The Suffolk County Department of Civil Service, on behalf of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, is accepting applications for Correction Officer I — a peace officer position responsible for directing and supervising inmates and maintaining order and security at Suffolk County correctional facilities. This is a competitive civil service title, meaning candidates must take and pass a written examination, along with medical, psychological, and physical fitness evaluations, to be placed on the eligible list for appointment.

Correction Officers are designated as peace officers under New York State law and may be required to carry firearms in the performance of certain duties. The eligible list established from this examination (Specification #5501) will be used to fill future vacancies in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.

An employee in this class has immediate responsibility for directing and supervising inmates and maintaining order and security at Suffolk County correctional facilities. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining the custody, safety, and well-being of prisoners by enforcing laws, rules, and regulations to prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes.

• ✓Direct and supervise inmates within correctional facilities to maintain order and security
• ✓Maintain the custody, safety, and well-being of prisoners
• ✓Enforce laws, rules, and regulations to prevent disturbances, assaults, and escapes
• ✓Carry firearms when required, as designated peace officers under New York State law
• ✓Perform related work as required

Correction Officers are designated as peace officers under New York State law. After appointment, all Correction Officers I must obtain a Peace Officer Training Certificate recognized by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council. Candidates must also pass New York State qualifications to possess a firearm prior to appointment, and must successfully complete firearms training and qualification during academy training as a condition of continued employment.

There is only one minimum education requirement to compete in this examination. All other requirements below are special requirements for appointment and continued employment:

• ✓Education: Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma by the date of appointment
• ✓Age (to test): At least 20 years old by the written test date — candidates within 12 months of the minimum age (21) are permitted to compete per Civil Service Law Section 54. Candidates will not be considered for appointment until their 21st birthday.
• ✓Age (to be appointed): Must be 21 years old by the date of appointment
• ✓Driver’s License: Valid NYS motor vehicle operator’s license required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment in this title
• ✓Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen at the time of appointment
• ✓Residence: No residency requirement to sit for this examination — however, the Civil Service Department gives certification preference to legal residents of Suffolk County who have maintained residency for at least 90 calendar days prior to certification
• !Criminal history: Per Section 217-A of the County Law, candidates convicted of a felony will be barred from appointment, and candidates convicted of a misdemeanor may be barred from employment

Candidates must pass all four parts of this examination to be eligible for appointment. Rank on the eligible list is determined by the written test score only, plus veterans’ credits where applicable. Failure to appear for any portion — or failure of any portion — results in disqualification from the competition.

These standards are subject to change during the life of the eligible list without notice to candidates. The medical evaluation covers the following systems:

• +Vision: Uncorrected acuity no worse than 20/100 in each eye; corrected no worse than 20/30. Horizontal field of vision of at least 170 degrees binocular. Color perception assessed via the Ishihara Test (must read 9+ of first 13 plates). Depth perception correctable to 80 ARC seconds.
• +Hearing: Hearing loss disqualifying if greater than 25 DB (500–2000 Hz range) or 30 DB (3000 Hz range) in either ear. Hearing aids permitted if self-contained and properly fitted, with audiologist verification at the candidate’s expense.
• +Cardiovascular: Resting blood pressure should be ≤140 mmHg systolic and ≤90 mmHg diastolic across three successive readings. Other conditions assessed case-by-case.
• +Neurological: Candidates must be free of disorders affecting job performance. Those with epilepsy or seizure disorders must show one year seizure-free prior to examination.
• +Musculoskeletal: No impairment of more than one finger per hand; no functional impairment of thumb or index finger on either hand. Back, joint, and muscle conditions assessed individually.
• +Mental Health: Candidates must be free of mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, alcoholism, or drug dependence that would interfere with job performance. Evaluated through psychological screening; may be screened for drugs of abuse.
• +Other systems assessed: Respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine/metabolic, dermatological, and general medical fitness — each evaluated case-by-case for ability to perform essential job functions.

Candidates must successfully complete all three elements — sit-ups (1 minute), push-ups (no breaks), and a 1.5-mile run — at or better than the minimum score for their age group and sex.

• ✓Pension: 50% pension eligibility after 25 years of service, regardless of age
• ✓Overtime: All overtime paid at 1.5x your regular hourly rate
• ✓Paid time off: Accrued vacation days, sick time, and personal time
• ✓Health coverage: Medical benefits, prescription benefits, and vision/dental coverage
• ✓Equipment: No-cost uniforms and equipment provided

All applications must be submitted online only at suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Civil-Service. Payment must be made by Visa or MasterCard credit card; a $1.95 convenience fee applies. A separate application and fee are required for each examination number. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. An email acknowledgement will be sent upon successful submission.

The $125 application fee may be waived for Suffolk County residents who fall into any of the following categories. All waiver claims are subject to verification:

• !Should it become necessary to amend any part of this announcement, the Department of Civil Service reserves the right to make such amendments on the Department’s web page without notification to applicants. The most current version is available during the filing period at suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Civil-Service.
• !Candidates who apply and have not heard back by October 21, 2026 are advised to contact the Department before the written test date at (631) 853-5500.
• !All statements made on the application may be verified, and the backgrounds of successful candidates are subject to investigation by the appointing authority.