Male and female correctional officers in Illinois work in a variety of local, federal, and state facilities with incarcerated persons across the state. In order to meet the needs of the incarcerated population, Illinois has a number of different types of facilities including transition centres, booth camps, correctional facilities, administrative and diagnostic centers, women's facilities, and work camps. Placement in any of these facilities depends on the severity of the sentence, rehabilitative opportunities, and a variety of other factors. Correctional officers are needed for all facilities. According to state records, the Department of Corrections currently employs 10,850 officers, and according to BLS, demand is set to increase by about 550 new positions over the next 10 years. Additional positions will be available due to retirement, attrition, and professional development. As our nation learns more about sentencing and recidivism, more employment opportunities for correctional officers will develop. To read more about this exciting profession, continue reading.
Top Schools Supporting Careers in Criminal Justice & Corrections
The following rankings are based on student data, published surveys, and other school and career data collected from several sources which include the following government agencies:
Data Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
By obtaining our base data set from the above data sources, schools were ranked using the criteria below:
- Schools with less than 10 total graduates per year were omitted in order to maintain statistical integrity
- Schools must have at least 1 graduate in the field of criminal justice
- Only 4-year, 2-year, and technical public and private non-profit schools were included
Schools were sorted in order of the highest percentage of total students graduating with a degree in the field of criminal justice (CIPCODES: 43.0102, 43.0110, 43.0113, 43.0103, 43.0104, 43.0107, 43.0109, 43.0111, 43.0112, 43.0199).
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College ranks first in our rankings with 133 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and security and loss prevention services out of a total two thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
MacMurray College
MacMurray College ranks 2nd in our rankings with thirteen students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total 206 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University ranks 3rd in our latest rankings with 377 students graduating from programs in law enforcement administration out of a total six thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.
Lewis University
Lewis University ranks 4th in our rankings with 186 students completing programs in security and loss prevention services, corrections, and criminal justice out of a total 3,576 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.
Blackburn College
Blackburn College ranks fifth in our latest rankings with nine students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 194 graduates.
Kankakee Community College
Kankakee Community College ranks sixth in our latest rankings with eighty-one students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total a thousand graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.
Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College ranks 7th in our rankings with 246 students completing programs in criminal justice and law enforcement administration out of a total 5,796 students from the 2012-2013 school year.
Eureka College
Eureka College ranks 8th in our latest rankings with 13 students graduating from programs in corrections out of a total 408 graduates in the 2012-2013 school year.
Chicago State University
Chicago State University ranks 9th in our latest rankings with 66 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand graduates.
South Suburban College
South Suburban College ranks 10th in our latest rankings with thirty-two students completing programs in criminal justice and juvenile corrections out of a total 1,074 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Governors State University
Governors State University ranks eleventh in our latest rankings with 87 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 3,266 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University ranks 12th in our rankings with 116 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total four thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.
Lincoln Land Community College
Lincoln Land Community College ranks thirteenth in our latest rankings with 112 students graduating from programs in criminal justice, criminal justice, and security and loss prevention services out of a total 4,386 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Aurora University
Aurora University ranks 14th in our rankings with 69 students graduating from programs in criminal justice and law enforcement administration out of a total two thousand graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Lewis and Clark Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College ranks fifteenth in our rankings with 62 students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total two thousand students in the 2012-2013 school year.
Quincy University
Quincy University ranks 16th in our latest rankings with fifteen students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 742 students.
Kaskaskia College
Kaskaskia College ranks seventeenth in our latest rankings with sixty-three students completing programs in law enforcement administration out of a total three thousand students.
North Park University
North Park University ranks eighteenth in our rankings with twenty-eight students graduating from programs in criminal justice out of a total 1,462 students from the 2012-2013 school year.
Moraine Valley Community College
Moraine Valley Community College ranks 19th in our latest rankings with ninety-four students completing programs in security and loss prevention services and criminal justice out of a total 5,154 graduates.
University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield ranks 20th in our rankings with 49 students completing programs in criminal justice out of a total 2,716 graduates from the 2012-2013 school year.
