Corrections Counselor 1 SCI Smithfield

Commonwealth-of-Pennsylvania; Smithfield Township (Bradford County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections seeks a Corrections Counselor 1 at SCI Smithfield to guide inmates toward positive change. The role focuses on interviews, basic casework, program guidance, and effective communication to support daily adjustment.

This full-time position (40 hours/week) operates 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, Monday–Friday. Requirements include 3 years 6 months as a corrections officer and 18 college credits or a related bachelor’s degree; basic training and PA residency

Qualifications

• Three years and six months as a corrections officer with 18 college credits in related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree with 18 credits in related field (or equivalent).
• Ability to meet PA residency and obtain required certifications.

Responsibilities

• Interview inmates to discuss adjustment issues and available resources.
• Maintain simple records and prepare routine progress reports.
• Provide information about educational, vocational, and re-entry programs.
• Communicate updates clearly with staff, families, and outside agencies.
• Support positive conduct by reinforcing institutional rules.
• Assist with routine caseload tasks and meeting preparations.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Documentation

Inmate interviewing

Program guidance

Education

18 college credits in sociology / counseling / social work / corrections

Bachelor’s degree with 18 credits in related field

Equivalent combination incl. 18 credits

Job description

As a Corrections Counselor 1 with the Department of Corrections (DOC), you will play a key role in guiding inmates toward positive change. You will support daily adjustment, encourage responsible choices, and help connect inmates with needed programs. This position provides a meaningful way to develop professional skills and serve the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Smithfield community. Step into a role where steady guidance and communication make a lasting difference.

Corrections Counselors help inmates adjust to the institution by offering support, guidance, and basic casework services. This role focuses on communication, documentation, and helping inmates access programs that support positive behavior. As a Corrections Counselor 1, you will perform the following duties:

• Inmate Interviews: Meet with inmates to discuss adjustment issues, concerns, and available support resources
• Basic Casework: Maintain simple records, prepare routine reports, and document relevant information about inmate progress
• Program Guidance: Provide information about educational, vocational, and re-entry programs, and explain how inmates may access them
• Communication Support: Share important updates with staff, families, and outside agencies in a clear and respectful manner
• Behavior Encouragement: Support positive conduct by offering feedback, discussing expectations, and reinforcing institutional rules
• Caseload Assistance: Help manage routine caseload tasks, organize documents, and assist with preparation for meetings and evaluations

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework:You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

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;
• A bachelor’s degree including 18 college credits in any combination of sociology, counseling, psychology, social work, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field;
• 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.

Special Requirements:

• 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 Requirements:

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

This position is subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

You must be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.

Recruitment Methods:

Applicants must meet one of the following methods to be considered for this vacancy:

• Promotion Without Exam
• Reassignment - Only current civil service employees in the same agency who hold the same or similar job title, with the same maximum salary, within the same occupational group or where there is a logical career movement, will qualify for reassignment.
• Transfer - Only current civil service employees who hold the same job title will qualify for transfer to another agency.
• Voluntary Demotion

Promotion Without Examination (PWOE):

• Class Restrictions for Promotion Without Examination Only - You must have or have held regular civil service status in one of the following classifications:
  • Institutional Parole Assistant.
  • We will also consider applications from current Commonwealth employees in pay scale group ST05 for which there is a logical occupational, functional, or career developmental relationship to this position. All applicants must meet the minimum experience and training requirements.
• Employees who previously held regular civil service status in the job title of the position being filled are also eligible for promotion without examination.
• The promotion without examination requirements are issued in accordance with merit system employment regulations.
• Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
• Applicants must have a minimum of one year in the next lower classes by the posting closing date with no break in service.

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.

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.