200+ Free CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Practice Questions
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You are working in a housing unit when the power goes out. Emergency generators activate, providing limited lighting. Several inmates begin shouting and banging on their cells. What is your priority?
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Key Facts: CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Exam
53
Multiple-Choice Questions
CDCR Written Examination page
1 hr 45 min
Total Test Time
CDCR Written Examination page
70%
Passing Score
CDCR Written Examination page
$0
Candidate Fee
CDCR Peace Officer Recruitment
Title 15
California Code of Regulations Source
CDCR Regulations
PC 830.5
Peace Officer Authority Statute
California Penal Code
The CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam is a 53-question, 1 hour 45 minute multiple-choice exam administered free of charge by CDCR Peace Officer Recruitment. Candidates must score at least 70% to pass. The exam tests reading comprehension on CDCR procedure and Title 15 California Code of Regulations, written communication and grammar, California Penal Code and corrections law (including PC 2932, PC 4500, PC 4501/4502/4573, and PC 830.5 peace officer status), use of force under Title 15 §3268 (intermediate force, deadly force standard, post-incident reporting on Form 837), memory and observation, information ordering of CDCR procedures and post orders, and workplace integrity judgment (CDCR/POST ethics, undue familiarity, bribery, code of silence resistance, and gang influence).
Sample CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Passage: "CDCR institutions operate under Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations. Officers must enforce both Title 15 standards and individual institutional procedures. When procedures conflict, Title 15 controls." According to the passage, when does Title 15 control?
2Passage: "CDCR officers shall conduct an institutional count at scheduled times. All inmates must be physically observed and verified as living, breathing persons. A count that is not cleared triggers a recount until accurate." According to the passage, what must officers verify during count?
3Passage: "All CDCR use-of-force incidents shall be reported on a CDCR Form 837 by every employee who used force or witnessed force. Reports shall be submitted before the employee leaves the institution at end of watch." Which CDCR employee must submit a 837 report after a use-of-force event?
4Passage: "Contraband is defined under Title 15 as any item not authorized by the warden or designee. Possession of contraband may be grounds for inmate discipline and may also trigger criminal charges under the California Penal Code if the item is dangerous." Based on the passage, contraband is:
5Passage: "An officer's report shall be objective, factual, and free of speculation. Conclusions about inmate motivation are not appropriate unless supported by quoted statements." Under this rule, an officer writing "the inmate clearly wanted to escape" without a quote is:
6Passage: "CDCR Title 15 §3268 limits use of force to the minimum amount reasonably necessary to gain compliance or control. Deadly force is authorized only when officers reasonably believe such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or another, or to prevent escape from a secure perimeter." Deadly force is NOT authorized to:
7Passage: "Inmates housed in restricted housing shall be afforded property, exercise, and visitation privileges as set out in Title 15. Limitations on these privileges must be documented in the inmate's central file with the reason for the limitation." The passage suggests that limitations:
8Passage: "CDCR's mission is to enhance public safety by safely housing, supervising, and rehabilitating offenders. Officer conduct shall promote this mission both inside and outside the institution." The passage implies an officer's off-duty conduct:
9Passage: "All evidence collected during a CDCR investigation must be logged on a chain-of-custody form. Each transfer between staff requires both names, the date, the time, and the reason." If a log entry omits the reason, the entry is:
10Passage: "During cell searches, officers should leave the cell in substantially the same condition as it was found, absent contraband. Damage shall be documented and reported." The passage suggests that needlessly tearing up an inmate's legal papers during a search is:
About the CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Exam
The CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam is California's initial written test for entry-level Correctional Officer positions. The 53-question multiple-choice exam runs 1 hour 45 minutes and is scored against a 70% passing standard. The exam evaluates reading comprehension of CDCR procedural and Title 15 material, written communication and grammar, knowledge of the California Penal Code and corrections law, use-of-force principles under Title 15 §3268, memory and observation, information ordering, and workplace integrity judgment.
Questions
53 scored questions
Time Limit
1 hour 45 minutes
Passing Score
70%
Exam Fee
Free (California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) Peace Officer Recruitment)
CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Exam Content Outline
Reading Comprehension
CDCR procedural passages and Title 15 excerpts with fact extraction and inference
Written Communication & Grammar
Sentence structure, agreement, pronoun case, punctuation, and spelling
California Penal Code & Corrections Law
PC 2932, PC 4500, in-custody offenses, and Title 15 fundamentals
Use of Force
Title 15 §3268 continuum, intermediate force, deadly force, and post-UOF reporting
Memory & Observation
Scene recall, faces, contraband description, and sequence of events
Information Ordering
Sequencing CDCR procedures and post orders
Workplace Integrity & Judgment (SJT)
CDCR/POST ethics, gang influence, and code of silence resistance
How to Pass the CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70%
- Exam length: 53 questions
- Time limit: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Exam fee: Free
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam?
It is California's initial written test for entry-level Correctional Officer hiring at the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR). The exam evaluates skills used on the job — reading procedural material, written communication, California Penal Code and Title 15 knowledge, use-of-force judgment, memory, information ordering, and workplace integrity.
How many questions are on the exam and how long is it?
The CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam has 53 multiple-choice questions and is timed at 1 hour 45 minutes. Candidates take the exam at a CDCR-designated testing site.
What score do I need to pass the CDCR written exam?
Candidates must score at least 70% to pass the written exam. Passing places candidates on the CDCR Peace Officer eligibility list to advance to physical fitness, psychological, medical, and background stages.
Does the CDCR Correctional Officer exam cost anything?
No. The written exam is free to candidates. CDCR Peace Officer Recruitment does not charge a candidate fee, although applicants are responsible for travel to a CDCR-designated testing site.
Who administers the CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam?
The exam is developed and administered by the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) through Peace Officer Recruitment. Scheduling and testing-site information is at cdcr.ca.gov/por.
What topics are on the CDCR Correctional Officer written exam?
The exam covers reading comprehension of CDCR procedural and Title 15 material, written communication and grammar, California Penal Code and corrections law (including PC 2932, PC 4500, and Title 15 §3268 use of force), memory and observation, information ordering of procedures and post orders, and workplace integrity judgment situations consistent with California POST/CDCR ethics.
Can I retake the CDCR Correctional Officer exam if I fail?
Yes. Retake timing is set by current CDCR Peace Officer Recruitment policy. Candidates who fail typically must wait a specified period before retesting on the written exam; check cdcr.ca.gov/por for the current retake interval.
What happens after I pass the written exam?
Passing the written exam places candidates on the CDCR Peace Officer eligibility list and advances them to physical fitness testing, a background investigation, medical and psychological evaluations, and academy selection.