Salary: $7,114.00 - $9,571.00 Monthly
Location : Mason County - Shelton, WA
Job Type: Agency Internal - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Corrections
Division: Prisons - WCC
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Classification Counselor 3

Department of Corrections - Prisons

Washington Corrections Center - Shelton, WA

Internal DOC Only - Full Time - Permanent
The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking highly motivated and talented individual for the position of Classification Counselor 3 (CC3) at the Washington Corrections Center (WCC) in Shelton, Washington.

Washington Corrections Center (WCC) is located 35 miles northwest of Olympia, the state capital. WCC is predominantly a Reception and Diagnostic Center, a close, medium-and long-term minimum custody facility. The facility has a primary responsibility to process, test, and classify all adult male incarcerated individuals sentenced to prison in Washington State. The facility has seven living units, compromised of 5 close custody reception units, and 3 medium and long-term minimum units. WCC houses approximately 1,800 incarcerated individuals. There are approximately 500 incarcerated individuals screened and processed each month. WCC also serves as a major transportation hub responsible for the transfer of incarcerated individuals to and from facilities throughout the state.

The Classification Counselor 3 provides professional classification expertise with the goal of placing incarcerated individuals in the least restrictive custody designation, while meeting the need to provide for the safety of the public, staff, visitors, and incarcerated. The Classification Counselor 3 further supports the agency's mission to improve public safety by collaborating with community resources and stakeholders to promote successful transition of incarcerated individuals into the community.

In order to be considered for this position, please apply directly at to this announcement AND attach the following items to your application:
• A current resume (indicating your related experience)
• A cover letter (preferably no more than two pages) describing how you meet the qualifications and why you are an ideal candidate for this position.
• Three (3) professional references.

**Please note, an incomplete application package may disqualify you from the process.

We are looking for evidence in your application materials that you have the experience, skills, and abilities indicated in this job posting. Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements of this position may be invited to interview. Carefully review your application before submitting. All information may be verified and documentation may be required.
Duties
The primary duties for the Classification Counselor 3 (CC3) are to act as a principal assistant to a unit manager, manage a caseload of adult criminal incarcerated individuals, provide effective communication and documentation, navigate and maintain multiple electronic technologies and hard copy files, and perform other duties as assigned and/or required.

Essential functions for the CC3 include:

• As a lead supervisor, provide guidance and technical expertise to other staff.
• Assume delegated responsibilities of the unit supervisor in his/her absence.
• Mentor, train, monitor, and audit the work of subordinate and/or other lower-level staff.
• Assign and evaluate work.
• Handle complex and non-routine caseloads.
• Investigate all information available for each arriving incarcerated individual and determine the incarcerated individual's documentation and programming needs.
• Complete facility plans, criminal history, and risk management tools to determine needs.
• Prepare and submit incarcerated individuals' Release Plans.
• Counsel and inform incarcerated individuals regarding community resources and problems.
• Work with internal and external entities to facilitate an incarcerated individual's re-entry.
• Maintain communication with incarcerated individuals to assist with attorney calls, child custody/support hearings with DCYF and courts, and family contact through crisis/emergency situations.
• Monitor incarcerated individual programming and behaviors.
• Write correspondence, infractions, and incident reports.
• Provide clear, concise, and consistent communication with staff, incarcerated individuals, and stakeholders.
• Complete paperwork for special visits, deathbed visits, funeral outings, job referrals, End of Sentence Review packets, Extended Family Visits, marriages, psychological evaluation requests, incarcerated individual-to-incarcerated individual correspondence, and out-of-state and international transfers.
• Provide monthly reports and participate in meetings.
• Testify before courts and boards.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and two years of professional counseling or casework experience. A Master degree in in sociology, psychology, social work, criminology, or closely related field will substitute for one year of the required experience.

OR

Satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) and four years of professional counseling or casework experience. College classes related to Criminal Justice, Case Management, or similar.

OR

One year as a Classification Counselor 2 in Washington State service to include, at a minimum, satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits). College classes related to Criminal Justice, Case Management, or similar.

OR

Six years of experience in adult corrections, juvenile corrections, rehabilitation or social casework.

*Note: Corrections experience means the focus of the work is dealing directly with incarcerated individuals a majority of the time.

In addition to at least one of the above, this position requires:

Ability to -

• Write clearly, factually, and concisely.
• Analyze and interpret data, weigh the risks, and make decisions or recommendations to address staff and offender needs.
• Identify and address offender behavior/needs.
• Organize and prioritize work.
• Apply conflict resolution skills.

Observation - Observes and strategizes personal action based on environmental conditions and human behavior.

Technology - Learns and utilizes computer-based applications in the performance of job duties.

Stress Tolerance - Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening or other crisis/emergency situations. Expertly intervenes in response to threats.

Professional Standards - Knows and applies relevant law, policy, procedure, and practice. Adheres to established productivity standards and timelines. Identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.

Adaptability - Incorporates new information into an existing framework of understanding. Accepts change and supports the Agency through changes in law, policy and procedure.

• A completed application packet will include:
• A cover letter outlining how you meet the qualifications for this position,
• A detailed chronological resume,
• At least (3) three professional references

- A professional reference is identified as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
Incomplete application packages may disqualify an applicant from the application process.
We are looking for evidence in your application materials that you have the experience, skills, and abilities indicated in this job posting. Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements of this position may be invited to interview. Carefully review your application before submitting. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application materials submitted.

Supplemental Information