Human Resources

Correction Officer, O.C. #67-941

 

GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES

COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEW YORK

ANNOUNCES

AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR:

CORRECTION OFFICER, O.C. #67-941

SALARY:  $19.15 - $24.46 per hour (2019) Genesee County.

VACANCY:  This examination is being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies as they occur.  An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8-52 weeks based on performance of duties.

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF GENESEE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST TWO (2) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION, AND MUST HAVE CONTINUED THEIR RESIDENCY THROUGH THE PERIOD LEADING TO THEIR INITIAL APPOINTMENT. 

CITIZENSHIP IS A REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT RATHER THAN FOR ADMISSION TO THE WRITTEN TEST.

PREFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT MAY BE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES WHO POSSESS BASIC COMPUTER/TYPING SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE.

LAST FILING DATE----------DECEMBER 18, 2019

EXAMINATION DATE----------FEBRUARY 1, 2020

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirement on or before the date of the written examination:

Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education;  [PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH THIS INFORMATION ON THE EDUCATION SECTION OF THE APPLICATION.]

NOTE: PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION.

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualification for examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $25.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH or CREDIT CARD (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail).  Personal Checks and Money Orders must be payable to the GENESEE COUNTY TREASURER.  Please write the examination number(s) on your personal check or money order.  YOUR APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance, or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Performs processing functions, relative to the receiving and discharge of detainees; Guards prisoners in the County Jail;

Processes ID cards and fingerprint cards;

Inspects quarters for contraband;

Maintains order and security during assigned shift;

Distributes mail, magazines, food trays, personal articles, etc.;

Assists in the transport of detainees;

Makes oral and written reports.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Preparing Written Material
2. Understanding and Interpreting Written Material
3. Applying Written Information in a Correctional Services Setting
4. Observing and Recalling Facts and Information

CANDIDATES ARE ALLOWED TO USE QUIET, HAND-HELD, SOLAR OR BATTERY POWERED CALCULATORS.  CELL PHONES OR DEVICES WITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARDS ARE PROHIBITED.

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION:

Preparing Written Material-
These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

Understanding and Interpreting Written Material-These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

Applying Written Information in a Correctional Services Setting-These questions test for the ability to read, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, directives, written narratives and other related material. You will be required to read a set of information, and to appropriately apply the information to situations similar to those typically experienced in a correctional services setting. All the information needed to answer the questions asked concerning the situations presented is contained in the rules, regulations, etc., which are cited.  

Observing and Recalling Facts and Information-These questions test for the ability to observe and recall information presented. You will be presented with information describing or depicting prison scenes or other facts. You will have a short time to observe and memorize the information before it is collected by the monitor. You will then be asked to recall specific details about the information presented.

Test guide:

A Guide for the Written Test for Correction Officer is available at the New York State website: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.

The examination consists of two parts: Eligibility for appointment is based on the passing score on the written examination and successfully qualifying on the physical fitness test. You must pass both tests in order to be considered for appointment. Physical Fitness testing is scheduled on an as needed basis.

QUALIFYING PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST: The elements measured in the qualifying fitness test are:

Sit-up: - Muscular endurance (core body). The requirement is for a number of bent-leg sit-ups to be performed in one minute.

Push-Up - Muscular endurance (upper body).  The requirement is for a number of full body repetitions that a candidate must complete without breaks.

1.5 Mile Run – Cardiovascular capacity. The requirement is for the attainment of a score calculated in minutes and seconds.

The physical fitness screening test is based on the model formulated by the Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research 2013 standards.  The minimum passing scores, depending on age and sex, represent the thirtieth (30th) percentile of physical fitness as established by the Cooper Institute. Failure on a part of qualifying test will remove your name from further consideration for appointment. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Background Investigation-Candidates who pass the written test will be subject to pre-employment drug testing and a background investigation including but not limited to education, military, employment, credit, traffic and criminal records. Conviction of a felony will bar, and conviction of a misdemeanor or other offense may bar examination and/or appointment.

Psychological Evaluation-Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards may result in disqualification.

CROSS-FILING: If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

NOTE: Religious Accommodations, Persons with Disabilities or Active Military: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination.

Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an “Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam. This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.  DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit must provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility within thirty (30) days of the examination date. No credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: College graduates with student loans may be eligible to have part of their loan paid for after being employed in a full-time position at Genesee County. Additional information is available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/public-service-loan-forgiveness.pdf.

PLACE TO FILE: To get an application, come in or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Genesee County Human Resources, County Building I, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or download from website: www.co.genesee.ny.us. Phone 344-2550, Ext. 2223.

Applications mailed to us must be postmarked with a date no later than the last filing date indicated on this announcement. All correspondence will be sent only to the address provided on the application for examination. It is your responsibility to inform the Genesee County Human Resources office of any change of address. Correspondence returned for incorrect address will not be forwarded.  All address changes must be submitted to the Genesee County Human Resources office in writing.

APPLICANTS: Please contact this office three days prior to examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.

This written examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with this rating of the examination will apply to this test.

THE COUNTY OF GENESEE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, CITIZENSHIP STATUS, MILITARY OR VETERAN STATUS, CRIMINAL CONVICTION STATUS, PREDISPOSING GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OR GENETIC INFORMATION, PREGNANCY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM STATUS OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED GROUP OR ACTIVITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT.

GENESEE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER