BOP Correctional Officer

[nyguy87]

I just applied for a CO position in Danbury CT (close to home) with the Bureau of Prisons. I'm curious as to how, if at all, they differ from state Correctional Officers. I'm looking to get my foot in the door with regards to Law Enforcement, and this seems like it could be a viable option.

[Iowa #1603]

http://prisonofficer.org/

Lots of good information there...............lots of BOP guys/gals on the forum

[TheKansan]

I just applied for a CO position in Danbury CT (close to home) with the Bureau of Prisons. I'm curious as to how, if at all, they differ from state Correctional Officers. I'm looking to get my foot in the door with regards to Law Enforcement, and this seems like it could be a viable option.

It is different from state corrections. The feds have their own way of doing things. Keeping that in mind, it is a good job. It doesn't pay as well as NYS corrections, but the pay is decent. It is a good way into law enforcement and specifically federal law enforcement. Good luck with Danbury. Personally I would avoid womens prisons.

[nyguy87]

Thanks guys for the info. A women's prison wouldn't be my first choice, but it is the only prison that I could commute to. Does the hiring process typically take about as long as a Police Department's? (6-9 mos)

[TheKansan]

Thanks guys for the info. A women's prison wouldn't be my first choice, but it is the only prison that I could commute to. Does the hiring process typically take about as long as a Police Department's? (6-9 mos)

It could be longer or shorter depending on the needs of that facility and when they pull a hiring list. I know Danbury is one of the facilities that is in urgent need of COs, so it could be much quicker. It took me 11 months to be hired after I applied, but I applied at a facility that rarely hires.

[LEO2010]

how long does take a correction officer in bop to go from gs6 to gs7??? how does the pay steps go???

[Elgin_87]

one year. steps are as follows..
Hired: GS 5 step 1, 52weeks 6.2, 52 weeks, 7.3, 52 weeks 7.4( you are now qualified for your gs8), 104 weeks 7.5 every 2 years after you get a step.

[nyguy87]

It could be longer or shorter depending on the needs of that facility and when they pull a hiring list. I know Danbury is one of the facilities that is in urgent need of COs, so it could be much quicker. It took me 11 months to be hired after I applied, but I applied at a facility that rarely hires.

Can I send you a PM with some more questions I have please?

[TheKansan]

how long does take a correction officer in bop to go from gs6 to gs7??? how does the pay steps go???

One year.

Of course don't count on being hired at GL-6 just because you qualify for it. I qualified for a GL-6 as well with prior correctional experience, however, I was hired as a GL-5 because that is what I was offered. I gladly accepted. I just completed my probationary year and will receive a grade and step increase making me a GL-6 step 2 soon. A year from now, I will become a GL-7 step 3.

[GoldBadge]

I'm going to jump in here and add that because Danbury is a prison for female offenders, some male staff get caught up in relationships that are taboo. Sexual relationships land staff in jail.

Most of these guys go in to the job with no intentions of screwing around with female prisoners, but those women have nothing to do but to slowly and sometimes effectively find a CO's loneliness or vulnerabilities and take advantage of them. If you get the job, be aware of that and no matter how dolled up these gals get for you, look at them as if they are some ugly hairy male convict with AIDS.

Good luck.

[speedyPL]

You actually make more with BOP then with NYS corrections. NYS starts at $36,420 while BOP starts at $43,545 at a GL5 level in that area. Even when you add the locality pay for Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland or Westchester Counties at $3,210 for NYS, you still end up with more at BOP. When you make it to a GL7 with in 2 years you will be at $52,488 with BOP. The NY state will give you a lot better training.

[TheKansan]

I'm going to jump in here and add that because Danbury is a prison for female offenders, some male staff get caught up in relationships that are taboo. Sexual relationships land staff in jail.

Most of these guys go in to the job with no intentions of screwing around with female prisoners, but those women have nothing to do but to slowly and sometimes effectively find a CO's loneliness or vulnerabilities and take advantage of them. If you get the job, be aware of that and no matter how dolled up these gals get for you, look at them as if they are some ugly hairy male convict with AIDS.

Good luck.

Very good points. Also I just wanted to mention that even if you are honest and straightforward, there are many times when male correctional officers at women's prisons will have false allegations and charges thrown against them. Often times this is in retaliation, or it is a way for some women to get attention, or they just want to get their way. I'm not saying that it won't happen at a male prison too, but these kind of allegations can ruin a person's reputation, their relationships, and get them in serious legal trouble, regardless of if they are true or not.

Just another thing to think about if going to work in any prison. Follow the rules/regulations, document everything, and NEVER trust an inmate.

You actually make more with BOP then with NYS corrections. NYS starts at $36,420 while BOP starts at $43,545 at a GL5 level in that area. Even when you add the locality pay for Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland or Westchester Counties at $3,210 for NYS, you still end up with more at BOP. When you make it to a GL7 with in 2 years you will be at $52,488 with BOP. The NY state will give you a lot better training.

Starting pay at the BOP might be higher, however top pay is very similar and it will take you longer to reach it at the BOP. Also consider that we work 5-8 hour shifts a week. You won't have the ability to work a compressed work schedule as a CO at the BOP. NYS has far better training than we do as well.

Retirement at the BOP/feds might or might not be better than NYS, I have no clue how NYS does it.

[GoldBadge]

One year.

Of course don't count on being hired at GL-6 just because you qualify for it. I qualified for a GL-6 as well with prior correctional experience, however, I was hired as a GL-5 because that is what I was offered. I gladly accepted. I just completed my probationary year and will receive a grade and step increase making me a GL-6 step 2 soon. A year from now, I will become a GL-7 step 3.

I think you're going to go to a GL-6 step 1, not a step 2.

If you are promoted to the next higher grade, you receive an increase of at least as much as two steps at your current grade. For example, if you are a GL-5 step 5 on the general schedule and you are promoted to GL-6, your new salary on the GL-6 scale must meet or exceed the pay of a GL-5 step 7 on the general schedule. So let's say if GL-6 step 4 was at least as much as a 2 step increase for you, that's where you would promote to.

[rocknroll]

Hey guys, I applied for the NYC and Brooklyn BOP facilities. How long does it take them to hire? and also does this qualify as federal law enforcement experience? Like when you are applying for another federal LE job and you get priority? Thanks

[LEO2010]

speedy in nycdoc 5 years in serive you make 73,500 in bop with that same amount of years on the job u will be making about 55,000. very big diference. bop u have to pay for medial nycdoc u dont with 20 years of service u will be makeing about 90,000 to 100,000 in bop less then 65,000. imagine retirement with 50% of 65,000. chump change cost of living is getting higher every year i also heard that bop doesn't have that much overtime as doc and they dont have a union fighting for benefits like ny unions bop will probably be a good places to start with you mind in something better getting a better federal job........

You actually make more with BOP then with NYS corrections. NYS starts at $36,420 while BOP starts at $43,545 at a GL5 level in that area. Even when you add the locality pay for Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland or Westchester Counties at $3,210 for NYS, you still end up with more at BOP. When you make it to a GL7 with in 2 years you will be at $52,488 with BOP. The NY state will give you a lot better training.

[TheKansan]

I think you're going to go to a GL-6 step 1, not a step 2.

That is incorrect. We are given a step and grade increase at the same time. I don't know why the BOP does it that way, and I notice that other agencies don't do it like that. It might have to do with our journeyman grade being only GL-7, or it may be something that the union helped negotiate. All I know is that it will be a welcome boost to my pay. Those who say that us feds get paid a lot would hate to see my paltry pay checks.