Detention Officer

Salary: $54,514.92 annually

Location: Sheriff's Office, NC
Job Type: Full-time

About the role

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office is actively recruiting qualified candidates for the Detention Officer position. This role involves performing a wide range of law enforcement duties related to the care, custody, and supervision of individuals housed in the Alamance County Detention Center. Detention Officers play a vital part in maintaining facility safety and security, preventing and detecting criminal activity, and upholding the criminal laws of North Carolina. The position involves exposure to the typical risks associated with law enforcement environments. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Sheriff and designated supervisory staff.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Responsibilities

• Accept custody of offenders from the arresting officers and booking offenders into the detention center by completing required forms and utilizing the jail management system.
• Obtain and maintain certifications applicable for the position.
• Verify the identification of persons in custody and check for outstanding warrants.
• Escort offenders throughout the detention center.
• Use discretion effectively to determine a proper course of action consistent with the department’s mission and values.
• Report to duty on time and maintain regular attendance.
• Exercise rational judgment and maintain the confidence and trust of peers, superiors, and the public.
• Answer phone calls and provide information to mail bondsmen, families, attorneys, court officials, and other law enforcement personnel.
• Observe and monitor the status and behavior of offenders to gain compliance with prescribed operating and safety standards.
• Detect hazardous or emergency situations in the detention facility and assist in handling combative, uncooperative, and argumentative offenders.
• Carry out any or all other duties as directed by the Sheriff or his designee.

Requirements

• Must be at least 20 years of age.
• Possess a High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• Possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.
• Currently hold or have the ability to obtain a detention officer certification in the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards.
• Must successfully pass an oral interview, background check, polygraph examination, medical exam, psychological exam, drug screening, and any other supplemental interviews with Detention Administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a closely related field.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in a detention or correctional facility.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).

Skills & Abilities

• Accountability: Ability to accept responsibility and account for actions.
• Accuracy: Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Autonomy: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Communication, Oral: Ability to communicate effectively with others and respond to a diverse community.
• Communication, Written: Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Ethical: Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards.
• Honesty/Integrity: Ability to be truthful, maintain a high level of confidentiality, and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Judgment: Ability to use good judgment and discretion in interpreting policies and procedures.
• Multitasking: Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem Solving/Decision Making: Ability to find solutions for or deal proactively with work-related problems and make decisions independently in accordance with established policies.
• Relationship Building: Ability to effectively build relationships with elected officials, co-workers, and the public.
• Safety-Minded: Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities.
• Time Management: Ability to utilize available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.

Physical Demands

• Stand: Constantly
• Walk: Constantly
• Sit: Occasionally
• Manually Manipulate: Frequently
• Reach Outward: Frequently
• Reach Above Shoulder: Frequently
• Climb: Occasionally
• Crawl: Occasionally
• Squat or Kneel: Occasionally
• Bend: Frequently
• Talk/Hear: Constantly
• See: Constantly
• Lift/Carry:
  • 10 lbs. or less: Frequently
  • 11-20 lbs.: Frequently
  • 21-50 lbs.: Frequently
  • 51-100 lbs.: Frequently
  • Over 100 lbs.: Frequently
• Push/Pull:
  • 12 lbs. or less: Frequently
  • 13-25 lbs.: Frequently
  • 26-40 lbs.: Frequently
  • 41-100 lbs.: Frequently

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to operate general office equipment.

Work Environment

• Indoors and outdoors.
• May encounter temperatures above 90 degrees and below 40 degrees.
• Confined areas and use of stairs or ladders.
• Exposure to chemical and fumes, smoke and dust, wet and damp areas.
• Exposure to high noise, dim and bright lighting.

The position will be located within the Detention Center at the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Graham, NC. The role requires work within a team environment and interaction with detention administration, supervisors, other administrative support staff, court personnel, contract staff/vendors, and all members of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health (Cigna Insurance) benefits upon the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. Three plans are available: 2 Standard PPO plans and a High-Deductible Health Plan with HSA.
• Dental Benefit: One dental insurance (Delta Dental) plan is offered at no cost to full-time employees, effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Vision Insurance: A voluntary vision program (Superior Vision) is available to full-time employees, effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Voluntary Benefits: Includes Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account with employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance, and more.
• Life Insurance: Basic term life insurance equal to one times the annual salary (up to $70,000) is provided. Additional coverage is available for purchase.
• Retirement Benefits: Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is required. Employees contribute 6% of their annual compensation before taxes.
• Time Off Accruals:
  • Vacation Time: Annual leave accrued based on years of service (10-25 days per year).
  • Sick Time: 12 days of sick leave per year.
  • County Observed Holidays: Follows the State of North Carolina Holiday Schedule.
• Wellness Benefits & Programming:
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for stress, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, relationship issues, legal issues, parenting questions, financial counseling, and dependent care resources.
  • Alamance County Employee Health Center: Available to employees, spouses, and dependents (18+) covered under the Alamance County Insurance Plan. Services include treatment of injuries/illnesses, monitoring chronic conditions, health education, and referrals to specialists.
  • Additional Benefits: Bereavement pay, Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Leave, Volunteer Time Off, and professional certification pay.
• Employee Fitness Center: Available for all employees during non-work hours (6:00 AM to 9:00 PM), including weight training, cardio equipment, aerobics room, restrooms, changing rooms, and lockers.