The Tennessee Department of Correction is launching a rapid hiring initiative to beef up its workforce, targeting potential correctional officers and counselors for the Morgan County Correctional Complex. A hiring event is slated for today and Saturday at the Knoxville Day Reporting Center, aiming to streamline the employment process with on-the-spot interviews and the possibility of same-day conditional job offers for qualified candidates.
Highlighted in an announcement on their official website, the department detailed that starting salaries for correctional officers are pegged at $44,520, and this amount steps up to $46,752 after employees complete their first 12 months. As for correctional counselors, their starting pay begins at $43,140. Moreover, there's an additional lure in the form of a $5,000 sign-on bonus for new correctional officers.
The benefits package accompanying these positions is comprehensive, with new employees standing to gain health, life, vision, and dental insurance, alongside retirement plans, paid vacation, and avenues for education through college tuition assistance. The preparation for their roles is thorough as well - successful applicants will undertake six weeks of paid training via the Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT) program, which includes both hands-on and classroom instruction to ensure they’re aptly equipped for their responsibilities.
Interested parties are encouraged to pre-register for the hiring event through the site on Indeed.com, but it's not a requirement; walk-ins are welcomed as well. When arriving, applicants need to arm themselves with nothing more than a state-issued photo ID and the ambition to start at age 18 or older. This approach not only streamlines the hiring process but also promises to swiftly reinforce staffing at the correctional facility with eager new personnel.
