Program Overview & Requirements
Program Purpose:
To prepare the student for successful completion of the State Officer Certification Examination (SOCE) and to provide job-related training to candidates for full-time or part-time correctional officer positions that require entry-level certification in accordance with Chapter 943, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 11B-35, Florida Administrative Code.
Note: This program is in accordance with the requirements of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission (CJSTC).
Program Length:
482 clock hours
Admission Requirements:
Applicant must be at least 19 years of age, be a U.S. citizen and have a standard high school diploma or GED diploma, and have earned a bachelor’s degree. Applicant must not have had a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States, any felony convictions, or any misdemeanor convictions involving perjury or false statement. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, a felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, shall not be eligible for admission, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Additionally, applicant must have a physical examination before program entry.
Academic Division:
Florida Public Safety Institute, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy (PTLEA)
Contact:
(850) 201-7000
View Information about Graduation Requirements and Year of Entry .
Related Careers
All career information is provided by Career Coach, and reflects data available for the Tallahassee area.
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Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.
$34,742.91 Average Annual Salary
133Annual Openings
- Conduct head counts to ensure that each prisoner is present.
- Monitor conduct of prisoners in housing unit, or during work or recreational activities, according to established policies, regulations, and procedures, to prevent escape or violence.
- Inspect conditions of locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates at correctional facilities to ensure security and help prevent escapes.
- Search prisoners and vehicles and conduct shakedowns of cells for valuables and contraband, such as weapons or drugs.
- Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges.
- Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidences of inmate disturbance, and keep daily logs of prisoner activities.
- Guard facility entrances to screen visitors.
- Use weapons, handcuffs, and physical force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners.
- Take prisoners into custody and escort to locations within and outside of facility, such as visiting room, courtroom, or airport.
- Conduct fire, safety, and sanitation inspections.
- Settle disputes between inmates.
- Serve meals, distribute commissary items, and dispense prescribed medication to prisoners.
- Provide to supervisors oral and written reports of the quality and quantity of work performed by inmates, inmate disturbances and rule violations, and unusual occurrences.
- Participate in required job training.
- Use nondisciplinary tools and equipment, such as a computer.
- Issue clothing, tools, and other authorized items to inmates.
- Counsel inmates and respond to legitimate questions, concerns, and requests.
- Assign duties to inmates, providing instructions as needed.
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($31,540.70) to highly-experienced workers ($50,481.87). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Annual Salary Range
Hourly Wages
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
$52,622.71 Average Annual Salary
9Annual Openings
- Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
- Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
- Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
- Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations.
- Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
- Restrain, secure, or control offenders, using chemical agents, firearms, or other weapons of force as necessary.
- Resolve problems between inmates.
- Supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
- Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public.
- Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.
- Instruct employees or provide on-the-job training.
- Carry injured offenders or employees to safety and provide emergency first aid when necessary.
- Supervise activities such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
- Develop work or security procedures.
- Set up employee work schedules.
- Conduct roll calls of correctional officers.
- Supervise or provide security for offenders performing tasks, such as construction, maintenance, laundry, food service, or other industrial or agricultural operations.
- Rate behavior of inmates, promoting acceptable attitudes and behaviors to those with low ratings.
- Transfer or transport offenders on foot or by driving vehicles, such as trailers, vans, or buses.
- Convey correctional officers' or inmates' complaints to superiors.
- Review offender information to identify issues that require special attention.
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($40,058.59) to highly-experienced workers ($78,777.01). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Annual Salary Range
Hourly Wages
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
$32,798.80 Average Annual Salary
17Annual Openings
- Interview probationers and parolees regularly to evaluate their progress in accomplishing goals and maintaining the terms specified in their probation contracts and rehabilitation plans.
- Recommend remedial action or initiate court action in response to noncompliance with terms of probation or parole.
- Prepare and maintain case folder for each assigned inmate or offender.
- Administer drug and alcohol tests, including random drug screens of offenders, to verify compliance with substance abuse treatment programs.
- Discuss with offenders how such issues as drug and alcohol abuse and anger management problems might have played roles in their criminal behavior.
- Conduct prehearing and presentencing investigations and testify in court regarding offenders' backgrounds and recommended sentences and sentencing conditions.
- Write reports describing offenders' progress.
- Inform offenders or inmates of requirements of conditional release, such as office visits, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.
- Arrange for medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment services according to individual needs or court orders.
- Supervise people on community-based sentences, such as electronically monitored home detention, and provide field supervision of probationers by conducting curfew checks or visits to home, work, or school.
- Develop liaisons and networks with other parole officers, community agencies, correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, and aftercare agencies to plan for helping offenders with life adjustments.
- Gather information about offenders' backgrounds by talking to offenders, their families and friends, and other people who have relevant information.
- Arrange for postrelease services, such as employment, housing, counseling, education, and social activities.
- Develop rehabilitation programs for assigned offenders or inmates, establishing rules of conduct, goals, and objectives.
- Develop and prepare packets containing information about social service agencies, assistance organizations, and programs that might be useful for inmates or offenders.
- Provide offenders or inmates with assistance in matters concerning detainers, sentences in other jurisdictions, writs, and applications for social assistance.
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($26,109.02) to highly-experienced workers ($48,023.82). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Annual Salary Range
Hourly Wages
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
$26,807.60 Average Annual Salary
118Annual Openings
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
- Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
- Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
- Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
- Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
See the range of wages earned in this career, ranging from new workers ($18,620.69) to highly-experienced workers ($59,279.30). View by annual salary or hourly wage.
Annual Salary Range
Hourly Wages
A view of employment levels for the last 3 years, and projections for the next 7 years.
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