Correctional Officer

Before:

Written Examination:

The online examination will consist of the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Selection Exam for Local Corrections. Qualified candidates will receive a notification via email when the examination is available. To locate the Candidate Orientation Booklet for this exam, which includes example questions, please click here. 

Physical Agility Test (PAT):

Before taking the exam, applicants should review the following material:

Correctional Officers (COs) must be able to respond to a variety of physical demanding activities to maintain the safety and security within a detention environment. This exam encompasses a candidate’s strength, endurance and agility required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and functions expected of a CO. This Physical Agility Test (PAE) is modeled after the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Department entry Physical Fitness Test. 

Each candidate will be required to successfully complete an agility course with job-task simulations of physical trials presented throughout a 500 yards (1,500 feet) course laid out on a variety of different surfaces. Applicants will have up to 5 minutes and 5 seconds to complete the course. A brief description of the agility course is below. Candidates should be prepared for this agility examination. On the day of the examination, candidates should be in good physical condition, wear athletic clothing and footwear, and bring plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Agility Course Description:             

The Agility Course has been established to demonstrating an applicant’s aerobic, strength, muscular, and flexibility conditioning. Each different stage of the course is outlined below.

Time Limit:

Applicants have 5 minutes and 05 seconds to run the agility course from start to finish; measured at 1,500 ft. Applicants that have taken more than 5 minutes and 5 seconds to complete the course will receive a ‘failed’ score. The solid wall obstacle will not be included in the 5 minutes and 05 seconds time limit for the agility course.

Sprint/Run: 

This obstacle simulates the quick sprint during a pursuit that could occur in any officer assignment. It demonstrates an applicant’s aerobic and endurance conditioning Sprint/Runs:       The initial sprint (or run) at the beginning of the agility course should not be walked. Applicants are to run this obstacle quickly, without injuring themselves.

Weight Carry

This test simulates an applicant’s capability to lift, carry, and drag heavy objects, push hard-to-move objects, physically subdue, or restrain a violent combatant, and physically separate two fighting individuals, among other duties. It demonstrates an applicant’s muscular, aerobic, strength, muscular, and flexibility conditioning. 

The course may consist of the following: 

• A sprint/run of approximately 380 feet.
• Dragging an approximately 100 Ib. rubber tire over a combined distance of 64 feet.
• Carrying two (2) 45-pound hand-held weights over a combined distance of 120 feet; and,
• Carrying one (1) 45-pound hand-held weight over a combined distance of 150 feet; and, 
• Carrying one (1) 30-pound hand-held weight over a combined distance of 150 feet; and,
• 20 complete ‘box steps’ consisting of 1-2 count = 1 step.

Negotiating obstacles within path

Officers encounter a variety of obstacles while in pursuit of a suspect, or inmate, on a regular basis. Obstacles within the agility course have been placed throughout to simulate an individual’s ability to maneuver and negotiate around or over the obstacles. Within the course, these obstacles may consist of the following: 

•    Sharp corners
•    Parking lot curbs
•    Hurdles

Box Steps/Stair Climb

This obstacle simulates an applicant’s ability to negotiate stairs or a steep incline and be able to continue aerobic activity without harm.  

Applicants must place both feet on the top of the box step, one at a time, to equal one (1) rotation; applicants cannot use both feet to jump on box step. Applicant must use caution while stepping up and down the box steps.  

Box steps will be counted in the following manner:  First foot up, second foot up, first foot down, second foot down = 1 rotation; Total rotations for the box step obstacle = 20

Applicants must successfully complete each portion of the hiring process to remain eligible. 

 Step 1:  Application Submission Online

• Complete and submit online application at the appropriate link below:
  • Correctional Officer I  (continuous)
  • Correctional Officer II (continuous)
  • Correctional Officer II - Laterals (continuous) 

Step 2:  Written Exam (Waived for Laterals)

• The Written Exam will be administered online by the County of Placer Human Resources Department (County HR). Expect the exam to take up to 4 hours. 
• This online examination will consist of the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Selection Exam for Local Corrections. Qualified candidates will receive a notification via email when the examination is available. To locate the Candidate Orientation Booklet for this exam, which includes example questions, please click here.
  • NOTE: Applicants who have already taken the BSCC Selection Exam for Local Corrections within twelve (12) months of their scheduled testing date may attach their official score report notice (including agency name, exam name, exam date, and exam scores) to their application materials to forward their scores to Placer County. Different agencies use different cutoff scores for the BSCC Selection exam. Therefore, it is possible for an applicant to pass the exam with one agency and fail it with another using the same score.
• Applicants who successfully complete the Written Exam will be notified of their score and ranking by the County HR. 

