Correctional Sergeant Jobs
Correctional Sergeant jobs are open across state prisons, county jails, and federal detention facilities, at every level from entry-level officer promotion to senior supervisory sergeant, with specializations in inmate management, security operations, and emergency response. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Correctional Sergeant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 19+ Correctional Sergeant jobs
Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:
- Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discount
Reduced Tuition Rates
Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
401(k)
Pet Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Training
Flexible Spending Account
The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Overview:- We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
- Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.
- Supervise inmates during mealtime.
- Routinely inspect all security equipment (doors, gates, fences, lighting systems, etc.)
- Ensure all reports written by officers during shift are submitted as required.
- Oversee necessary on-the-job and safety training for officers.
- Supervise perimeter inspection (detecting safety hazards, testing alarm systems, etc.)
- Investigate and report all instances of inmate disturbances.
- Help inmates who have been injured, ill, or traumatized with prompt and appropriate assistance.
- Work with inmates workers, provide training, and inspect their work.
- Participate in decisions regarding performance ratings, disciplinary actions, and job assignments.
- Conduct regular physical inspections of the facility to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- High school diploma or equivalent certification required.
- Must have worked an Arizona Department of Corrections post within the last 2 years (COTA Certified)
- Must meet the requirements of being a Correctional Officer.
- One (1) year of experience working in a correctional setting required.
- Must be flexible, intellectually alert, able to command the respect and confidence of detainees/inmates and staff, possess a working knowledge of correctional laws, applicable court orders and possess a high tolerance to mental stress.
- Must have a proven work history with sound abilities to write communications, documents, policy, court room defenses, contract negotiations, and other required written correspondence.
- Must be able to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
- Ability to coordinate staffing requirements for security supervisors and officers.
- Must have completed an approved training program resulting in a certificate of satisfactory completion. Ability to obtain certification for training such as CPR, First Aid and firearms.
- Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 60 lbs.
- Bend, stoop, reach above shoulder level.
- Drive automatic equipment vehicles.
- Climb, sit, and work in extreme temperatures.
Full-time employees will enjoy a competitive benefits package with options for you and your family including:
- Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
401(k) Matching
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Health Savings Account
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Discount
Reduced Tuition Rates
Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
401(k)
Pet Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Training
Flexible Spending Account
The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Overview:- We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
- Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.
- Supervise inmates during mealtime.
- Routinely inspect all security equipment (doors, gates, fences, lighting systems, etc.)
- Ensure all reports written by officers during shift are submitted as required.
- Oversee necessary on-the-job and safety training for officers.
- Supervise perimeter inspection (detecting safety hazards, testing alarm systems, etc.)
- Investigate and report all instances of inmate disturbances.
- Help inmates who have been injured, ill, or traumatized with prompt and appropriate assistance.
- Work with inmates workers, provide training, and inspect their work.
- Participate in decisions regarding performance ratings, disciplinary actions, and job assignments.
- Conduct regular physical inspections of the facility to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
- High school diploma or equivalent certification required.
- Must have worked an Arizona Department of Corrections post within the last 2 years (COTA Certified)
- Must meet the requirements of being a Correctional Officer.
- One (1) year of experience working in a correctional setting required.
- Must be flexible, intellectually alert, able to command the respect and confidence of detainees/inmates and staff, possess a working knowledge of correctional laws, applicable court orders and possess a high tolerance to mental stress.
- Must have a proven work history with sound abilities to write communications, documents, policy, court room defenses, contract negotiations, and other required written correspondence.
- Must be able to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
- Ability to coordinate staffing requirements for security supervisors and officers.
- Must have completed an approved training program resulting in a certificate of satisfactory completion. Ability to obtain certification for training such as CPR, First Aid and firearms.
- Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 60 lbs.
- Bend, stoop, reach above shoulder level.
- Drive automatic equipment vehicles.
- Climb, sit, and work in extreme temperatures.
See All 19 Correctional Sergeant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Correctional Sergeant JobsCorrectional Sergeant Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Heartland ABA11
- Dollar General2
- Greystar1
- Chenega Corporation1
- The GEO Group1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in correctional sergeant jobs.
- Minimum of two to five years of experience as a correctional officer
- High school diploma or GED required, with associate or bachelor's degree preferred
- Completion of state-mandated correctional officer basic training academy
- Valid first aid and CPR certification from an accredited provider
- Demonstrated ability to supervise, evaluate, and discipline correctional staff
- Clean background check with no felony convictions or disqualifying criminal history
Tips for Your Correctional Sergeant Job Search
Highlight your use-of-force certifications
Correctional sergeant postings routinely screen for specific certifications like pepper spray, restraint techniques, and crisis intervention. List each one by its full official name on your resume so automated screening systems flag your application before a human ever reads it.
Quantify your direct supervision numbers
Hiring panels want to know how many officers you supervised and how large a housing unit you managed. Replace vague phrases like 'supervised staff' with specific figures from your own record, such as the number of officers per shift you were responsible for.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists correctional sergeant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that match your custody level
Maximum-security facilities, minimum-security camps, and juvenile detention centers each require different skill sets. Filter your search by facility type and tailor your resume to reflect the inmate population and security classification you have direct experience managing.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Correctional sergeant interviews almost always include behavioral scenarios like inmate disturbances, officer misconduct, or medical emergencies on the floor. Rehearse structured responses using real incidents from your career, focusing on your command decisions and the outcomes they produced.
Negotiate total compensation, not just base pay
Many correctional sergeant positions offer shift differentials, hazard pay, longevity bonuses, and retirement multipliers that vary significantly between agencies. Ask HR for the full compensation sheet before accepting an offer so you can compare packages across different facilities accurately.
Correctional Sergeant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most correctional sergeants?
The companies hiring the most correctional sergeants right now include Heartland ABA, Dollar General, and Greystar, with the largest share of openings in Iowa, Texas, and Indiana, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings at private corrections contractors and large county sheriff departments tend to refresh most frequently.
How do you become a correctional sergeant?
To become a correctional sergeant, you typically start as a correctional officer, complete your agency's basic training academy, and accumulate the minimum years of line experience your jurisdiction requires. You then apply for a promotional exam or competitive selection process, which usually includes a written test, an oral board interview, and a supervisor assessment. Some agencies also require completion of a supervisory or leadership development course before promotion is finalized.
Can you get hired as a correctional sergeant with little experience?
Agencies rarely hire directly into a sergeant role without prior correctional officer experience, but military veterans with law enforcement or detention backgrounds sometimes receive credit that reduces the required service time. If you're close to the minimum requirement, focus on facilities running active promotional cycles and emphasize any shift lead, field training officer, or acting-supervisor duties you've already performed. Some smaller county jails operate with compressed promotional timelines compared to large state systems.
What does the correctional sergeant interview process look like?
The correctional sergeant interview process typically begins with an application review and a written promotional exam covering correctional law, supervisory principles, and emergency procedures. Candidates who pass advance to an oral board, where a panel of senior staff presents scenario-based questions about inmate management, staff discipline, and use-of-force decisions. Some agencies add a background reinvestigation, a psychological evaluation, and a final review by the facility administrator before a conditional offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to correctional sergeant jobs?
You can find and apply to correctional sergeant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and custody-level background, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 19 Correctional Sergeant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Correctional Sergeant Jobs