Corrections Officer (Florida State Certified ONLY)

General Description

To be considered for this position, you must currently possess the Correctional Officers Certification in the State of Florida.

This position is subject to close at any time. Please Note: This position is eligible for Night Shift Differential Pay.

Note to Internal Applicants: Internal candidates in the same classification and/or paygrade as the position posted will not receive a pay adjustment if selected.

About the Role

The purpose of the position is to direct, supervise and monitor inmates housed in the Osceola Correctional facility in accordance with all departmental policies, procedures and regulatory requirements applicable to the work. Employees in this classification perform at journey professional level, and are responsible for the custody, control and care of inmates within the detention facility and while transporting inmates to and from the facility. Objective is to support safe, efficient and effective facility operations.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides highly responsible care, custody and control of criminal offenders in a detention/correctional institution;
• Observes, interacts and supervises the activities of the inmates on assigned post to enforce order and discipline;
• Makes scheduled and unscheduled rounds of assigned area; performs scheduled and unscheduled inspections of the assigned area to ensure security, safety and sanitation are maintained;
• Screens inmates and cells for contraband articles; reports observations to superiors;
• Performs critical inmate classification, count and control while maintaining fire safety, key control, perimeter security;
• Bears assigned firearm and hand weapons; follows all prescribed procedures relevant to the assigned function for the purpose of safeguarding all Corrections staff, property, and facilities within scope of responsibility;
• Screens inmate visitors;
• Supervises, communicates, and promotes positive behavior among inmates; resolves behavioral problems through counseling and problem solving skills;
• Employs force to maintain order among inmates as prescribed by departmental rules and regulations as necessary; escorts and secures inmates within the facility;
• Transports inmates to and from various locations as directed, e.g., correctional facilities, courtrooms, prisons, medical facilities, work programs;
• Attends and participates in all scheduled Defensive Tactics training, Firearm qualifications and First Aid/CPR training for certification as required;
• Attends meetings to keep up with trends in probation issues, legislative changes and safety.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understand and follow written and oral instructions;
• Communicate information both verbally and in writing;
• Understand and apply correctional facility operations;
• Use and operate handguns and other hand-held weapons;
• Understand and apply adult inmate care, custody and control principles, practices, procedures and systems;
• Understand and apply law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment;
• Understand and apply pertinent federal, state and local rules, regulations, ordinances, and other regulatory standards applicable to the work;
• Read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures, and legal documentation;
• Identify and address signs and symptoms of substance abuse;
• Work under stressful conditions; report routine and non-routine, emergency and non-emergency activities;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communications with inmates, social service agencies, co-workers, department management, security and classification staff, members of the judiciary, and the general public;
• Operate basic office and communications equipment, e.g., radio, computer terminals, printers, copy machines, telephone systems, facsimile machines.

Physical Demands

• Very Heavy lifting (100 pounds maximum); frequent lifting, carrying up to 50 pounds;
• Walking, sitting, standing, or climbing stairs for extended periods of time;
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken word or perceiving sound by ear;
• Good eyesight for production or safety of self and others;
• Working under stressful conditions.