Corrections Counselor 1 - SCI Forest

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Marienville (PA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Forest County is seeking a Corrections Counselor 1 at the State Correctional Institution at Forest. The role focuses on counseling inmates, guiding emotional growth, and supporting reintegration through casework and structured interviews.

Key duties include interviewing inmates, managing cases, reviewing assessments, coordinating treatment, and planning reentry. The schedule is 40 hours weekly, with a fixed morning shift and no telework option.

Qualifications

• Three years and six months as a corrections officer and 18 college credits in sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree including 18 college credits in related fields.
• Equivalent combination of experience and training with 18 college credits.

Responsibilities

• Inmate Interviews: Conduct interviews to support adjustment and positive development.
• Case Management: Maintain records, prepare reports, and communicate with staff and outside agencies.
• Assessment Review: Analyze tests, compile histories, and document evaluations for programming and planning.
• Program Coordination: Work with treatment teams to align counseling, activities, and educational services.
• Reentry Planning: Assist with parole preparation and gather identification documents.

Education

Bachelor's degree including 18 college credits in sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections or related field

Three years and six months as a corrections officer

Equivalent combination of experience and training incl. 18 college credits

Graduation within 3 months of qualifying degree/credits

Job description

Salary

$56,541.00 - $86,022.00 Annually

Location

Forest County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-59865-47530

Department

Department of Corrections

Division

CR FRS Trmt Svcs

Opening Date

10/02/2026

Closing Date

10/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

47530

Position Number

00125635

Union

SEIU Local 668

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST06

Bureau / Division Code

00113250

Bureau / Division

State Correctional Institution at Forest

Worksite Address

286 Woodland Drive

City

Marienville, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

16239

Contact Name

Wendy Mangan

The POSITION

Begin a rewarding career as a Corrections Counselor 1 with the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Forest. This position allows you to guide individuals as they work toward positive change and successful reintegration. You will help support their emotional growth, encourage progress, and build trust through meaningful conversations. Take pride in making a difference every day while developing valuable skills in counseling and casework-apply today!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position provides counseling and casework services to inmates and supports their adjustment, personal development, and preparation for community re-entry. The role requires communication, assessment, and collaboration with institutional staff and community partners. As a Corrections Counselor 1, you will perform the following duties:

• Inmate Interviews: Conduct interviews to support adjustment, address concerns, and encourage positive development
• Case Management: Maintain records, prepare reports, and communicate with staff, families, and outside agencies
• Assessment Review: Analyze tests, compile histories, and document evaluations for programming and planning
• Program Coordination: Work with treatment teams to align counseling, activities, and educational services
• Reentry Planning: Assist with parole preparation, gather identification documents, and recommend community resources

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $56,541.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Three years and six months as a corrections officer, and 18 college credits in any combination of sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field; or
• A bachelor's degree including 18 college credits in any combination of sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 18 college credits in any combination of sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree/credits.

Special Requirement

• You must obtain Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certification within two months of employment and maintain certification for the duration of employment in this job.

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirement

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

Equality and Non-Discrimination Statement

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.