Correctional Release Counselor, Entry Level Option (Wilsonville)

Department of Corrections; Wilsonville (OR); On-site; USD 77,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family health, vision, and dental

Vacation, sick leave, 11 holidays

Retirement program (Oregon SAVING GROW

Flex spending accounts

Job summary

Oregon Department of Corrections in Wilsonville is seeking a Correctional Release Counselor, Entry Level Option. You will conduct daily interviews with adults in custody, perform risk/needs assessments, and develop release plans focused on rehabilitation and successful reintegration.

Under AFSCME representation, the role offers opportunities to work within a multi-disciplinary team, coordinate services, and support reentry while navigating complex institutional policies and safeguarding client

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral science, criminal justice, or related field and two years of counseling experience.
• Or three years in a social service, rehabilitative, or correctional program with two years counseling experience.
• Or Master's in behavioral science or criminal justice with one year counseling experience.
• Experience must include one-to-one counseling with full case planning responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily one-to-one interviews and assessments of adults in custody.
• Provide intensive and intermediate case management based on risk and needs.
• Assist with custody classification and gate clearance decisions.
• Develop individualized release plans including housing and community resources.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to support rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Maintain documentation and ensure confidentiality of AIC information.

Skills

Case management

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Crisis management

Reentry planning

Multi-case management

Policy knowledge

Ethical standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral science, criminal justice, or related field

Master's degree in behavioral science or criminal justice

Job description

Initial Posting Date: 11/02/2026 Application Deadline: 11/15/2026 Agency: Department of Corrections

Salary Range: $6,895 - $9,140

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Correctional Release Counselor, Entry Level Option (Wilsonville)

Job Description: Correctional Release Counselor, Entry Level Option (Wilsonville) Coffee Creek Correctional Facility Oregon Department of Corrections

Do you have experience working with clients to break down the barriers that are impeding positive change? If so, we are expanding our team and seek an experienced professional case manager like you. This employment opportunity is for the Release Services Unit with the Correctional Services Division of the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications for the Correctional Counselor may be considered as an underfill in the Entry Correctional Counselor classification. An underfill must meet the minimum qualifications for the lower classification and would receive the pay in accordance with the lower classifications salary range until they meet the minimum qualification for the full position. At that time the successful candidate would be moved to the higher classification and salary range. The salary range for the underfill is: $5,483- $7,035. Preference may be given to candidates who can meet the full qualifications.

About the Job – Your Role

Your primary duties are to set the stage for rehabilitation and elicit motivation for change in each Adult in Custody (AIC) from the beginning of their incarceration. You are responsible for conducting daily interviews and assessments on a one-on-one basis for AICs at the institution. This includes conducting assessments, risk/needs evaluations, and file reviews to determine custody classification and gate clearance, which directly influence population management decisions. You will provide intensive and intermediate case management for AICs based on their risk to recidivate and special needs. This comprehensive case management system ensures that resources are focused on AIC success by identifying the right needs, utilizing the right interventions, and managing AICs at the appropriate level of case management. Additionally, you would provide basic services to low-risk AICs, ensuring a broad and effective range of support across all risk levels. As the core correctional resource for case management, you would play a central role in the multi-disciplinary team approach within the institution. This collaborative approach fosters rapport-building across various program disciplines, resulting in a holistic, systems-based model for working with each individual AIC. By focusing on rehabilitation and supporting each AIC’s success, you would contribute to both individual and institutional safety, while working toward reducing recidivism and supporting a successful reintegration into society.

This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This position may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

Minimum Qualifications

Your application materials will be reviewed to verify that you have:

• Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science, criminal justice or related field with major coursework in behavioral science; AND have two (2) years of professional counseling experience working with clientele in a social service or rehabilitative program;
• OR Three (3) years of experience in a social service, rehabilitative, or correctional program with primary responsibility for guiding and/or counseling individuals or groups in the solution of occupational, educational, personal, or social problems AND two (2) years of professional counseling experience working with clientele in a social service or rehabilitative program;
• OR Master's degree in a behavioral science or criminal justice AND one (1) year of professional counseling experience working with clientele in a social service or rehabilitative program;
• Experience in any security series position in and of itself does not substitute for the required minimum qualifications. NOTE: Professional counseling experience must include providing supportive counseling to clients on a one-to-one basis with full responsibility for developing and managing each case plan.

Entry Level/Underfill Minimum Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience in a social service, rehabilitative, or correctional program with primary responsibility for guiding and/or counseling individuals or groups in the solution of occupational, educational, personal, or social problems; OR a Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science or a related field with major courses in behavioral science.
• Experience in any security series position in and of itself does not substitute for the required minimum qualifications. NOTE: Professional counseling experience must include providing supportive counseling to clients on a one-to-one basis with full responsibility for developing and managing each case plan.

