Corrections Employment

Gwinnett County correctional officers supervise individuals who have been arrested, convicted of a crime, and ordered by the courts to serve a prison sentence in the Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Complex.

Correctional officers maintain security and offender accountability in order to prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes. They routinely inspect locks, windows, doors, gates, and fences for signs of tampering; and report security breaches and unusual occurrences.  Officers also inspect the facility for unsanitary conditions, contraband, and fire hazards. They evaluate the quality/quantity of work performed by offenders and prepare disciplinary reports in response to offender rule violations.

Career Progression
Attitude and performance lay the foundation for career progression. Correctional officers can move up the ranks to Master Correctional Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Warden, and Warden. Education and training courses help prepare correctional officers for promotion.

Click here to apply online.

Salary: Gwinnett County Correctional Officers enjoy an excellent salary and benefits package designed to meet today's needs as well as provide for a secure future. Gwinnett County offers an educational incentive of 3 percent additional pay for an associate’s degree and 6 percent for a bachelor’s degree.

• Starting salary is $33,601 for a Correctional Officer I
• Starting salary is $36,642 for a Correctional Officer II
  
  

Click here to apply online.

Gwinnett County offers very competitive shared-cost retirement plans and health benefits plans that include vision and dental as well as HSA, HRA, and FSA accounts.

View the retirement plans here.

View the health plans here.

The County also has a Wellness Program  that offers:

• Health Risk Assessment

• Mammograms

• Flu Shots

• Lunch and Learn Education Programs

• Exercise Incentive Programs

• Weight Watchers at Work

• Annual Wellness Fair

• Fitness Club Membership Reimbursement

In addition to this, the County also has an Employee Wellness Center that provides care for full-time, benefit-eligible Gwinnett County employees and retirees who are enrolled in one of the Gwinnett County health plans and their dependents who are age 18 and older. The Wellness Center offers services such as:

• Preventative care

• Disease management

• Dispensary

• Routine/acute care

• Wellness coaching

• Holidays: 12 holidays per year  
  
  
• Annual leave (vacation): 13 days/year at hire, ascending thereafter (adjusted according to regularly scheduled hours) 
  
  
• Sick leave: 13 days/year (adjusted according to regularly scheduled hours) 
  
  
• Compensation for required military training and jury duty
  
  
• Tuition reimbursement program  
  
  
• Employee assistance program 
  
  
• Uniforms and equipment furnished  
  
  
• Employee discount programs

Applicants for a Correctional Officer position must pass a series of tests to determine if they are suitable candidates for the job. The testing process is divided into two series, Phase I and Phase II. 

Click the links in the left navigation for more information on the selection process.

Training for entry-level correctional officers consists of the four-week Basic Correctional Officer Training Program (BCOT), which is taught at the Georgia Department of Corrections – State Offices South in Forsyth, Georgia; and one week of firearms training conducted at the North Georgia Correctional Academy in Alto, Georgia.

Correctional officers are assigned to various security posts within the correctional complex, and their primary task is the supervision of sentenced offenders.  Officers who successfully complete one year of employment with the department may be assigned to supervise inmate crews working outside of the facility.

Regardless of assignment, officers must strictly conform to state and federal law, court rulings, policies and procedures, and standardized rules.  Prior to supervising offenders, officers must complete an extensive five-week training program that includes the use of firearms, unarmed self-defense, and first aid; as well as instruction in understanding inmate behavior. Officers must be available to work any shift, including weekends and holidays.

Officers ensure the safe, secure, and orderly operation of the prison – they must effectively respond to escapes, fights, disturbances, fires, natural disasters, and other emergencies.  In responding to these situations officers must consider the safety of the general public, the safety and welfare of any hostages, the prevention of injury or loss of life, the safety of the offender population, and the protection of government property.