This is an Archived Announcement. The application filing date has passed.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE ANNOUNCES Examination Open to The Public

Examination No. and Title	Salary Grade	Salary	Processing Fee
23-254 CORRECTION OFFICER TRAINEE  23-255 CORRECTION OFFICER TRAINEE (Spanish Language)	Equated to approximately 13	$25,029*	$25*

*Notes:

After 13 bi-weekly pay periods - $26,435

After 26 bi-weekly pay periods - $30,570

Salaries effective 10/8/98. Negotiated agreements may result in a higher starting salary.

You may file for both examinations on one application form, listing both examinations. Only one $25 processing fee is required.

Due to the size of the candidate population for this examination, you may be assigned to either a morning (9:00 am) or an afternoon (2:30 pm) session. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear.

CANDIDATES ALSO TAKING COUNTY EXAMINATIONS: Candidates applying for both State and County Correction Officer examinations must take both examinations at a State test center. Candidates who are taking both must notify the county of their intention to take the State examination.

Any candidate who appears for the Correction Officer series at both the State and County test sites may face disqualification for any of the jurisdictions involved.

THE POSITIONS: Correction Officer positions are located throughout New York State in various facilities of the New York State Department of Correctional Services. As a Correction Officer, under the direct supervision of a higher ranking officer, you would be responsible for the custody and security, as well as the safety and well-being, of criminal offenders in State Correctional Facilities and Correctional Camps. You would supervise the movement and activities of inmates; make periodic rounds of assigned areas; conduct searches for contraband; maintain order within the facility; and prepare reports as necessary. You would advise inmates on the rules and regulations governing the operation of the facility and assist them in resolving problems. You would have a high degree of responsibility for your actions and decisions. You will play a large role in the rehabilitative process related to the incarcerated population. You might also be required to carry firearms in the performance of certain duties and to perform other related work as required.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Observing and Recalling Facts and Information -- These questions are designed to test how well you can observe and recall information presented. You will be presented with information describing or depicting prison scenes or other facts. You will have a short time to memorize the information before it is collected by the monitor. Then you will be asked to recall specific details about the information presented.
2. Applying Written Information in a Correctional Services Setting -- These questions are designed to evaluate your ability to read, interpret and apply rules, regulations, directives, written narratives and other related material. You will be required to read a set of information, and to appropriately apply the information to situations similar to those typically experienced in a correctional services setting. All the information needed to answer the questions asked concerning the situations presented is contained in the rules, regulations, etc. which are cited.
3. Understanding and Interpreting Written Material -- These questions are designed to test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions relating to the selections. All of the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the content areas covered in the selections.
4. Preparing Written Material -- These questions are designed to test how well you can express yourself in writing. Particular emphasis will be placed upon two major aspects of written communication: how to clearly and accurately express given information, and how to present written material in the most logical and comprehensible manner.

If you pass the written test, you will, in rank order, be considered for a conditional offer of employment pending completion of a background investigation, a physical/medical examination and a psychological evaluation. You must successfully complete each of these in order to be eligible for appointment.

It will be necessary for you to come to Albany as required, at your own expense, in order to complete these activities.

NOTE:

1. If you pass the written test for No. 23-255 Correction Officer Trainee (Spanish Language), and are considered for appointment, you will be required to demonstrate your proficiency in the Spanish language. Proficiency must be at a level that will assure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly.
2. All appointees will be employed as Trainees.
3. You may file for both examinations on one application form, listing both examinations. Only one $25 processing fee is required.

Background Investigation: You will undergo a thorough background investigation to determine your suitability for appointment as a Correction Officer. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment. Conviction of misdemeanors or violations of law may bar appointment. A person adjudicated a youthful offender may be disqualified from appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation will result in disqualification. You will be required to pay a fingerprinting fee.

Character and Fitness: Each potential appointee will be the subject of a thorough investigation to help determine character and fitness, and also to verify information provided by the applicant. Applicants must authorize access to educational, financial, military, employment, criminal history and mental health records. Information contained in such records will be reviewed and evaluated and, if found to be inconsistent with the qualifications for appointment, will result in disqualification. Candidates who receive a satisfactory evaluation on the background investigation and meet all other administrative requirements will be considered for appointment.

Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. You will be tested for satisfactory physical strength and coordination. You will be required to participate in substance abuse testing. Evidence of substance abuse may lead to your disqualification from appointment or termination from permanent employment in the position. To obtain a complete statement of the physical and medical standards write to the Medical Review Unit, NYS Department of Civil Service, State Campus, Building #1, Albany, NY 12239. A medical examination will be required upon conditional offer of appointment. You are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee.

Psychological Evaluation: You will be required to participate in a psychological screening process. Failure to meet the standards set for this screening will result in disqualification.

AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT: You must meet the following requirements:

1. You must be at least 21 years old.
2. You must be a high school graduate or have a high school equivalency diploma (issued by an appropriate State education authority). The diploma issued to the high school graduate must be from an accredited public or private school recognized by the New York State Education Department. Diplomas issued through a home study course and not by an appropriate educational authority are not acceptable. United State Armed Forces Institute diplomas are not acceptable.
3. By New York State law, a Correction Officer is a peace officer and must be qualified to hold such office and must be a US citizen.
4. Correction Officers are Public Officers. Therefore, although New York State residency is not required to take the written test, New York State residency is required to accept and continue employment.

TRAINEESHIP: You will be required to participate in, and satisfactorily complete, all requirements of a 12-month training program before you can advance to Correction Officer. As part of the program, you will attend the Correctional Services Trainee Academy for a minimum of seven weeks of formal training. Paid training at the Academy will include academic courses in such areas as emergency response procedures, interpersonal communications, legal rights and responsibilities, security procedures, and concepts and issues in corrections. You will also receive rigorous physical training to develop fitness, strength and stamina. Failure to maintain the required academic standing, to qualify with weapons or to qualify in meeting the physical standards will result in your employment being terminated. Additionally, failure to obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while at the Academy will result in your employment being terminated. You will receive on-the-job training for four weeks and then be assigned to a correctional facility for full duty as dictated by the staffing needs of the department.

PROBATION: All appointees will be required to serve and satisfactorily complete a probationary period of up to 52 weeks, which begins at the time of permanent appointment. During probation, performance will be periodically reviewed and carefully evaluated. A probationer who fails to meet the performance standards may be terminated at any time.

ADVANCEMENT: Upon successful completion of the probationary period, Trainees will be appointed to Correction Officer (G-14).

Please notify the Department of Civil Service if you change your mailing address after filing for the examination.

Saturday religious observers applying for examinations which have written tests scheduled to be held on a Saturday and who need special testing arrangements must note this on their applications.

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of this Department, at (518) 457-3416 or TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) (518) 457-8480.

MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call (518) 457-7022 no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the State examination center.

FINGERPRINTS AND FEES: Fingerprinting is sometimes required at the time of appointment. If so, you may be required to pay the processing fee.

S-3/TC2 JMR -tlm
Issued: 12/24/98