JSO Screening Events Nov. 4 and 14: Jacksonville Police Recruits Start at $71,892

JACKSONVILLE, FL — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has two applicant screening events on the calendar for November, and both happen out on Capper Road on the Northside: Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 a.m. They are the next step for anyone chasing a police or corrections recruit job with JSO, where pay effective this month starts at $71,892 for police recruits and $67,236 for corrections recruits, academy time included.

This is not a walk-in job fair. You apply online first, then the screening is where you run the mile, take the written test and start the background paperwork.

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Employer	Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Dates	Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, 4:30 p.m. · Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 7:00 a.m.
Location	Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center, 4715 Capper Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218
Positions	Police Recruit and Corrections Recruit
Starting pay	$71,892 (police recruit) · $67,236 (corrections recruit), effective October 2026
What happens	Physical abilities test, mile run, polygraph questionnaire, written skills test
Eligibility	Closed to the public. Open only to applicants for Police or Corrections Recruit
Walk-ins	No

⚠️ Read This Before You Drive to Capper Road

The Sheriff's Office lists both November dates as closed to the public. Only people who have applied for a Corrections Recruit or Police Recruit position can take part. If you have not applied yet, that is step one, through the JSO careers site. Questions go to [email protected], or call the Sheriff's Office main line at 904-630-7600.

The site itself is the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Center, the training complex next to FSCJ's North Campus off Capper Road. It is where JSO's recruit academy runs, so screening day doubles as a first look at where you would train.

💵 What JSO Pays Police and Corrections Recruits

The Sheriff's Office lists these salary figures as effective October 2026, based on 26 pay periods and before taxes:

Police Recruit: $71,892 a year during the academy and field training. Certified officers with three years of experience can start at $76,140, and the state offers a $5,000 incentive for newly certified officers.
Corrections Recruit: $67,236 a year during the academy and field training. Certified corrections officers with three years of experience can start at $69,684.

Non-certified recruits selected for the sponsored academy are paid a salary and have tuition covered. Benefits include 200 hours of annual leave to start, 12 paid holidays, medical, dental and vision coverage, and a defined contribution plan where you put in 10% and the City adds 25%, vesting at three years.

✅ What You Need to Clear Screening

The requirements differ a little between the two jobs, so read the one you applied for:

Both jobs: U.S. citizen, valid driver's license, high school diploma or GED with official transcripts, and a mile in under 12 minutes.
Police Recruit: at least 21, plus an education or experience path such as a bachelor's degree, or an associate degree with qualifying work or military experience.
Corrections Recruit: at least 18, and a score of 70% or higher on the COBAT.
Disqualifiers: felony convictions, a dishonorable discharge, and certain misdemeanors. Credit history, past drug use, driving record and social media conduct can also pause an application.
Tattoos: none on the face or neck, with limits elsewhere.

Non-certified applicants also take the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test, scheduled through FDLE's testing vendor. Police applicants with an associate degree or higher, or qualifying veterans with a DD-214, may be exempt.

🔎 Public Safety Jobs to Search in Jacksonville

Plenty of applicants keep a paycheck coming while a background check runs. Security, dispatch and detention work around Duval County builds the habits JSO looks for.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just show up to the JSO screening on Nov. 4 or Nov. 14?

No. JSO lists both events as closed to the public and open only to applicants for Police Recruit or Corrections Recruit. Apply online first.

What happens at a JSO screening event?

The Sheriff's Office lists a physical abilities test, a mile run, a polygraph questionnaire and a written skills test.

How much do Jacksonville police recruits make?

$71,892 a year during the academy and field training, effective October 2026. Corrections recruits start at $67,236.

Do I need prior law enforcement experience?

No. Non-certified applicants can be sponsored through the academy with salary and tuition covered. Certified officers apply with their Florida certification and state exam score.

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