably higher at $67,600 than that of the national median income. According to the occupational profile for the state of Massachusetts, http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=25&x=39&y=8 published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 5% increase in correctional officer jobs by 2022 putting the state exactly equal with national growth. For residents of Massachusetts, this rate translates into 200 job openings per year.

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

Massachusetts Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Massachusetts. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Boston, Cambridge, Quincy4,610$30.75$63,960
Springfield1,430$23.88$49,670
Brockton, Bridgewater, Easton770$33.26$69,170
Barnstable Town100$19.85$41,290