Becoming a Correctional Officer in Hawaii

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The state of Hawaii has need for both male and female corrections officers at the local, state, and federal tiers. Due to industry expansion, attrition, retirement, and professional advancement, there is a steady need for front line officers with appropriate qualifications and a willingness to be trained on the job. Facilities in Hawaii are in Hawaii's four jails and three prisons. Jails, such as the Hawaii Community Correctional Center and the Oahu Community Correctional center are located on each major island and used for pretrial and misdemeanor incarceration as well as inmates who are ready to transition to a community placement. The state's three state prisons, Halawa Correctional Facility, Waiawa Correctional Facility, Kulani Correctional Facility are all located on the island of Oahu. Additionally, some felons are located off-island at the Saguaro Correctional Center. In the state of Hawaii there are currently 3,618 incarcerated inmates - the state employs 1,943 officers for this need. By the end of 2022, BLS.gov forecasts that there will be careers for 2,040 front-line officers. Read more about becoming a correctional officer in the data below.

ProgramWebsite

Remington College-Honolulu Campus

1111 Bishop St Ste 400, Honolulu, HI 96813-2811
Phone: (808) 942-1000

Chaminade University of Honolulu

3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816-1578
Phone: (808) 735-4711

Honolulu Community College

874 Dillingham Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817-4598
Phone: (808) 845-9211

Hawaii Community College

200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720-4075
Phone: (808) 934-2500

Hawaii Pacific University

1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 544-0200

University of Hawaii Maui College

310 Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, HI 96732-1643
Phone: (808) 984-3500

University of Hawaii at Hilo

200 W Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720-4091
Phone: (808) 974-7311

Hawaii Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

Hawaii's Department of Corrections recruits applicants for the role of Corrections Officer as long as the vacancy remains open, but reserves the right to close the posting at any time. Because of the need for qualified personnel in the state's prisons and county jails, Hawaii is committed to only hiring applicants that meet the eligibility requirements of a state job, and who are physically and mentally able for the role. Applicants should be prepared to provide the following to complete their application:

  • Proof of age
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship
  • Have no record of felony or domestic violence convictions
  • Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Have no restrictions to carrying and deploying a weapon in accordance with state and federal laws

With the requirements for eligibility met, candidates proceed to the testing portion of the hiring process. This allows the Department of Corrections to assess the fitness of candidates for the role of corrections officer. Such testing can include:

  • Fitness testing
  • Physical assessment or report
  • Mental health assessment
  • Written test
  • Personal and professional background checks and fingerprinting
  • Personal interview

Satisfactory assessments allow the hiring committee to make the best choice for their vacancy from a pool of qualified applicants. Successful candidates can expect further training once hired in order to gain situational experience in a corrections setting.

Hawaii Department of Public Safety

801 Dillingham Blvd. Box 100 & 200
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: (808) 586-5500
http://dps.hawaii.gov/

Hawaii Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

Correctional Officer Salary: Hawaii vs National Salary Comparison

Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011

One of the ways that the state of Hawaii serves and supports correctional officers is through strong working and salary opportunities throughout the state. As such, the median income for front-line correctional officers throughout the state is much higher at $48,400 than the median national income at $39,800. According to the occupational profile for the state of Hawaii found at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=15&x=53&y=7 and published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 10% and 5% increase in correctional officer jobs by 2022 respectively, indicating that state growth is faster than national growth. For residents of Hawaii, this rate translates into 70 job vacancies per year.

Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)

Hawaii Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

The table below lists career information collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for correctional officers in Hawaii. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.

AreaTotal EmploymentAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Honolulu1,110$23.64$49,180