Become a Correctional Officer

Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) is recruiting ethical, dependable, compassionate, career-oriented candidates for Correctional Officers at our Adult Facilities! As a Correctional Officer, you support the treatment and rehabilitation of adult residents by providing security and mentorship.

Video Playlist:
Maine Correctional Center, Maine State Prison, Mountain View Correctional Facility

Hiring Correctional Officers

  • Starting Base Pay: $24.97/hr. for no experience and up to $30.09/hr. with experience
  • Differentials: Night & Weekend Shifts + Premium Overtime.                     
  • Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, and Life
  • Retirement: Eligible to retire at 55 when meeting the minimum years of service
  • Leave: 3+ Weeks of Vacation; 13 paid Holidays per year; 12 days Paid Sick Leave
  • Base Schedule:  7 out of 14 days within a two-week pay period. Adds up to half the year scheduled off!
  • Note: Prorated Benefits available for Part-Time positions.

Full Benefits

Successful candidates are committed to upholding the values of the department -- Honor, Honesty, and Integrity – by being hard-working team players, possessing awareness and problem-solving skills, having sound assessment and decision-making abilities, and are excellent verbal and written communicators.

Paid Training:

Maine DOC provides you with the practical, hands-on training to gain the proficiencies you need to do your job effectively and ensure your professional success.

  • Earn While You Learn: Paid Training and State Certification funded by MDOC
  • Six-Week Basic Corrections Training Program (BCTP) at a regional MDOC facility.
  • Hands-on learning from instructors who have decades of experience in the field.
  • Three weeks of facility-specific, on-the-job learning, through Post-School.
  • Coached and mentored by a Field Training Officer (FTO) after the BCTP.
  • Professional development programs.
  • Ongoing reinforcement and support.

Career Diversity and Advancement:

Correctional Officers have many opportunities for career diversity and advancement in a career that makes a difference, including skilled trades, vocational instruction, social services, security, education, and more!

Application Requirements

  • Age:  Be at least 18 years of age to apply.
  • Education:  Be a high school graduate or hold an equivalent certificate (HiSET, GED, etc.).
  • Conduct:  Have no serious criminal or extensive motor vehicle records. See Automatic Disqualifiers for details.
  • License/Certification: Possess a valid driver's license.

Hiring Process

  1. APPLICATION EVALUATION: Applications are reviewed to verify that each candidate meets the established Minimum Qualifications/Requirements. Applicants who do not meet these requirements are disqualified from further consideration.
     
  2. Physical Agility Test (PAT): Standards for successful completion of the PAT are available upon request. Physical Agility Test (PDF)
     
    • Push-Up Test;
    • Sit-Up Test;
    • Step Test (96 steps in :60 seconds);
    • 140 lbs. Dummy Drag Test;
    • Fire Extinguisher Carry Test; and
    • 1-Mile Run/Brisk Walk Test.
       
  3. Oral Board Interview: Applicants successfully meeting the Minimum Requirements and who have passed PAT will be scheduled for an Oral Board Interview. The Oral Board is a pass/fail component of the applicant process. The Oral Board is a structured interview that evaluates applicants' skills in the areas of:
     
  4. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:  Applicants who successfully pass the Oral Board Interview will have a finger-print based criminal history record check along with a prior employment reference check.

Basic Corrections Training Program

New Correctional Officers and Juvenile Program Workers attend a 6-Week Basic Corrections Training Program, funded by MDOC, that includes 42.5 hours-per-week of paid training. Classes are held regionally at a MDOC facility and follows the BCTP curriculum required by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for state certification.