Correctional Officer

Nature of Work/Examples of Work Performed

• Provide security and care to incarcerated individuals
• Ensure inmate safety
• Enforce rules and regulations
• Maintain order
• Escort inmates
• Supervise various inmate activities and programs
• Provide input into the treatment of individual inmates and the correctional facility population in general

Work Requirements of Officers

• Process new inmates
• Supervise inmate activities, recreation, personal visits, and phone calls
• Provide inmates with services such as laundry, meals, mail, sanitation, and numerous others
• Prevent and control volatile situations among the inmates
• Conduct searches or shakedowns to control contraband
• Escort inmates to any medical or legal appointments
• Supervise inmate activities including educational, recreational, and trustee duties
• Listen openly to inmate questions or grievances to help resolve or refer problems/issues to appropriate staff
• Document inmate activities and relevant incidents and complete oral and written reports when required

Desirable Knowledge, Abilities & Skills/Desirable Training & Experience

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system
• Knowledge of correctional facility operations
• Knowledge of minority cultures and religions
• Ability to effectively manage inmate behavior in custody environments
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to observe and assess inmate behavior for signs of potential suicide, riot, and/or other violent behavior
• Ability to respond to medical and life threatening emergencies
• Ability to work with outside agencies, inmates, attorneys, coworkers, and the public in a professional manner
• Ability to perform computer data entry and word processing

Minimum Qualifications/Necessary Special Requirements

• Graduation from a senior high school or equivalent
• Must be a citizen of the United States and be at least nineteen (19) years of age
• At the time of employment, must be fingerprinted for a criminal history search; must be free of any convictions of crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for a term of one (l) year or more, from which a pardon has not been received
• Must submit to and successfully pass a substance abuse test
• Must be examined by a licensed physician and meet the medical requirements of the Corrections Department
• Possession of a valid driver's license is required in the performance of assigned duties