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Prison Counselor Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

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Prison Counselor information

See Portland, OR salary details

$17.5K

$65.9K

$98.1K

How much do prison counselor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for prison counselor in Portland, OR is $65,902.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,000.00 and $81,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prison counselor?

Prison counselors are professionals who work within correctional facilities to provide support, guidance, and rehabilitation services to inmates. Their main responsibilities include assessing inmates' needs, developing individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans, facilitating group or individual counseling sessions, and helping inmates prepare for successful reintegration into society. Prison counselors also collaborate with correctional staff and outside agencies to ensure the well-being and progress of inmates.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prison counselor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Prison Counselor, you need a background in psychology, social work, or counseling, typically supported by a relevant degree and state licensure or certification. Familiarity with case management software, assessment tools, and correctional facility protocols is essential. Strong interpersonal skills, emotional resilience, and effective communication help build trust and guide inmates through rehabilitation. These skills ensure the delivery of effective support services, promote inmate rehabilitation, and maintain safety within the correctional environment.

What are the most common challenges faced by prison counselors when working with incarcerated individuals?

Prison counselors often encounter challenges such as building trust with inmates, addressing a wide range of mental health and behavioral issues, and managing safety concerns within a correctional environment. Establishing rapport can be difficult due to past traumas or mistrust of authority among inmates. Additionally, counselors must balance providing support with maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to institutional policies, often while working with limited resources. Collaboration with correctional staff and other professionals is essential to ensure both effective rehabilitation and the safety of all parties.

What is the difference between Prison Counselor vs Probation Officer?

AspectPrison CounselorProbation Officer
CredentialsRelevant degrees in psychology, social work, or counseling; licensure often requiredBachelor's or master's in criminal justice, social work, or related fields; sometimes required to have counseling credentials
Work EnvironmentCorrectional facilities, prisons, detention centersCommunity settings, courts, probation offices
Employer & IndustryCorrectional institutions, government agenciesCourts, probation departments, criminal justice agencies
Job FocusProviding mental health counseling, rehabilitation, and support to inmatesMonitoring, supervising, and assisting offenders in the community

Both Prison Counselors and Probation Officers work within the criminal justice system and require related credentials. While Prison Counselors focus on inmate rehabilitation within correctional facilities, Probation Officers supervise offenders in the community. Their roles complement each other but differ mainly in work environment and specific responsibilities.

Are prison counselors in demand?

Prison counselors are in demand due to the ongoing need for mental health and rehabilitation services within correctional facilities. Employment opportunities are expected to grow as facilities seek qualified professionals with counseling skills and relevant certifications to support inmate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.

How do you become a prison counselor?

To become a prison counselor, you typically need a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field, and some positions may require a master's degree. Relevant experience, strong communication skills, and sometimes certification or licensure are also important for employment in correctional facilities.

What are popular job titles related to Prison Counselor jobs in Portland, OR?

For Prison Counselor jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prison Counselor jobs in Portland, OR look for?

The top searched job categories for Prison Counselor jobs in Portland, OR are:

What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Prison Counselor jobs?

Cities near Portland, OR with the most Prison Counselor job openings:

Prison Counselor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prison Counselor job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,893 per year, or $31.7 per hour.

Addiction & Recovery Counselor I or II (Turning Point SUD Treatment)

Cascadia Health

Portland, OR • On-site

$48K - $64K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Cascadia Health rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Addiction & Recovery Counselor I or II (Turning Point SUD Treatment)
Job Overview
Location/Schedule: This position is located at The Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland, OR. The schedule for this position is either Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Position: Addiction and Recovery Counselor I or II
Program: Turning Point SUD Treatment
Cascadia's Mission and Vision
Mission: Cascadia Health delivers whole health care integrated mental health and addiction services, primary care, and housing to promote hope and support the well-being of the communities we serve.
Vision: We envision a community where everyone benefits from whole health care, experiences well-being, and has a self-directed, connected life.
Position Description: The Addiction and Recovery Counselor provides substance use disorder (SUD) services to assigned clients, including assessment, development of treatment plans, and individual therapy, that are tailored to each client's needs. The Turning Point programs uses evidence-based interventions to address to address criminogenic risk factors and substance use with the goal to promote long term recovery and reduce recidivism. It offers adults in Custody who are referred to the program by the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC), intensive group and individual counseling to help them recover from their addictions and related issues. Turning Point puts a strong emphasis on community reintegration, with focus on referral for housing, employment services and continuing care upon release.
Essential Duties
This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities or an all inclusive job description.
  • Facilitate both treatment groups and individual counseling using evidence based practices i.e. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivation Interviewing
  • Provide case management; collaborate with treatment team members and DOC counselors to support treatment plan
  • Provide milieu support by monitoring problematic behavior; deescalate as necessary
  • Provide treatment planning; identify risk factors associated for relapse and recidivism
  • Complete Substance Abuse and ASAM LOC behavioral health assessments
  • Adhere to compliance, required laws and complete annual required trainings I.e. Mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPPA
  • Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.
  • Document and maintain clinical records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policy and procedures and local, state and federal regulations through use of Electronic Health Record System (EHR)
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
  • Addiction and Recovery Counselor I: Must be a CADC- Registrant
  • Addiction and Recovery Counselor II: Must be a CADC I or II
  • It is preferred that the clinician already have a CADC certification.
  • Certification, Associates degree, or specific education focused on substance abuse treatment is preferred
  • Six months to a year of experience providing SUD treatment or practicum experience is required
  • Familiar with de-escalation techniques
  • Knowledge of culturally specific services
  • Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care
  • Understanding of Recovery Model and Motivational Interviewing
  • Knowledge of evidence based practices and strength based philosophies
  • Knowledge of Microsoft office suite (I.e. word, Power Point, Excel)
  • Operate computer programs and systems at a level needed to perform the essential duties
  • Able to commute to other Cascadia sites and locations as needed.

Working Conditions
  • Environmental: Work is performed in a minimum-security, male prison.
  • Operating Hours: This position generally works 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, four days a week (4-ten's).
  • Mental: Meal periods and breaks are subject to interruption. Regularly remaining aware and alert is critical to detect and address escalated, potentially volatile situations. Universal precautions should be taken due to exposure to disease, biohazards, noise and contaminants.
  • Physical Demands: Being stationary is constant in this role for completing documentation and facilitating groups and individual counseling with clients. Requires constant verbal communication with staff and clients, ability to hear the institutional radio and client interactions. Must constantly be aware in this environment and be able to judge what is going on around you. Requires regular ability to move about the workspace, from office to group rooms or client day rooms. Regularly ability provide documentation an EHR system and create emails. On occasion may stoop for emergency drills. On occasion, may need to run in an emergency situation.

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654.
Benefits
We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours + pro-rated) including:
  • Generous Paid Time Off Package - Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
  • Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1st of the month following hire date)
  • VSP Vision Discount Plan
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan - Eligible after 60 days with immediate 100% vesting and a 1-to-1 company match up to 3% per pay period,plus the opportunity for an additional discretionary contribution (up to 5%) at the end of the fiscal year.
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical, dependent care, and transportation options)
  • Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
  • Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
  • Length of Service Award
  • Voluntary Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Insurance
  • Student loan forgiveness options

Wellness Benefits:
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Bike to Work Reimbursement
  • Discounted Fitness Memberships
  • Trauma Support Team

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)
$24.72 - $25.84

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