Corrections Officer I

About the role

Incumbent works under the direction of a Sergeant or designee, setting and conveying expectations for the incarcerated population as governed by the Strategic Inmate Management (SIM) operating philosophy. Responsibilities include managing and regulating offender behavior, assessing risk, ensuring provision of basic needs, and influencing productive activity and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine security and health inspections, detecting potential contraband and/or hazards, reporting damage/dangers, and staying vigilant of potential security breaches.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful, and quality work environment.
• Serve as the sole authority in the unit, supervising inmates, unit activities, and deciding matters concerning inmates and housing area activities.
• Establish and maintain a positive supervisory relationship with the incarcerated population, directing, redirecting, and coaching.
• Provide information and respond to legitimate requests and concerns, utilizing available resources.
• Interact professionally with inmates, initiating interactions, setting expectations, and listening.
• Obtain and maintain knowledge of inmates (e.g., acknowledging by name, recognizing behavior changes, understanding restrictions).
• Detect and address problems early (e.g., monitor behavior, recognize potential problems or conflicts) and alert supervisors of potential issues.
• Provide positive reinforcement, serving as a role-model for appropriate social behavior.
• Hold inmates accountable for complying with rules and expectations utilizing positive motivation techniques.
• Encourage in-unit activities participation, understanding available programming opportunities.
• Collaborate with leadership and peers, providing support on inmate management issues and strategies.
• Prepare reports and written materials.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; post-secondary education in Criminal Justice or related field preferred.
• Work experience in a correctional facility, criminal justice agency, and/or providing security preferred.
• Must be at least 19 years of age.
• Compliance with random drug testing required.
• Valid driver’s license upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Complete training in Defensive Tactics (DT) courses within six months of hire and maintain certification throughout employment.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six months of hire and maintained throughout employment.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, physical assessment, medical review, and conditional offer drug screen required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Work is generally performed in a locked correctional facility with moderate to loud noise levels.
• Work schedule varies (e.g., days, shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime, emergency call-in).
• Potential exposure to biohazards and dangerous drugs.
• Close interaction with offender populations; may be stressful due to changing assignments, multiple/changing priorities, critical situations, and irate/verbally abusive individuals.
• Required to physically engage inmates to protect oneself, other staff, and inmates, which may involve subduing and restraining one or more inmates who may have weapons.
• Must remain physically fit without medical conditions that pose a threat to oneself or others during physical confrontation.
• Must possess the strength, endurance, agility, and coordination to perform essential functions, including self-defense and inmate restraint.

• Standing/Walking/Bending: Constant, up to 80% of shift or as needed.
• Climbing: Frequent, stair climbing may be involved.
• Sitting: Occasional, up to 20% of shift.
• Running: Occasional, typically one-to-two minute duration.
• Kneeling/Stooping/Crouching: Occasional.
• Balance: Frequent, especially when climbing stairs or restraining a combative inmate.
• Ability to Quickly Change Position: Occasional, from kneeling to standing.
• Lifting: Frequent up to 50 pounds and occasional up to 50 pounds.
• Maximal Voluntary Grip: 65 pounds or better.
• Pushing/Pulling: Frequently up to 50 pounds.

Required sensory abilities include:

• Vision (correctable to normal ranges), including close, distance, and color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Hearing within normal ranges.
• Smell, including the ability to detect odors and fumes.
• Touch, with the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers, radios, handcuffs, leg irons, hook knives, chemical agents, doors, and alarms.

Pay

$32.45/hour