CO Career Information In Alaska

Alaska Department of Corrections’ employees are on the front lines of public safety across the state. Those dedicated men and women serve our communities in a variety of ways: upholding the strict security measures inside of our institutions, creating case plans that guide defendants and/or offenders on a successful path that makes each town and village stronger and lowers the recidivism rate. Each member of the DOC team is valued and important to our overall function.

What Type of Person Makes A Good Correctional Officer ?

Because Correctional Officers supervise some of the worst individuals society produces, they must have the ability to handle confrontations, good oral and written communication skills, the ability to interact with various types of people, stay calm under stress, be impartial, and they must be aware and observant at all times, as they watch for security breaches. Patience and tolerance are needed, along with the ability to be firm and assertive when necessary. A high level of moral integrity and dedication to duty, honor, and selfless service is required. A professional, disciplined demeanor that reflects the responsibility of the position and the uniform is required, along with the ability to learn, understand, and follow policies and procedures. Being physically fit is important. Other sought-after abilities include resilience, learning from setbacks or failures, motivation, teamwork, multi-tasking, diffusing potentially volatile situations, and thinking on one’s feet by quickly responding to changing situations, weighing evidence, processing information quickly, and acting decisively. 

Pay and Benefits

Supplemental Benefits System

To ensure a greater benefit to employees, the State of Alaska opted out of the Social Security System for state employees on January 1, 1980. The State contributes 6.13 % of your wages, and you do also, up to the Social Security maximum. You can control the investment of this money in the various options the State provides through Empower.

Paid Life Insurance

A basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment premium is paid by the State. It covers the employee, spouse and eligible children. Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment pays $10,000 for the employee’s death and substantially smaller amounts for a dependent’s death. In addition, you may choose to enroll in Optional Life for a very low cost. Travel Accident coverage pays $200,000 to your beneficiary if you die accidentally, while on State business, in travel status, on authorized State business.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain security within the institution and oversee the health and safety of staff and prisoners.
• Physically patrol and visually inspect units, yards, buildings, prisoners, prisoner property and clothing, etc, to ensure the welfare, safety and security. Maintain visual surveillance of grounds by foot and from a rover vehicle.
• Perform inspections and searches of physical premises and cells, checking for contraband and compliance with regulations; investigate and report unusual circumstances. Conduct pat and/or strip searches of prisoners and visitors.
• Observe prisoners directly and indirectly through visual, audio and video monitoring, checking for unusual or abnormal activity, to ensure the physical safety of prisoners, staff and the public. Observe and respond to obvious and subtle changes in prisoner conversation or behavior that might be inappropriate or indicate the potential for trouble.
• Monitor radio transmissions between staff in order to respond immediately to directions/emergencies, and to call for security support as needed.
• Provide escort and provide security for visitors.
• Comply with and enforce security procedures for keys, equipment and supplies.
• Operate control room, monitoring and accessing gates, cameras, alarms, and video terminals, operate control panels in response to audio and visual cues and requests by staff.
• Enforce institutional rules and Standard Operation Procedures. Explain rules and procedures to prisoners so they understand the expectations and consequences of their behavior. Report infractions and confront prisoners who violate rules. Initiate segregation or disciplinary procedures.
• Receive prisoners into custody, conduct searches, and initially assess prisoners for health, safety and security reasons.
• Supervise prisoners to maintain order in daily activities, work assignments and programming. Monitor inmate phones, mail, and hygiene.
• Act as Prisoner Hearing Advisor at Disciplinary and Classification Hearings to safeguard prisoner rights and welfare.
• Apply the appropriate level of force in accordance with policies.
• Direct prisoners to work assignments, meals, recreation and traffic from the living unit; maintain order and discipline: apply appropriate restraints.
• Obtain and deliver meal trays, clothing, bedding and supplies to prisoners as necessary.
• Perform prisoner head counts and confirm each one’s identity for facility counts.
• Interact with prisoners in a wide variety of situations, often when prisoners significantly outnumber staff. Prisoners may be hostile and verbally/physically aggressive.
• Stabilize and provide backup in emergency situations.
• Be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) and other chemical agents.
• Be exposed to EID and other electronic immobilization devices.

Basic Academy and Training

The Basic Correctional Officer Academy of the Alaska Department of Corrections is a six-week curriculum that prepares a candidate to become certified as a Correctional Officer under Alaska Police Standards Council regulations.

The Academy covers the skills and knowledge Officers needs to effectively and safely perform the duties of a Correctional Officer. A partial list of topics covered includes department policies, communications, civil law, first aid/CPR, defensive tactics, firearms (shotgun), Officer survival, searches, and restraints.

The curriculum includes a variety of instructional methods and environments, with an emphasis on practical, hands-on training. Candidates should be aware that during the Academy they will be sprayed with oleoresin capsicum (OC – pepper spray) and the Taser device will be applied to part of their body if they so choose. The training culminates with scenario-based role-play training in actual correctional facilities. Candidates must pass each phase of the Academy in order to be eligible for certification as a Correctional Officer.

The successful candidate is a mature individual, who is drawn to public service, particularly in the area of public protection. Candidates should be in good physical shape and have effective interpersonal and communications skills.

The Alaska Department of Corrections Training Academy is located in Palmer, Alaska. It is not a residential facility. Students from outside the Anchorage/Palmer area will be housed in a local hotel during the Academy. For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Corrections Training Academy web page.