When you apply for a correctional officer job, should you be concerned that your previous or current bad credit will keep you from getting hired?
Unfortunately, most employers these days, not just those offering positions as correction officers, are increasingly utilizing a prospective applicant’s credit report as a qualifying factor for many jobs.
So what are the reasons behind this practice? Is it legal, and what can you do to ensure you’re next job application isn’t affected by your poor credit.
Why Is It Done?
The use of credit checks by employers can put job seekers in a very tough situation. Maybe you are looking for new work or a new career due to a downturn in the economy, the same economy that has your credit in its current condition.
An employer looking into your credit history will probably say we can’t hire you because of your bad credit, and then you’ll probably think, “Well if someone would hire me and I could get a paycheck I wouldn’t have credit problems”. It’s like a catch 22 situation.
So why would a history of poor credit or signs of unpaid debts cause you any concerns when you are seeking a career as a correctional officer? Corruption.
The potential that inmates on the inside may possibly influence you or even family members on the outside is a real possibility in the minds of any hiring staff of a department of corrections. The risk of corruption is only one piece of the puzzle, poor credit can also be a sign of irresponsibility and poor judgment on your part, which are not exactly the traits of a great correctional officer.
While a credit check will not be required for most jobs, if you are seeking a career in corrections it most likely will be included in the required background checks. While they won’t be checking to see what your “credit score” is like if you were looking to purchase a new car, they will be focusing on your payment history if you’ve had a bankruptcy, a history of bad checks, or a number of collection accounts.
What Can You Do?
If you do find yourself in the situation of being questioned about your credit, many times it isn’t an automatic disqualifier if you can explain your situation or have taken steps to rectify the problems. Usually, this is done on a case-by-case basis and may not be how your local department handles these types of situations.
There are steps that you can take to assist you in reducing the effects of bad credit on your job search activities. Visit the second part of this article for the steps you can take to repair your credit for your correctional officer job.
I am an ex correctional officer, many people do not realize how important credit is to being hired as a correctional officer.
I have seen many good people be denied because of bad credit.
Good credit is real important mainly because if you have high debt you are a compromise risk.
I have seen many officer walked out for this very reason.
Get your credit in order before applying or at least have it under control.
another reason is someone who has bad credit USUALLY is irresponsible. Not paying your bills ontime , going over your limit etc indicate a lack of self control,
my step son who is now 31 was in a training program for correction officer, has no clue about how to handle finances.
He has had over 10 bank accounts closed on him in the last 10 years. He always has an excuse that it was the banks fault, his mother believes everything he tells her, He has had more than 10 jobs in that time too. Most of them he was let go “because they are downsizing” yet the places still advertised for help. The problem is he can’t take directions or follow others guides/rules.
the longest job was with an airline it lasted 6 months – he said he quit “because the hours were not steady and the buses did not run to get him there on time”
he worked 4 or 5 days a week an never before 8 am or after 9 pm
I drove him many many days…..
but I overheard him telling a friend he hit a plane with a baggage cart and damaged a cargo door.
I bought him a used police car so he could.d go to work
He was never taught how to manage his money, I tried to show him but he ignored my help his mother just never got around to it.
now about his “Career in Law Enforcement”
He weighs well over 300 lbs and during his first agility test for the corrections job he “turned wrong” and hurt his knee.
He was off for 4 weeks and he said they made a mistake in his pay for the time off and when he called to go back they told him No thanks.
He told us they let him go because he complained about a mistake in his pay.
If anything they saw he was overweight and not able to perform movements the might be required to perform his job yet he insisted his doctor told him his weight had nothing to do with the injury — it was fluke that he turned wrong — his mom believed him — OMG !
He also has 18 summonses for not paying tolls – but has an excuse for each. at first it was “the person at the booth hit the wrong button, the toll taker must have located the money, then his km bought him a transponder for tolls and the excuses were just as implausible “the signal must not have worked right” — he had a toll pass account linked to a back account and he didn’t have $10.00 in the account to cover the low balance withdrawal for the toll transducer. of course it was the banks fault for him not having enough in his account. His mother believed him.
Me and his mom have paid his fines for him so his license wouldn’t be suspended and the. we would have to chauffeur him around . I paid some because his mom would go on the warpath if I didn’t help her baby boy !!!! .
This is only a small portion of how irresponsible a person can be – I sure would not want someone like him working for me at ANY job… to me it seems like he is doomed to a lifetime of short term low paying jobs but his mother WON’T believe ME
He orders delivery pizza at least 3 times week – his mother pays most of the time.
another reason is someone who has bad credit USUALLY is irresponsible. Not paying your bills ontime , going over your limit etc indicate a lack of self control,
my step son who is now 31 was in a training program for correction officer, has no clue about how to handle finances.
He has had over 10 bank accounts closed on him in the last 10 years. He always has an excuse that it was the banks fault, his mother believes everything he tells her, He has had more than 10 jobs in that time too. Most of them he was let go “because they are downsizing” yet the places still advertised for help. The problem is he can’t take directions or follow others guides/rules.
the longest job was with an airline it lasted 6 months – he said he quit “because the hours were not steady and the buses did not run to get him there on time”
he worked 4 or 5 days a week an never before 8 am or after 9 pm
I drove him many many days…..
but I overheard him telling a friend he hit a plane with a baggage cart and damaged a cargo door.
I bought him a used police car so he could.d go to work
He was never taught how to manage his money, I tried to show him but he ignored my help his mother just never got around to it.
now about his “Career in Law Enforcement”
He weighs well over 300 lbs and during his first agility test for the corrections job he “turned wrong” and hurt his knee.
He was off for 4 weeks and he said they made a mistake in his pay for the time off and when he called to go back they told him No thanks.
He told us they let him go because he complained about a mistake in his pay.
If anything they saw he was overweight and not able to perform movements the might be required to perform his job yet he insisted his doctor told him his weight had nothing to do with the injury — it was fluke that he turned wrong — his mom believed him — OMG !
He also has 18 summonses for not paying tolls – but has an excuse for each. at first it was “the person at the booth hit the wrong button, the toll taker must have located the money, then his km bought him a transponder for tolls and the excuses were just as implausible “the signal must not have worked right” — he had a toll pass account linked to a back account and he didn’t have $10.00 in the account to cover the low balance withdrawal for the toll transducer. of course it was the banks fault for him not having enough in his account. His mother believed him.
Me and his mom have paid his fines for him so his license wouldn’t be suspended and the. we would have to chauffeur him around . I paid some because his mom would go on the warpath if I didn’t help her baby boy !!!! .
This is only a small portion of how irresponsible a person can be – I sure would not want someone like him working for me at ANY job… to me it seems like he is doomed to a lifetime of short term low paying jobs but his mother WON’T believe ME
He orders delivery pizza at least 3 times week – his mother pays most of the time.
Just one more reason to keep a person down. Between a divorce and being laid off. My credit is a horror story at best. Still this in no way means I would take a bribe. It just means I need a decent job. A person moral count. has nothing to do with their bank account.