Contrary to what one may read in the media, jobs are in demand for corrections officers in the state of Michigan.
State sees increased demand for
by Marilynn Fryer
Debra Scutt, warden at the Parnall Correctional Facility and Cotton Correctional Facility, said turnover in the number of corrections officers consistently leaves a large number of openings. The MDOC recruitment office reports they have been hiring for the past year, and foresee hiring in the next year and beyond. “Michigan Department of Corrections hired a lot of officers in the early ‘80s, and many have risen through the ranks and are eligible for retirement. There is always a need to fill those positions of people who retire, are promoted or transfer,” Scutt said. Careers in corrections vary depending on the site. Most corrections officers with the MDOC will be working with convicted felons, overseeing them and maintaining order in the facilities. Some may also work for local municipalities in jails. For example, corrections officers may work in or supervise activities in a housing unit, a food service program, a leisure/athletic area, or work in a gun tower. Some officers aid in rehabilitation of inmates,
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Michigan Department of Corrections hired a lot of officers in the early ‘80s, and many have risen through the ranks and are eligible for retirement. There is always a need to fill those positions of people who retire, are promoted or transfer.
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- Debra Scutt, Warden, Parnall Correctional Facility
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Winter 2013 • Career Choices • 517.796.8416
teaching programs such as thinking for change, anger management programs like “cage your rage” and more, Scutt said. To become a corrections officer, applicants need to complete a minimum of 15 college credits in a prescribed selection of courses, including correctional administration, criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, social work, counseling and guidance, law enforcement and more. JCC offers associate degree and certificate programs in corrections. Students may benefit from JCC’s transfer agreement with Siena Heights University, allowing them to transfer up to 90 credits from JCC to Siena Heights and with all courses needed for a bachelor’s degree available on JCC’s campus. (See page 19 for salary information). Further education will help officers improve their job skills and open up opportunities for advancement within the department. “I would say the higher you move up the ladder, a four-year degree is a minimum qualification,” Scutt said. Those considering going into corrections should have good people and interpersonal skills. “This is not what some people may think, that we ‘warehouse’ prisoners,” Scutt said. “You need to have good communications skills to daily work with convicted felons, many of whom have social skill deficits, substance abuse problems, and medical or mental health problems. It’s like working in a specialty environment.” Corrections is a good career choice for those interested in parole or probation, which will require a four-year degree. Parole and probation officers meet with offenders to ensure that requirements of their release are being met. “There are so many jobs where you can start as a corrections officer and lead to another career path. It’s a good base to start from.”