Prospective students will have one more program to choose from at TCAT through the Cookeville Higher Education Campus, Criminal Justice: Correctional Officer Program.
The program is full time for eight months at 864 credit hours.
The Criminal Justice curriculum will hit a broad range of course to provide students with the knowledge of processing inmates, maintaining order and invoking disciplinary measures. The students can also expect to learn how to perform cell searches for drugs and other contraband items, inspect cleanliness and how to stand guard during exercise periods.
This program is accredited through the Tennessee Correctional Institute, under the authority of TCA 41-4-140, which established minimum standards for adult local jails, lockups, workhouses and detention facilities in Tennessee.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the 2022 median pay for a corrections officer is $49,610 annually or about $23.85 per hour.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections states, “Effective December 16, 2021, the entry level salary for a correctional officer 1 is $44,520/year, with an automatic promotion to correctional officer 2 with a salary increase to $46,752/year upon successful completion of the one-year probationary period. Newly hired correctional officer applicants are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, payable over an 18-month period. Equipment and uniforms will be furnished. One meal will be furnished for each shift worked.”
For more information about the Criminal Justice: Correctional Officer contact student service at (931)823-5525.
