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Correctional & Probation/Parole Officer Certification

The Criminal Justice Standards Division is responsible for verifying that every applicant for a Correctional Officer or Probation/Parole Officer position meets the requirements listed below. The Department of Adult Correction is the hiring and employing agency. For information on available jobs, please visit its Web site.

Under 12 NCAC 9G .0208, every person employed as a Corrections Officer shall:

      • be a citizen of the United States, or have a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and have resided in the United States for at least three years;
      • be at least 18 years of age;
      • be a high school graduate, or the equivalent as defined in 12 NCAC 09G .0204;
      • have been fingerprinted by the employing agency in the manner provided in 12 NCAC 09G .0207;
      • have had a medical examination as required by 12 NCAC 09G .0205;
      • have produced a negative result on a drug screen as described in 12 NCAC 09G .0211;
      • have been administered a psychological screening examination in accordance with G.S. 17C10(c). The psychological screening examination shall be valid for a period of one year from the date on which it was administered;
      • have a background investigation conducted by the Department of Adult Correction, including a
        personal interview as described in 12 NCAC 09G .0210;
      • not have committed or been convicted of a crime or crimes as specified in 12 NCAC 09G .0302;
      • for personnel who are authorized to carry a firearm in the execution of their duties, satisfactorily Complete the Department of Adult Correction’s departmental firearms training program as prescribed in 12 NCAC 09G .0411. Such firearms training compliance must have occurred within
        one year of the date of employment and by using the department approved service handgun(s);
      • be of good moral character, including possessing the characteristics of honesty, maturity, discipline, attention to detail, and respect for the rights of others, as more fully discussed and interpreted in: In re Willis 288 N.C. 1.215 S.E. 2d 771 appeal dismissed 423 U.S. 976 (1975); State v. Harris, 216 N.C. 746, 6 S.E. 2d 854 (1940); In re Legg, 325 N.C. 658, 386 S.E. 2d 174 (1989); in re Applicants for License, 143 N.C.1, 55 S.E. 635 (1906); In re Dillingham, 188 N.C. 162, 124 S.E. 130 (1924); State v. Benbow, 309 N.C. 538, 308 S.E. 2d 47 (1983); and later court decisions
      • make the following notifications:
        • (A) within 30 days of the qualifying event, notify the Criminal Justice Standards Division
          (Division) and the appointing agency head in writing of all criminal offenses for which
          the officer is charged or arrested. This shall include traffic offenses identified in the
          Department of Adult Correction section of the Class B Misdemeanor Manual and
          offenses of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI);
        • (B) within 30 days of the qualifying event, notify the Division and the appointing agency
          head in writing of all criminal offenses which are dismissed or for which the officer
          pleads no contest, pleads guilty, or of which the officer is found guilty. This shall include
          traffic offenses identified in the Class B Misdemeanor Manual (correctional officers
          section) and offense of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired
          (DWI);
        • (C) within 30 days of service, officers shall notify the Standards Division of all Domestic
          Violence Protective Orders (G.S. 50B) and Civil No Contact Orders (G.S. 50C) that are
          issued by a judicial official against the officer;
        • (D) The required notifications in this Rule shall be in writing and shall specify the nature of
          the offense or order, the court in which the case as handled, the date of the arrest,
          criminal charge, or service of the order, and the final disposition. The notification shall
          include a certified copy of the order or court documentation and final disposition from the
          Clerk of Court in the county of adjudication. The requirements of this Item shall be
          applicable at all times during which the officer is employed and certified by the
          Commission and shall also apply to all applicants for certification. Receipt by the
          Standards Division of a single notification, for the officer or the agency head, shall be
          sufficient notice for compliance with this Item

Under 12 NCAC 9G .0209, every person employed as a Probation/Parole Officer shall:

