What you can expect from the time you apply through your first year of employment.
If during any part of the application and hiring process you need a reasonable accommodation for your disability, please notify the hiring/servicing personnel office who will ensue the accommodation request is processed, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the Reasonable Accommodation Program policy. Please note that anyone with a disability may be employed in a law enforcement position if they meet the medical and physical requirements (see below) for correctional work, with or without reasonable accommodations.
You will receive notifications or be contacted at various times throughout the hiring process, such as:
If you are a qualified applicant, you must have an employment panel interview prior to final selection. Normally, interviews are held at a BOP location within the general area (about 250 miles round trip) from your home. You must pay any travel expenses to and from the interview site.
Your employment with our agency is subject to satisfactory completion of a background investigation to determine suitability for employment as a law enforcement official. Its scope includes law enforcement and criminal record checks, credit checks, and inquiries with previous employers and personal references. Suitability determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and are based upon an individual's character or conduct that could affect how the agency accomplishes its duties or responsibilities. Be honest and forthright concerning your background during the interview process.
You must be a U.S. citizen to be employed by the BOP. On very rare occasions, waivers are available for hard-to-fill positions when no qualified U.S. citizens are available.
The Attorney General has determined that the initial appointment of employees into Federal BOP law enforcement positions must be prior to your 37th birthday. This requirement only applies to positions in the correctional institutions; however, exceptions are made for hard-to-fill positions such as:
The BOP is firmly committed to a drug-free workplace and has a zero tolerance for illegal drug use. During your Medical Examination you will be given a urinalysis test for drug detection.
If you are hired for a position in a correctional institution, you must be able to perform correctional work regardless of your specific occupation. Therefore, before you can be appointed, a physical examination is required. It will usually be performed by a Federal medical officer at no cost to the applicant. A determination will be made on your ability to perform the duties of the position based on your medical history report and physical examination. Your height, weight, or disability is not a factor that we take into consideration when hiring, only that you can pass the PAT.
When beginning work at your location, you will initially receive training in Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phase I where you will:
Within the first 60 days after appointment you will be sent to the Staff Training Academy located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA, where you will be trained in Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phase II. This specialized training includes four components: Firearms, Self-Defense, Written Academic Test on policies and procedures, and the Physical Abilities Test (PAT). The PAT will measure your ability to perform the essential functions of a correctional worker. Specifically, you must be able to perform the following tasks:
Each new permanent employee who receives a career or career conditional appointment, serves a one-year probationary period immediately following his or her appointment. This period is used to determine the qualifications of the employee for continued employment. During this time, the supervisor monitors and provides guidance to the employee. For continued employment, the supervisor must favorably evaluate the performance and conduct of the employee. This time period also helps employees determine whether the work is compatible with their skills and aspirations. In addition, each new permanent employee who receives an excepted service appointment, including appointments which can be converted to permanent positions (i.e., Veteran's Recruitment Appointments), serves a one-year probationary period immediately following his or her appointment.
Every year of employment, you will receive 16 to 40 hours of subsequent training depending upon your assigned duty location. There are also numerous required and optional specialty training courses designed to enhance career development based on your occupation.