Continued List of All Criminal Jusitice Programs in Illinois
Program | Website |
---|---|
Joliet Junior College 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431-8938 Phone: (815) 729-9020 | jjc.edu |
Morton College 3801 S Central Ave, Cicero, IL 60804-4398 Phone: (708) 656-8000 | morton.edu |
Oakton Community College 1600 E Golf Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016-1268 Phone: (847) 635-1600 | oakton.edu |
Illinois State University North and School Streets, Normal, IL 61790-1000 Phone: (309) 438-2111 | criminaljustice.illinoisstate.edu |
Lincoln College 300 Keokuk St, Lincoln, IL 62656 Phone: (217) 732-3155 | nccatalog.lincolncollege.edu |
University of Illinois at Chicago 601 S Morgan, Chicago, IL 60607 Phone: (312) 996-7000 | clj.uic.edu |
College of Lake County 19351 W Washington St., Grayslake, IL 60030-1198 Phone: (847) 543-2000 | clcillinois.edu |
Saint Xavier University 3700 W 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60655 Phone: (773) 298-3000 | sxu.edu |
Richland Community College One College Pk, Decatur, IL 62521-8512 Phone: (217) 875-7200 | richland.edu |
Triton College 2000 5th Ave, River Grove, IL 60171-1995 Phone: (708) 456-0300 x3130 | triton.edu |
Southeastern Illinois College 3575 College Road, Harrisburg, IL 62946 Phone: (618) 252-5400 | sic.edu |
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Il State Rte 157, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1259 Phone: (618) 650-2000 | siue.edu |
Elmhurst College 190 Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3096 Phone: (630) 617-3500 | elmhurst.edu |
Danville Area Community College 2000 E Main St, Danville, IL 61832-5118 Phone: (217) 443-3222 | dacc.edu |
University of St Francis 500 N Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435-6188 Phone: (815) 740-3360 | stfrancis.edu |
Trinity Christian College 6601 W College Dr, Palos Heights, IL 60463-0929 Phone: (708) 597-3000 | trnty.edu |
Roosevelt University 430 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605-1394 Phone: (312) 341-3500 | roosevelt.edu |
Elgin Community College 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123-7193 Phone: (847) 697-1000 | elgin.edu |
Loyola University Chicago 1032 W. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660 Phone: (773) 274-3000 | luc.edu |
College of DuPage 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599 Phone: (630) 942-2800 | cod.edu |
Sauk Valley Community College 173 Illinois Rt 2, Dixon, IL 61021-9112 Phone: (815) 288-5511 | svcc.edu |
Olney Central College 305 N West Street, Olney, IL 62450 Phone: (618) 393-2982 | cod.edu |
Parkland College 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821-1899 Phone: (217) 351-2200 | parkland.edu |
Greenville College 315 E. College Ave, Greenville, IL 62246 Phone: (618) 664-2800 | greenville.edu |
Rend Lake College 468 N Ken Gray Pky, Ina, IL 62846 Phone: (618) 437-5321 x1331 | rlc.edu |
Waubonsee Community College Rte 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554-9454 Phone: (630) 466-7900 x2255 | waubonsee.edu |
Carl Sandburg College 2400 Tom L. Wilson Boulevard, Galesburg, IL 61401 Phone: (309) 344-2518 | sandburg.edu |
John A Logan College 700 Logan College Road, Carterville, IL 62918-2500 Phone: (618) 985-3741 | jalc.edu |
Kishwaukee College 21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL 60150-9699 Phone: (815) 825-2086 | kishwaukeecollege.edu |
McHenry County College 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012-2761 Phone: (815) 455-3700 | mchenry.edu |
Heartland Community College 1500 West Raab Road, Normal, IL 61761-9446 Phone: (309) 268-8000 | heartland.edu |
Black Hawk College 6600-34th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265-5899 Phone: (309) 796-5000 | bhc.edu |
Judson University 1151 N State St, Elgin, IL 60123-1498 Phone: (847) 628-2500 | judsonu.edu |
Harper College 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067-7398 Phone: (847) 925-6000 | goforward.harpercollege.edu |
Bradley University 1501 W Bradley Ave, Peoria, IL 61625-0001 Phone: (309) 676-7611 | bradley.edu |
Olivet Nazarene University One University Avenue, Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2271 Phone: (815) 939-5011 | olivet.edu |
Lincoln Trail College 11220 State Hwy 1, Robinson, IL 62454 Phone: (618) 393-2982 | iecc.edu |
Illinois Valley Community College 815 N Orlando Smith Ave, Oglesby, IL 61348-9692 Phone: (815) 224-2720 | ivcc.edu |
Prairie State College 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411-8226 Phone: (708) 709-3500 | prairiestate.edu |
Shawnee Community College 8364 Shawnee College Rd, Ullin, IL 62992 Phone: (618) 634-3200 | shawneecc.edu |
