STATE CORRECTION JOBS OFFERED UNTIL FEB. 26

Starting Pay Is $34,329; 2,000 Posts Available; Need H.S. Diploma To Apply; Written Test Set for April 14

The state Department of Correctional Services is accepting applications until Feb. 26 for an exam leading to Correctional Officer positions.

The starting salary is $34,329, which rises to $41,348 upon completion of the eight-week training program and one-year probationary period. Officers assigned to work in the five boroughs or Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester counties will receive an additional $3,025 annual downstate adjustment.

Will Hire by October

DOCS is looking to hire approximately 2,000 officers, said agency spokeswoman Linda M. Foglia. Pre-employment screenings will begin in July and individuals who score near the top of the eligible list can expect to be hired in October, she added.

Based on staffing needs, new officers are typically assigned to facilities in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley area. Officers can request to be reassigned, on the basis of seniority, to other prisons.

At the time of appointment, officers must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Appointees must also be U.S. citizens and New York State residents.

The written test is scheduled for April 14. The exam will test candidates' abilities to observe and recall information, apply written information in a correctional services setting, and prepare and understand written material. The passing score is 70 percent.

In addition, candidates must pass a background check, a psychological evaluation, physical exam, and a drug-and-alcohol screening.

Individuals who speak Spanish are urged to apply.

The eight-week training will include courses in: emergency response procedures, interpersonal communications, legal rights and responsibilities, and security measures. Appointees will also receive rigorous physical training to develop fitness, strength, and stamina.

New hires must maintain the required academic standard and pass the firearms qualification by the end of training. They will also receive on-the-job instruction for three weeks and then be assigned to prisons for full duty.

Individuals can apply online at www.cs.state.ny.us. Further information and copies of the exam notice can also be obtained at that Web site.