Becoming a Correctional Officer in South Dakota

South Dakota Correctional Officer Certification Requirements

The South Dakota Department of Corrections has an ongoing recruitment campaign to hire professionally minded men and women for the position of corrections officer. To safeguard employees, prisons, and surrounding communities however, the South Dakota DOC only employs those candidates who are the best fit for the job. In order to ensure that this is the case, the state has in place a multiple stage hiring process that begins with basic eligibility. Do you have proof of the following?

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proof of age (21+) and U.S. citizenship/naturalization
• No felony convictions
• No domestic violence convictions
• Valid South Dakota driver's license
• If military, DD-214
• Capability to possess and use a firearm or other weapon

After meeting basic eligibility requirements, the DOC will further subject those successful candidates with a battery of other tests to determine their aptitude for the role of corrections officer:

• Medical assessment
• Fitness assessment based on sex and age
• Mental health assessment
• Extensive personal, professional, and criminal background check which includes fingerprinting

Applicants who the department's requirements up to this point will be scheduled for an interview and then invited to enrol in the state's training facility for several weeks. Personnel that complete the final training stage will be certified as corrections officers and can be posted to job vacancies as the need arises.

South Dakota Department of Corrections

3200 East Highway 34, c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3478
http://doc.sd.gov/

South Dakota Correctional Officer Employment & Outlook

The state Department of Corrections in South Dakota wants growth by citizens who are pursuing careers in state service, namely as front-line correctional officers. At this time, the median income for correctional officers throughout South Dakota is lower at $33,800 than the national median income at $39,800, however professional development can boost base salary quickly. According to occupational data for the state of South Dakota, available at http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=011000000&jobfam=33&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=333012&menuMode=&stfips=46&x=52&y=9 and published by CareerInfoNet.org, state trends are predicted to experience an 3% growth rate from now until 2022 as compared to the national growth rate of 5%. This predicted growth pattern translates into 40 new and existing openings annually over the next decade.

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

South Dakota Correctional Officer Salaries By Area

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