About Job

This position is posted on a 12 month limited term basis with the possibility of being extended up to 24 months or becoming permanent.

Individuals who are eligible for a training and Development Assignment may also be considered for this position.

This advertisement is for a Correctional Counselor I position located at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, CA. Located in Kern County. Please indicate the position number on your application: 054-222-9904-XXX.

CDCR employees are encouraged to use their existing CDCR email address on their application.

Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application.

Under the general supervision of the Correctional Counselor II (Supervisor) and indirect supervision from the Facility Captain, the Correctional Counselor I (CC-I) will provide casework services for approximately 148 incarcerated persons. It will be the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure counselors are assigned a caseload appropriate to maintain the current ratio.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

California Correctional Institution is located in the Tehachapi Mountains approximately 325 miles south of Sacramento and approximately 120 miles north of Los Angeles.

CCI is a Multi-level, Sensitive Needs Yard, facility consisting of three (3) facilities, encompassed within a campus style layout with varied terrain. Work in this location may require exposure to varied temperatures dependent upon the season.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR I

Additional Documents

Job Application Package Checklist
Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-477070

Position #(s):

054-261-9904-XXX

Working Title:

Correctional Counselor I

Classification:

CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR I

$7,066.00 - $8,472.00 A

$8,552.00 - $10,264.00 B

$7,419.00 - $8,896.00 J

$8,980.00 - $10,777.00 K

$7,644.00 - $7,644.00 L

$8,947.00 - $11,253.00 M

$7,280.00 - $7,280.00 W

$8,521.00 - $10,717.00 X

# of Positions:

Work Location:

Kern County

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Department Information

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

CDCR and CCHCS strive to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

Commitment to California Model

CDCR and CCHCS are proud to partner on the California Model which will transform the correctional landscape for our employees and the incarcerated. The California Model is a systemwide change that leverages national and international best practices to address longstanding challenges related to incarceration and institution working conditions, creating a safe, professional, and satisfying workplace for staff as well as rehabilitation for the incarcerated. Additionally, the California Model improves success of the decarcerated through robust re-entry efforts back into to the community.

Special Requirements

Current state employees are highly encouraged to use their current state email address when applying for positions.

Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

The STD. 678 is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, you are required to include the Job on the State application (STD. 678) form.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIRFICATE must include a copy of your degree/transcripts or LICENSE/CERTIFICATE along with your application (STD. 678) to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State Application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only.

When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred.

CDCR/CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate’s identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov.

This advertisement may be used for other vacancies that occur during the life of this recruitment.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 5/21/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

California Correctional Institution

Postal

Attn: Personnel/Hiring and Recruitment JC-477070

P.O. Box 1031

Tehachapi, CA 93581

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

California Correctional Institution

Drop-Off

Personnel/Hiring and Recruitment JC-477070

24900 Hwy 202

Tehachapi, CA 93561

08:30 AM - 03:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Other -
Performance Evaluations
Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent performance evaluation. Must be dated within the past 12 months. If not available, please indicate in a letter/memo and attach instead.
Other -
College Transcripts
Applicants must submit a copy of their college transcripts (official or unofficial) with application.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Shall create and promote an equitable and inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and valued.

Knowledge of: Grammar, spelling, and correct usage of written and oral communication; correctional casework procedures; an understanding of the range of normal and abnormal human behavior; the policies and procedures of custody; problems involved in the supervision and adjustment of incarcerated people; the various prison gangs, including gang memberships, interaction between gangs, special housing considerations, and the associated potential dangers to staff and incarcerated people; cultural differences and perspectives of the incarcerated people; the causative factors related to criminal patterns (crimes within the institution, gang applications, recidivism, etc.); group processes and dynamics, including various roles played by group participants and the different types of questions or modes of inquiry which can be used in group settings; simple arithmetic.

Ability to: Write comprehensive, complete, clear, and concise reports; utilize oral and written language to communicate effectively with incarcerated people, staff and the public; command the respect and trust of incarcerated people and staff; organize and prioritize work; meet deadlines; deal tactfully/diplomatically with sensitive issues; evaluate situations accurately and take effective action; deal effectively with a high volume of work; obtain specific information from an incarcerated people during an interview; work under pressure; respond effectively to emergency situations; work independently; control an interview with an incarcerated person; interpret institutional and departmental policies, rules and regulations; adjust to changes in assignments; work with a team of people from a variety of occupations and professional disciplines; motivate an incarcerated person towards specific goals; recognize and handle dangerous situations for incarcerated people and staff.

Demonstrated capacity for assuming progressively greater responsibility as evidenced by a recent employment history; neat personal appearance; adaptability; and emotional maturity and stability; tact; patience; willingness to work irregular hours; satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen; normal or corrected to normal hearing; sound physical condition; strength; endurance; and agility; willingness to report for duty anytime of emergency crisis

Benefits

Food Trucks Vary Daily.
Van/Carpools may be available.
15-minute commute from Tehachapi City, 1 hour 15 minute commute from Lancaster/Palmdale and 1 hour commute from Bakersfield.
Median home purchase price in Tehachapi is $442,250.
Centrally located for destination/vacation spots: 4 hours to Las Vegas, 2 hours to Los Angeles, 5 to San Diego, 3 hours to the Central Coast and 2.25 hours to Wine Country in Paso Robles.

Benefit information can be found on the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website, https://www.calhr.ca.gov, and the CalPERS website, http://www.calpers.ca.gov.

Information on benefits afforded by membership in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System can be found on the CalHR Salary and Benefits website at http://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/pages/salary-and-benefits.aspx.

Information on the benefits and protections provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act can be found on the CalHR website at https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Training/Pages/performancemanagement-merit-system-principles.aspx

This webpage is intended to provide general information. Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Kassidy Bolton
(661) 822-4402 ext: 4235
kassidy.bolton@cdcr.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Brad Sanders
(661) 822-4402 ext: 4536
brad.sanders@cdcr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information

A completed State Application (Std. 678) and all accompanying documents must be submitted for the position the candidate is applying for.

A completed application includes the position title, position number, and your eligibility in the Job Title line. Candidates who do not submit all the required documents (incomplete application packages) will be eliminated from the selection process.

Applicants should NOT submit the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) page nor the Instructions page (pages 5-6) of the state application (Std. 678).

This advertisement may be used for this and other vacancies that may occur during this posting and future permanent/full-time vacancies that may occur. Limited Term recruitments may be extended up to 12 months for a total of 24-month period or become permanent.

All methods of appointments may be considered.

Candidates New to CDCR are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan fingerprinting, and Tuberculosis testing prior to appointment followed by department testing on an annual basis thereafter.

All State exams and/or exam information are available on the Cal Careers website at www.jobs.ca.gov. If during your search criteria no matching exams are found, does mean the exam is not available at this time and you will need to apply when the exam is available.

*DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CONTACT ALL CANDIDATES WITH LIST ELIGIBILITY; THEREFORE, CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEARCH FOR VACANCIES THEY MAY BE ELIGIBILE FOR AND APPLY.*

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.