The Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the Preston E. Smith Unit is looking at hiring a few good correctional officers. The department is hosting a pre-service academy Sept. 28 and has extended the criteria for the correctional officer pre-employment test exemption and allows applicants to interview virtually or by phone. “They have to do the interview and get their background check, and then they (recruiters) will tell them to go to the academy,” Sylvia Alvarado, TDCJ prospector said. “It’s not just them going to the academy.” Everyone is exempt from testing due to the coronavirus pandemic, but they will still have to ...