Requested Skills

• Ability to assess, plan, and coordinate services for adults in custody (AICs) to ensure a smooth transition to the community.
• Proficiency in evaluating AICs' risks, needs, and support systems to develop individualized release plans.
• Experience in preparing and processing immediate releases, including securing housing, employment, and community resources.
• Ability to manage urgent situations and respond effectively to immediate release needs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to interact with AICs, legal representatives, families, and community organizations.
• Ability to manage multiple cases, meet deadlines, and adapt to fast-paced, short-term casework.
• Understanding of institutional policies, legal requirements, and reentry programs related to correctional releases.
• Ability to develop creative solutions for barriers to reentry, such as housing, employment, and treatment access.
• Commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining the confidentiality of AIC information.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with the female justice-involved population and awareness of their unique criminogenic and trauma-related needs.
• Received Gender Responsive and Trauma Informed training
• Strong understanding of behavioral change principles, especially the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model.
• Proficiency in documentation and use of electronic case management systems.
• Certification in Motivational Interviewing.
• Bilingual or multilingual candidates encouraged to apply.

Working Conditions

All institutions are tobacco-free. The use of tobacco products is prohibited within the buildings or on the grounds. Work is performed in prisons housing maximum, close, medium, and minimum-security adults in custody. Adults in custody have the potential to become angry, hostile, abusive, and aggressive increasing the risk for employees of physical injury, death, and/or being taken hostage. There is an inherent responsibility to provide assistance through recall and/or reassignment during an adult in custody unrest and other emergency situations occurring at the institution. Institutions are exposed to temperature extremes and inclement weather. The incumbent may be required to perform duties outside in inclement weather and temperature extremes. Walking long distances to get to the workstation or to perform work will be required. Most adults in custody housing units are two levels requiring the use of stairs to reach the second level. All employees are required to use a computer for E-Mail, word processing, and related adult in custody information systems in the regular performance of their duties. Work schedule is driven by institution need to provide counseling services to AICs in accommodation of Section 41, Article 1 of the Oregon State Constitution (previously known as Ballot Measure 17.) Requires occasional in-state and out-of-state overnight travel. All employees shall interact with co-workers, AICs, and the public in a professional, respectful manner. This includes refraining from any type of behavior, action, or language that could be perceived as hostile, discriminatory, intimidating, violent, or abusive.

On a daily basis, inherent custodial duties include control of institution keys by maintaining proper custody, use, and reporting discrepancies, enforcing department and institution directives for safe and secure operations/security. An employee is responsible to prevent escapes from confinement by proper control of keys, tools, equipment, and contraband, and to document unusual incidents. This person is subject to recall to the institution in the event of an emergency and is to maintain preparedness for emergencies by reading and following the Emergency Response Plan Manual. Maintain professional demeanor, code of ethics, and good communication to create a safe work environment. The employee in this position works in an office environment where conversations and paperwork are generated of a sensitive nature on a daily basis and must possess the ability to keep this information confidential.

About the Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody in 12 state prisons throughout Oregon. It advises and evaluates counties regarding administration of probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders in Oregon communities. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives. The Oregon Department of Corrections serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision. We commit to creating an organization both reflecting the diversity of the population we serve and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. We strive to be an anti-racist corrections system. Welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people. Free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Department offers a variety of programs and opportunity to create a safe and healthy environment to for our staff, volunteers, and adults in custody. Joining the Oregon Department of Corrections is joining a team working for the benefit of our communities through innovative and proven correctional practices.

Benefits

The salary range listed above is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range to reflect an additional 6.95%. The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, which includes:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays
• 21 days paid military leave for national guard and reserve components
• Optional short and long-term disability
• Term life insurance
• Fully paid retirement program Oregon Saving Growth Plan
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare
• And more

About the Process – What to Expect

After the application deadline, a recruiter will review submissions for education and experience to identify candidates who best fit the minimum qualifications and requested skills. Top candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. The hiring manager will review your application and schedule interviews. Interview will be held with a panel of stakeholders who have completed panel assessment training. Scores will be determined based on predetermined questions and scoring guides. Preferences points will be applied in compliance with relevant laws and bargaining agreements. There may be multiple rounds of interviews. Final candidates will have a background check, PREA check, and reference checks. A Classification and Compensation analyst will review the Workday Application of the successful candidate to determine starting wages. Learn more about Equal Pay. A job offer will be extended through Workday to the successful candidate. Congratulations, and welcome to the team.

Requirements for Employment

• Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, there may be some felony convictions that could disqualify you for this position. However, having a felony record does not exclusively restrict you from being considered as an applicant. CJIS clearance is done at the conditional job offer.
• EDI&B is embedded in the Department of Corrections core values. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, and exceeding expectations to deliver the best public services.
• We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.
• Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility.
• Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the job posting close date. The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date.
• Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States.

Equal Pay

Learn more about Equal Pay.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI&B)

The Department of Corrections core values embed EDI&B. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, and exceeding expectations to deliver the best public services.