Becoming a Correctional Officer in Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island has county and state correctional facilities that fall under state jurisdiction. Currently, there are 8 facilities located throughout the state employing correctional officers whose mandate is to maintain safe and humane correctional environments while working toward appropriate intervention services for criminal offenders. Some facilities, like John J. Moran Medium Security Facility and the Donald Price Medium Security Facility admit only male offenders. Others, like Gloria McDonald Awaiting Trial and Medium Security Facility and the Bernadette Building house women. Gender segregation amongst inmates underscores the need for both male and female qualified correctional officers. At this time, Rhode Island has 3,361 offenders - while this number is expected to level off, diverse needs of prisoners and programming mean that the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that correctional officer jobs will grow by 5% over the next decade. This growth trend, coupled with retirements and career promotions, means that the Rhode Island Department of Corrections is recruiting new hires. For additional information bout the field of corrections in Rhode Island, read on.

ProgramWebsite

Salve Regina University

100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI 02840-4192
Phone: (401) 847-6650

Roger Williams University

One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809-2921
Phone: (401) 253-1040

Community College of Rhode Island

400 East Ave, Warwick, RI 02886-1807
Phone: (401) 825-1000

Rhode Island College

600 Mount Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 456-8000

New England Institute of Technology

One New England Tech Boulevard, East Greenwich, RI 02818-1205
Phone: (401) 739-5000

Johnson & Wales University-Providence

8 Abbott Park Place, Providence, RI 02903-3703
Phone: (401) 598-1000

Rhode Island Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Department of Corrections in Rhode Island runs a continual recruitment campaign in order to meet the staffing needs of its penitentiaries and county jails for front-line correctional officers. Need is ongoing as senior officers are promoted or retire. The department has a commitment to the public and to the inmates it houses to ensure that only those candidates who are the best match for the position are hired, therefore, there is a multi-step hiring process. Candidates should ensure that they have the following eligibility requirements in place while drafting their application:

  • Proof of age (21+)
  • Valid Rhode Island driver's license
  • No felony convictions or domestic violence convictions
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or naturalized status
  • Honorable discharge (if applicable) from military
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Fluent in all aspects of English

Candidates who submit the above eligibility requirements along with a complete and accurate application will be able to progress to the next phase of the hiring process, assessment by the DOC. These assessment segments include:

  • Written test
  • Fitness and agility assessment
  • Medical-physical assessment
  • Mental health assessment
  • Extensive background and reference check
  • Interview regarding personal, education, work and military experience

Candidates who have successful scores on their assessment components may be contacted with a conditional offer of employment. These candidates are required to attend basic corrections officer training at the department's academy site. The final training process is a hands-on course for teaching critical skills to corrections officers; only successful graduates will be able to accept their permanent posting within a Rhode Island correctional facility.

State of Rhode Island Department of Corrections

40 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 462-1000
http://www.doc.ri.gov/index.php

Rhode Island Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Rhode Island vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

One of the ways that the state of Rhode Island strives to serve and support correctional officers is through strong job growth and salary opportunities. Currently, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is higher at $61,900 than that of the national median income of $39,800. According to the occupational profile for the state of Rhode Island found at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=44&x=38&y=9 published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 4% increase in correctional officer jobs throughout the state by 2022. For residents of Rhode Island, this rate translates into a net gain of 40 jobs per year.

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

Rhode Island Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

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

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Providence, Fall River, Warwick1,100$28.91$60,130