      • be a citizen of the United States
      • be at least 20 years of age
      • have attained a bachelor’s degree as described in 12 NCAC 09G .0204;
      • have been fingerprinted by the employing agency in the manner provided in 12 NCAC 09G .0207;
      • have had a medical examination as required by 12 NCAC 09G .0205;
      • have produced a negative result on a drug screen as described in 12 NCAC 09G .0211;
      • have been administered a psychological screening examination in accordance with G.S. 17C10(c). The psychological screening examination shall be valid for a period of one year from the date on which it was administered;
      • have a background investigation conducted by the Department of Adult Correction, including a personal interview as described in 12 NCAC 09G .0210;
      • not have committed or been convicted of a crime or crimes as specified in 12 NCAC 09G . 0302;
      • for personnel who are authorized to carry a firearm in the execution of their duties, satisfactorily Complete the Department of Adult Correction’s departmental firearms training program as prescribed in 12 NCAC 09G .0412. Such firearms training compliance must have occurred within one year of the date of employment and by using the department approved service handgun(s); and,
      • be of good moral character, including possessing the characteristics of honesty, maturity, discipline, attention to detail, and respect for the rights of others as more fully discussed and interpreted in: In re Willis 288 N.C. 1.215 S.E. 2d 771 appeal dismissed 423 U.S. 976 (1975); State v. Harris, 216 N.C. 746, 6 S.E. 2d 854 (1940); In re Legg, 325 N.C. 658, 386 S.E. 2d 174 (1989); in re Applicants for License, 143 N.C.1, 55 S.E. 635 (1906); In re Dillingham, 188 N.C. 162, 124 S.E. 130 (1924); State v. Benbow, 309 N.C. 538, 308 S.E. 2d 47 (1983); and later court decisions; and
      • make the following notifications:
        • (A) within 30 days of the qualifying event, notify the Standards Division and the appointing
          agency head in writing of all criminal offenses for which the officer is charged or
          arrested. This shall include traffic offenses identified in the Class B Misdemeanor
          Manual and offenses of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired
          (DWI);
        • (B) within 30 days of the qualifying event, notify the Standards Division and the appointing
          agency head in writing of all criminal offenses for which the officer pleads no contest,
          pleads guilty, or of which the officer is found guilty. This shall include traffic offenses
          identified in the Department of Adult Correction section of the Class B Misdemeanor
          Manual and offense of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired
          (DWI);
        • (C) within 30 days of service, officers shall notify the Standards Division of all Domestic
          Violence Protective Orders (G.S. 50B) and Civil No Contact Orders (G.S. 50C) that are
          issued by a judicial official against the officer;
        • (D) within 30 days of the date the case was disposed of in court, the agency head, provided he
          or she has knowledge of the officer’s arrests or criminal charges and final dispositions,
          shall also notify the Standards Division of arrests or criminal charges and final
          disposition;
        • (E) within 30 days of the issuance of all Domestic Violence Protective Orders (G.S. 50B) and
          Civil No Contact Orders (G.S. 50C), the agency head, provided he or she has knowledge
          of the order, shall also notify the Standard Division of these orders; and
        • (F) The required notifications in this Rule shall be in writing and shall specify the nature of
          the offense or order, the court in which the case as handled, the date of the arrest,
          criminal charge, or service of the order, and the final disposition. The notification shall
          include a certified copy of the order or court documentation and final disposition from the
          Clerk of Court in the county of adjudication. The requirements of this Item shall be
          applicable at all times during which the officer is employed and certified by the
          Commission and shall also apply to all applicants for certification. Receipt by the
          Standards Division of a single notification, for the officer or the agency head, shall be
          sufficient notice for compliance with this Item.

Notification of Criminal Charges/Convictions

(12 NCAC 9G .0302) Every person employed and certified as a Correctional Officer, Probation/Parole Officer, or Probation/Parole Officer-Surveillance shall notify the Criminal Justice Standards Division of all criminal offenses for which the officer is charged, arrested, pleads no contest, pleads guilty, or for which the officer is found guilty. Criminal offenses shall include all felony offenses and shall specifically include those misdemeanor offenses delineated in 12 NCAC 9G .0102.

Felony Firearms Act

The North Carolina Felony Firearms Act, found in N.C.G.S. 14-415.1, outlines which persons are prohibited from access to firearms. This restriction on gun ownership applies to any person who has been convicted of any North Carolina felony or violations of criminal laws of other states, or the United States, which are punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Effective Dec. 1, 2004, these individuals cannot purchase, own, possess, or have in their custody, care, or control, any firearm at any location or any weapon of mass death and destruction. This prohibition continues indefinitely. This prohibition does not apply to “antique firearms.” For more details on antique firearms, see Section II. B. of the North Carolina Firearms Laws manual.

Federal Firearms Statute

The Federal Firearms Statute, at 18 U.S.C. 922, is independent of North Carolina’s firearms laws and should be consulted before anyone convicted of a felony, in any state or federal court, possesses, receives or transports any firearm. For detailed information on this federal law, persons are urged to contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or the U.S. Attorney’s Office in their area.