Becoming a Correctional Officer in Utah

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Utah has a need for qualified correctional officers at the county and state levels. Applicants who can work in a challenging and dynamic environment while maintaining integrity and professionalism are in high demand throughout the state. In Utah, correctional officers are employed by 2 major correctional complexes, 5 transitional facilities for community re-entry, and the extensive county jail system. Overall, state and national economists report that the corrections field is set to expand to approximately 3,037 male and female officers by 2022, indicating that nationwide growth will also affect states with smaller incarcerated populations This growth curve will be augmented by the retirement, attrition, and professional advancements of existing workers in the field; combined, these factors mean that becoming a corrections officer in Utah is an excellent prospective career move. Read below for more information on the field of corrections in the state of Utah.

ProgramWebsite

Bridgerland Applied Technology College

1301 North 600 West, Logan, UT 84321
Phone: (435) 753-6780

Weber State University

3848 Harrison Blvd, Ogden, UT 84408-1137
Phone: (801) 626-6000

Southern Utah University

351 West University Blvd, Cedar City, UT 84720
Phone: (435) 586-7700

Utah Valley University

800 W University Parkway, Orem, UT 84058-5999
Phone: (801) 863-8000

Salt Lake Community College

4600 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84123
Phone: (801) 957-4111

Dixie State University

225 S 700 E, Saint George, UT 84770-3876
Phone: (435) 652-7500

Snow College

150 E College Ave, Ephraim, UT 84627
Phone: (435) 283-7000

Westminster College

1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Phone: (801) 484-7651

Utah Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The Department of Corrections in Utah is continually searching for men and women of sound character to be applicants for the position of corrections officer. Because of the challenging nature of this role, the Utah DOC has committed to hiring only the most qualified applicants for the job. To enforce this, candidates go through a many-step hiring process, that begins with meeting basic eligibility requirements. First, applicants must provide proof of the following:

  • U.S. citizenship or U.S. naturalization
  • Utah driver's license
  • Proof of age (21 or over)
  • No domestic violence or felony convictions
  • Proof of honorable discharge (DD-214) if applicable

After basic eligibility criteria is met, applicants will be invited to engage in the following:

  • Fitness evaluation
  • Detailed background check
  • Drug testing
  • Medical-physical examination
  • Psychological assessment
  • Interview with correctional supervisors or human resource managers

Those candidates who finish the second phase with the best scores will be invited to enrol at Utah's Training Academy, where officers learn practical tactics for working in a correctional facility. Upon successful completion, the candidates will be eligible for jobs as corrections officers.

Utah Department of Corrections

14717 S. Minuteman Drive
Draper, UT 84020
Phone: (801) 545-5500
http://www.corrections.utah.gov/

Utah Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Utah vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

One of the ways that the state of Utah strives to serve and support correctional officers is through strong job growth and lucrative salary opportunities. Currently, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is slightly lower at $38,200 than that of the national median income of $39,800. According to the occupational profile for the state of Utah 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=49&x=35&y=10 published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 13% and 5% increase in correctional officer jobs respectively by 2022. For residents of Utah, this rate translates into a net gain of 100 jobs per year.

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

 

Utah Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

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

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Salt Lake City1,340$18.97$39,460
Ogden, Clearfield300$20.59$42,830
Provo, Orem210$19.98$41,550