Court Officer Trainee Posts Open At $40G

Need H.S. Diploma, Must Live in State to Be Hired; Test in Fall

 

The state is hiring Court Officer Trainees to fill current and anticipated positions in courts throughout the state.

The starting salary will be $39,771 as of April 1, 2010. The application fee for the written test is $30, payable by money order. Applications must be submitted by mail and postmarked no later than July 31.

Due to the anticipated large response to this announcement, the written examination will be held in test centers throughout the state on Oct. 24 and Dec. 12. Candidates will be assigned to take the test on one of these dates. Admission notices will be mailed to all candidates three weeks prior to the first test date informing them of their date and the location of the test center where they should report.

Location Differentials

Appointees in the city, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester counties will receive $3,697 in annual location pay. Appointees in Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties will receive $1,848 in annual location pay. There is an annual uniform allowance.

After satisfactory completion of a two-year traineeship program, individuals will be appointed to the title of Court Officer, which as of next April will pay $49,777 to start. That figures to increase by the time they enter the title.

Court employees receive 20 days of paid vacation during their first year of service in addition to 12 paid holidays. They also accrue 13 days of paid sick leave annually. Medical, dental, vision care, life insurance and retirement plans are offered. Any applicant who is receiving a pension from any government entity in New York State is required to defer that pension while employed by the New York State Unified Court System.

At the time of appointment, a New York State Court Officer Trainee must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, be a United States citizen and be a resident of New York State.

Job Duties

Court Officer Trainees are responsible for maintaining order and providing security in courtrooms, court buildings and grounds. After completion of formal training at the Academy, they may be assigned to all trial courts and court agencies to begin the on-the-job training portion of their two-year traineeship.

Court Officer Trainees are peace officers, who are required to wear uniforms and may be authorized to carry firearms, execute bench warrants and make arrests. Typical duties include guarding and escorting criminal defendants while in court custody; escorting judges, juries and witnesses, and handling court documents and forms.

The application can be downloaded from www.nycourts.gov/careers/coexams .shtml, and can be mailed to State of New York, Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration, P.O. Box 15136, Albany, N.Y. 12212-5136, along with the money order.