Illinois Central College 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635-0001 Phone: (309) 694-5422 | icc.edu |
Frontier Community College Frontier Drive, Fairfield, IL 62837 Phone: (618) 393-2982 | iecc.edu |
Benedictine University 5700 College Rd, Lisle, IL 60532-0900 Phone: (630) 829-6000 | ben.edu |
Rock Valley College 3301 N Mulford Rd, Rockford, IL 61114-5699 Phone: (815) 921-7821 | rockvalleycollege.edu |
University of Chicago 5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637 Phone: (773) 702-1234 | law.uchicago.edu |
John Wood Community College 1301 S 48th Street, Quincy, IL 62305-8736 Phone: (217) 224-6500 | jwcc.edu |
What Correctional Officer Training Can’t Prepare You For
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Southern New Hampshire University Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Corrections Request Info Liberty University…Life as a CO in Chicago’s Infamous Cook County Jail
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Southern New Hampshire University Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Corrections Request Info Liberty University…The Benefits of a Criminal Justice Degree
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Southern New Hampshire University Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Corrections Request Info Liberty University…Degrees for Occupational Advancement in the Corrections Field
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Southern New Hampshire University Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Corrections Request Info Liberty University…Key Concepts & Skills Taught in Correctional Officer Training
Featured Programs: Sponsored School(s) Southern New Hampshire University Featured Program: BS in Criminal Justice - Corrections Request Info Liberty University…
Illinois Correctional Officer Certification Requirements
The Department of Corrections in Illinois continually recruits qualified and interested applicants for the position of corrections officer. Due to the challenging nature of the work, it is mandatory that all applicants meet all of the minimum requirements of the position. First, eligibility requirements determine whether a candidate can even apply. Do you have:
- Proof of age (18+)
- No felony convictions
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status
- Valid Illinois driver's license
- Proof of military DD-214 if applicable
- High school diploma or GED
- Speak, read, and write English
With proof of the above eligibility criteria, candidates may fill out an online application form and wait to be contacted for the next round of assessments, which may include:
- Written test of knowledge
- Physical agility test
- Interview regarding education, work and military experience
Candidates who have successfully passed the assessments may be offered conditional employment based on a satisfactory training camp experience. New employee training teaches a variety of problem-solving and practical tools for corrections officers to use while on the job.
Illinois Department of Corrections
1301 Concordia Court, P.O. Box 19277
Springfield, IL 62794-9277
Phone: (217) 558-2200 x 2008
https://www.illinois.gov/idoc/Pages/default.aspx
Illinois Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook
Correctional Officer Salary: Illinois vs National Salary Comparison
Source: BLS State Cross-Industry Estimates 2011
One of the ways that the state of Illinois strives to serve front-line correctional officers is through strong working conditions and competitive salaries. Currently, the median income for correctional officers throughout the state is considerably higher at $60,300 than that of the national median income. and according to the occupational profile for the state of Illinois, http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=17&x=69&y=14 published by CareerInfoNet.org, state and national trends predict a 2% and 5% increase in correctional officer jobs by 2022 respectively. For residents of Illinois, this rate translates into 330 job openings per year.
Occupational Employment Statistics for Correctional Officers (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm)
Illinois Correctional Officer Salaries By Area
The table below lists career information organized by the BLS for correctional officers in Illinois. The table is sorted by total employment, with the largest metropolitan areas listed first.
Area | Total Employment | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|
Chicago, Joliet, Naperville | 4,300 | $27.97 | $58,180 |
Lake County, Kenosha County | 460 | $28.58 | $59,440 |
Peoria | 220 | $23.57 | $49,030 |
Champaign, Urbana | 70 | $21.48 | $44,670 |