Correctional Counselor 1

Under general supervision, provides a variety of counseling services for the inmate population of a correctional facility. Positions may vary as to predominant job function or area of specialization from facility to facility. Areas of specialization include vocational counseling, substance abuse counseling and guidance for inmates on work release. Performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the entry or beginning level of the Correctional Counselor class series. The employee works closely with the immediate supervisor or a senior counselor to learn correctional programs, accepted methods of interaction with inmates and facility security rules and regulations.

Click The APPLY Link To Apply Online.

IMPORTANT: Your eligible score will be based on information provided in your application; therefore, make sure your application is detailed and complete. You MUST complete ALL parts of the application, including the Work Experience section.

ATTENTION: Applicant must verify post high school education by submitting an official transcript or diploma, training or licensure earned pertaining to this position by the closing date of the posting, if not previously verified. If you are claiming Veterans preference, please submit "MEMBER 4" form and/or your VA Letter.

Please attach documents to the online application before submitting it. Or, you may email it to: applicantservices@wv.gov or by mail to: WV Division of Personnel, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Building 3, Suite 500, Charleston, WV 25305.

This announcement is for one or more specific vacancies and only applies to the location(s) indicated. Your application will remain active for this job for 180 days or until the job is filled. Application for this job does not automatically qualify you for other positions. Be sure to submit your application for each position of interest.  To receive an email notice anytime jobs in this or other categories are posted, you may choose to complete a Job Interest Card from the slide-out menu located at the top left of our Job Opportunities page.

• Interviews inmates upon arrival to facility and/or specific program; writes a summary of the session, gathers pertinent information and drafts an outline of proposed treatment, employment strategy or course work.

• Meets with inmates on a regular basis to discuss progress, to assess problems or needs to be addressed and to inform the inmate of changes in program or schedule.

• Maintains records to go into permanent files.

• Writes monthly reports to document work with inmates, achievements in progress, activities held or problems encountered.

• Counsels inmates in crisis situations; deals with potentially violent or suicidal inmates to stabilize their behavior.

• Arranges ministerial, psychological or employment counseling outside the facility.

• Teaches interpersonal skills to help inmates obtain and retain employment.

• May assist correctional officers on living unit.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the Department of Corrections policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of behavior modification techniques and philosophies used in corrections.

• Knowledge of techniques used in crisis intervention.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people.

• Ability to observe changes in inmate behavior.

• Ability to keep accurate records.

Training: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in criminal justice, corrections, psychology, sociology, counseling, counseling and guidance, criminology, social work, education, therapeutic recreation or closely related field.

Substitution: Experience in the area of corrections or related fields may be substituted for the required training on a year-for-year basis.

• DETAILS OF RELATED EXPERIENCE MUST BE SHOWN IN THE WORK EXPERIENCE SECTION OF YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION*  

Adult Facilities

Prisons and Jails

• Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Braxton County (304) 765-7904

• Denmar Correctional Center and Jail

• Pocahontas County (304) 653-4201

• Eastern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Berkeley County (304) 267-0046

• Huttonsville Correctional Center and Jail/Huttonsville Work Camp

• Randolph County  (304) 335-2291

• Lakin Correctional Center and Jail

• Mason County (304) 674-2440

• Martinsburg Correctional Center and Jail

• Berkeley County (304) 267-0156

• McDowell County Corrections/Stevens Correctional Center

• McDowell County (304) 436-5420

• Mount Olive Correctional Complex and Jail/Slayton Work Camp

• Fayette County (304) 442-7213

• North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Doddridge County (304) 873-1384

• Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Marshall County (304) 843-4067

• Ohio County Correctional Center and Jail

• Ohio County (304) 238-1007 or (304) 238-1008 

• Potomac Highlands Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Hampshire County (304) 496-1275

• Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail

• Taylor County (304) 265-6111

• Saint Marys Correctional Center and Jail

• Pleasants County (304) 684-5500

• Salem Correctional Center and Jail

• Harrison/Doddridge County (304) 782-2371

• South Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Kanawha County (304) 558-1336

• Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Raleigh County (304) 256-6726

• Southwestern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Logan County (304) 239-3032

• Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Randolph County (304) 637-0382

• Western Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

• Cabell County (304) 733-6821

Community Corrections

• Anthony Correctional Center

• Greenbrier County (304) 536-3911

• Beckley Correctional Center and Jail

• Raleigh County (304) 256-6780

• Charleston Correctional Center and Jail

• Kanawha County (304) 340-6921

• Parkersburg Correctional Center and Jail

• Wood County (304) 420-2443

Juvenile Facilities and Reporting Centers

• Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center

• Boone County (304) 369-2976

• Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center

• Fayette County (304) 877-6890

• J.M. "Chick" Buckbee Juvenile Center

• Hampshire County (304) 496-1341

• Kenneth "Honey" Rubenstein Juvenile Center

• Tucker County (304) 259-5241

• Lorrie Yeager Jr. Juvenile Center

• Wood County (304) 420-4860

• Robert L. Shell Juvenile Center

• Cabell County (304) 948-2190

• Ronald C. Mulholland Juvenile Center

• Ohio County (304) 232-3441

• Sam Perdue Juvenile Center

• Mercer County (304) 425-9721

• James H. "Tiger" Morton Juvenile Center

• Kanawha County (304) 766-2616

• Vicki V. Douglas Juvenile Center

• Berkeley/Jefferson County (304) 267-0164

Youth Reporting Centers

• Boone/Logan County Youth Reporting Center

• Boone County (304) 369-8949 or (304) 369-8959

• Brooke/Hancock County Youth Reporting Center

• Hancock County (304) 748-1490

• Cabell County Youth Reporting Center

• Cabell County (304) 528-5266 or (304) 528-5267

• Fayette County Youth Reporting Center

• Fayette County (304) 465-2107

• Greenbrier County Youth Reporting Center

• Greenbrier County (304) 647-7509 or (304) 647-7511

• Harrison County Youth Reporting Center

• Harrison County (304) 627-2183

• Jefferson County Youth Reporting Center

• Jefferson County (304) 724-6317

• Kanawha County Youth Reporting Center

• Kanawha County (304) 558-9800

• Lincoln County Youth Reporting Center

• Lincoln County (304) 824-6000 Ext. 4307

• Marion County Youth Reporting Center

• Marion County (304) 368-4460

• Mason County Youth Reporting Center

• Mason County (304) 675-4835

• Mercer County Youth Reporting Center

• Mercer County (304) 425-4525 or (304) 425-5850

• Monongalia County Youth Reporting Center

• Monongalia County (681) 990-7387

• Pocahontas County Youth Reporting Center

• Pocahontas County (304) 456-0090

• Putnam County Youth Reporting Center

• Putnam County (304) 586-2055

• Raleigh County Youth Reporting Center

• Raleigh County (304) 256-6907

• Randolph County Reporting Center

• Randolph County (304) 636-9156

• STARS Berkeley County Youth Reporting Center

• Berkeley County (304) 260-4365 or (304) 260-4363

• Wetzel/Tyler County Youth Reporting Center

• Wetzel County (304) 337-2010

• Wood County Youth Reporting Center

• Wood County (304) 295-3024