Step 3:  Physical Fitness Test (Waived for qualified PAEL/Laterals)

• Applicants who have passed the Written exam will receive a pre-interview questionnaire from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) which must be completed and returned immediately to the PCSO Professional Standards Unit. The questionnaire will be sent to applicants via email. 
  • NOTE: It is important for applicants to check their inbox, spam, and/or junk email boxes frequently so any notices are not missed.  
• Applicants who have been approved to move forward in the testing process based on the pre-interview questionnaire, will be invited to the Physical fitness test (PAT) via email. 
• The PAT is administered by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). Expect the test to take up to 4 hours. 
• Applicants who successfully complete the PAT will be invited to interview on day after the PAT is administered. 
• Applicants will receive an interview time via email once the PAT scores have been recorded and the interview schedule is completed. 

1. NOTE: Applicants who have taken and passed a previous APT with our Agency within twelve (12) months of the scheduled testing date may request to waive the APT. Applicants must provide the date of their last performance test with their request to waive the APT to the PCSO Human Resources Unit @ [email protected].

Step 4:  Interview Process

• Eligible applicants will be invited to interview with an oral board. 
• Eligible applicants will be invited to interview with the Undersheriff. 

Step 5:   Background process

• Eligible applicants will be given a Personal History Statement which must be completed and returned without delay.
• Applicants who have successfully passed the pre-employment background, will be scheduled a psychological evaluation. 
• Applicants who have successfully passed the psychological evaluation, will be scheduled for a pre-employment medical evaluation. 
• Applicants who have successfully cleared the medical evaluation will be given a start date.

Correctional Officer I Salary

Step 1 -  $25.95                Step 6 -   $29.36

Step 2 –  $26.59               Step 7 –  $30.10

Step 3 –  $27.26               Step 8 -   $30.85

Step 4 –  $27.94               Step 9 -   $31.62

Step 5 -  $28.64                Step 10 - $32.41

Correctional Officer II Salary

Step 1 -  $28.61                Step 6 -   $32.36

Step 2 –  $29.32               Step 7 –  $33.19

Step 3 –  $30.06               Step 8 -   $34.01

Step 4 –  $30.80               Step 9 -   $34.86

Step 5 -  $31.58                Step 10 - $35.75

Candidates who have experience are eligible to start at a higher step 

Additional Pay Opportunities

Night Shift- 7.5%

Bi-Lingual- 5%

Jail Training Officer- 5% of base salary when training

Critical Incident Response Team- $125 per pay period

Canine Handler- $300 per month for canines owned by the county

Overtime is compensated in pay or compensatory time off at one and one half time such employees rate

Per the Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) Memorandum of Understanding contract term July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025, the following general wage increases were negotiated for the General – Safety classifications, of which the Correctional Officer classification falls within. 

4% General Wage Increases will be applied on 7/2/2022, 6/17/2023, and 6/15/2024.

Career Opportunities

Collateral Assignments

• Canine
• Jail Training Officer
• Critical Incident Response Team
• Gang Team
• Perishable Skills Instructor

Full-Time Assignments:

• Classification Officer
• Facilities Officer
• Title 15 Officer
• Programs Officer

Correctional Officer II are eligible to test for the rank of sergeant after two years of service with Placer County.

Retirement   

Placer County participates in the California Public Employees Retirement System
 
 Current CalPERS members laterally transferring to Placer County will generally be placed in the 3% at 55 Local Safety formula. New hires will generally be placed in the 2.7% at 57 Local Safety formula.

Other Benefits

Medical

Several medical plans are offered through CalPERS, including HMO and PPO plans. The county pays up to 80% of the total premium for the PORAC health plan offered by the county.

Dental

The county pays the full premium for the employee; the employee pays the premium for dependents.

Vision

The county pays the full premium for the employee; the employee pays the premium for dependents.

457/401(k)

Voluntary 457 and 401(k) are available through payroll deduction. 

Vacation

 0-2 Years:        10 day per year

2-4 Years:        12 days per year

4-9 Years:        15 days per year

9-19 Years:      20 days per year

20+ Years        25 days per year         

Maximum accrual

• 400 hours with less than 10 years of service
• 520 hours with more than 10 years of service

Sick Leave

12 paid days per year, maximum accrual of 1,000 hours. 

Employee Assistance Program

EAP through the county and Sheriff’s Office.

On-duty Workout Program

1 hour per shift based on assignment and staffing levels. 

Education Allowance

Tuition reimbursement for approved classes up to a maximum of $1,200 per calendar year.

Uniform Allowance

$1,065 for Correctional Officers annually. 

Shift Schedule

Placer County employs a bi-weekly, 80 hour pay period. During each pay period, Correctional Officers work six 12-hour shifts and one eight-hour shift. 

Example Shift A                                                      Example Shift B

Sunday- Work                                                           Every other Wednesday- Work

Monday- Work                                                          Thursday- Work

Tuesday- Work                                                          Friday- Work

Every other Wednesday- Work                                 Saturday- Work

Thursday, Friday, Saturday- Off-Duty                       Sunday, Monday, Tuesday- Off-Duty