Corrections Lieutenant

About the role

This is a Full-Time 40 Hour Weekly position with the Department of Corrections. For more information on the Department of Corrections, please visit https://doc.sd.gov/.

Responsibilities

• Schedules correctional staff for all shifts to ensure the security of the facility and safety of employees and offenders.
• Enforces Department of Corrections policies and institution IA's and procedures.
• Determines appropriate action in emergency situations.
• Supervises subordinate staff to ensure the objectives of the work unit are met.
• Interviews staff.
• Provides training and work direction.
• Affirms leave requests.
• Addresses staff problems and recommends disciplinary action.
• Conducts performance reviews and completes performance documents.
• Maintains security by inspecting all posts for appropriate staffing to ensure the safety of offenders and personnel.
• Reviews officers’ reports on offenders and offender activities.
• Keeps a daily, detailed log of institutional activities.
• Authorizes and directs offender counts.
• Coordinates searches of inmate property for contraband.
• Arbitrates disputes among offender and staff.
• Initiates drills, exercises, and provides staff training.
• Responsible for the facility Point of Entry (POE) to ensure staff are appropriately processing all individuals through the metal detector and searching items coming into the facility for contraband.
• Determines appropriate action in security breakdown and emergency medical situations by evaluating the situation and informing facility managers to de-escalate potential hazards.
• Authorizes emergency procedures.
• Controls handling and immediate storage of contraband.
• Directs offender movement into and out of the facility to ensure compliance with operational procedures.
• Processes new inmates admitted to the facility.
• Receives personal property and maintains records of transactions.
• Authorizes and plans transportation of offenders.
• Verifies offenders at the completion of their sentences for release/discharge.
• May serve as Disciplinary Hearing Officer.
• Investigates situations involving offender violations to aid in disciplinary hearing process.
• Acts as initial Commander in emergency situations.
• May work with and care for a K9 and a K9 vehicle.
• Screens offender living areas as needed for contraband.
• Prepares reports of findings.
• Participates in administrative tasks to support efficient management of the facility.
• Informs subordinates of changes in policies, operational procedures.
• Conducts rounds in all areas of the facility during shift and complete appropriate logs.
• Conducts daily shift briefings.
• Performs other work as assigned.

Requirements

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible corrections experience working directly with offenders to include at least one (1) year in a supervisory role (Sergeant or higher) supervising correctional staff.
• A combination of education (Criminal Justice, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or similarly related field) and experience as defined above equal to three (3) years.
• Corrections-related experience is defined as experience in which the employee provided a direct service to/with clients detained against their will such as custody/control, teaching, social work, nursing, food service, and general maintenance; or supervised offenders in the implementation of a program such as correctional industries.

Qualifications

• Successfully pass all modules of the South Dakota Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics and firearms/armed transport curriculum.
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics.
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist.
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down.
• Use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows.
• Withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows.
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic.
• Get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions.
• Will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment.
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security.
• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury.
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently.
• Must be able to work 12 hour rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends.
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations.
• Deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner.
• Work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders.
• Communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments.
• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings.
• Willing and able to travel.
• Willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule.
• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.

Skills

• Knowledge Of Department of Correction’s policies and institutional operations and procedures.
• English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• The attitudes, problems, and behavior of incarcerated individuals.
• The methods, procedures, and practices of controlling and supervising inmates confined to a correctional institution.
• Extensive knowledge in the use of physical force continuum and Use of Force Policy.
• Effective methods of supervision.

Benefits

• $0 premium employee health insurance option.
• Eleven paid holidays.
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual.
• Dental, vision, and other insurance options.
• Retail benefits.

Pay

• $30.00 to $33.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Schedule

• Rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends.