How to hire a correctional guard

How to hire a correctional guard, step by step

Here's a step-by-step correctional guard hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a correctional guard job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new correctional guard
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the correctional guard you need to hire. Certain correctional guard roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect correctional guard also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of correctional guards.

   Type of Correctional Guard	Description	Hourly rate
   Correctional Guard	Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in jail or prison. Bailiffs are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms.	$13-23
   Detention Officer	The role of detention officers is to supervise inmates in state detention facilities. They are responsible for ensuring the safe imprisonment of detainees, managing conflict between detainees, and reporting inappropriate behavior to the warden... Show more	$13-25
   Custodial Officer	A custodial officer is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of facilities or buildings. They clean areas daily, conduct regular maintenance inspections, replace fixtures, perform basic repairs, rearrange furniture as necessary, and prepare facilities for public or private use... Show more	$14-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Facility Policy
   • Security Checks
   • Emergency Situations
   • Clinical Treatment
   • CPR
   • Vital Signs
   • Client Movement
   • Therapeutic Assistance
   • Correctional Facilities
   • Head Counts

   Responsibilities:

   • Aid inmates in their rehabilitation by scheduling work assignments, counseling, and educational opportunities.
   • Issue weapons and ammunition for transportation officers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your correctional guard job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A correctional guard can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, correctional guards' average salary in missouri is 55% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level correctional guards 40% less than senior-level correctional guards.
   • Certifications. A correctional guard with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a correctional guard's salary.

   Average correctional guard salary

   $37,889yearly

   $18.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level correctional guard salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

4. Writing a correctional guard job description

   A correctional guard job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a correctional guard job description:

   Correctional guard job description example

   $27 - $30
   
   Maxim Healthcare Services is seeking a Social Worker. The Social Worker, who possesses a Baccalaureate degree (BSW) or Masters in Social Work, who in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, has input in the development of the plan of care for those patients requiring social work intervention. Provides medically necessary intervention to patients who have social or emotional problems which are or are expected to be an impediment to the effective treatment of the patient's medical condition and/or rate of recovery. Additionally, provides these services in accordance with physician's orders.
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   
   + Provides medically necessary social work intervention in accordance with physician's orders.
   
   + Assesses patient's psycho-social needs, plans for, evaluates and modifies interventions to meet the established patient goals.
   
   + Collaborates with all disciplines to plan and evaluate team goals for each patient.
   
   + Facilitates patient referrals to community agencies when appropriate.
   
   + Provides financial counseling when necessary to achieve the treatment goals established by the multidisciplinary.
   
   + Assists patient/family/caregivers in planning for present and future psycho-social needs as related to the patient's current status and prognosis including terminal illness.
   
   + Adheres to all Maxim policies and procedures while providing services to patients.
   
   + Adheres to all Maxim expectations with regards to preparation and submission of required paperwork.
   
   + Observes and reports patient progress and/or changes in patient status to physician and appropriate multi-disciplinary team members.
   
   + May be asked to participate in Multi-disciplinary Patient Care Conference, PI Committees, Professional Advisory Board and Maxim in-services programs.
   
   + Other duties as assigned
   
   Minimum Requirements:
   
   + Baccalaureate degree in Social Work (BSW) or Masters Degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education preferred
   
   + Minimum of one (1) year of social work experience in a health care environment in the last two years preferred
   
   + Current health certificate(as applicable by state regulation and/or client requirement)
   
   + Current PPD/TB or chest x-ray (as applicable by state regulation and/or client requirement)
   
   + Current BLS/CPR certification (Telephonic MSW only as applicable per state regulation and/or client requirement)
   
   + Computer proficiency required
   
   + Ability to effectively elicit/provide information to and from appropriate individuals (including, but not limited to, supervisors, co-workers, clients) via strong communication skills; proficiency in the English language may be required
   
   + Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
   
   Benefits
   
   At Maxim Healthcare Group, we firmly believe that our employees are the heartbeat of our organization and we are happy to offer the following benefits:
   
   + Competitive pay & weekly paychecks
   
   + Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
   
   + 401(k) savings plan
   
   + Awards and recognition programs
   
   *Benefit eligibility is dependent on employment status. **CO Specific Benefits: Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Advocacy (company paid if enrolled Medical), Health Advocate Employee Assistance Program, Health Savings Account , 401(k), 401(k) Company Match, Profit Sharing, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Primary Caregiver Leave, Parental Leave, Life and Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Hospital Expense Protection Plan, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Home and Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Transportation Benefits, CommonBond, Educational Assistance Program, College Partnership Program, Paid Time Off/Company Holidays
   
   About Maxim Healthcare Group
   
   Maxim Healthcare Group has been making a difference in the lives of our patients, caregivers, and employees for more than 30 years. Our nationwide suite of services includes home healthcare, companion and behavioral care, healthcare staffing, and workforce solutions. Maxim's commitment to customer service, compassionate patient care, and filling critical staffing needs makes us a trusted partner wherever healthcare is needed.
   
   Maxim Healthcare Group is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right correctional guard for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with correctional guards they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit correctional guards who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your correctional guard job on Zippia to find and recruit correctional guard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit correctional guards, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new correctional guard

   Once you've found the correctional guard candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new correctional guard first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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