Detention Officer

Overview of Position/Department

The Detention Officer performs general jail and detention work under general supervision. They are responsible for maintaining the safety and security of all personnel, detainees, and jail. This position exercises initiative and independent judgement in completing assigned tasks and performs a variety of technical and administrative tasks associated with facility operations and the incarceration of detainees.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Observes detainee's behavior and care to maintain detainees' health and legal rights
• Maintains control of inmate movement within the detention facility's secured areas
• Operates detention center control panels to open and close doors
• Maintains radio traffic within the facility, shutting down non-emergency traffic during a crisis situation
• Processes records and legal documents to facilitate information access
• Prepares investigative and other reports or documentation as necessary, using appropriate grammar, symbols, and mathematical computations
• Processes incoming detainees, including photographing, fingerprinting, inventorying, and storing detainees' property
• Explain detention center procedures to detainees and answer questions concerning conditions of detention
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications & Working Conditions

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of the methods and procedures of processing detainees; and detention facility operating requirements.
• Abilities: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and citizens; Maintain a high degree of personal and professional honesty and integrity; Handle sensitive or difficult situations with tact and diplomacy; Communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Write clearly and concisely using acceptable grammar, punctuation, and spelling; Operate computers and commonly used computer software programs, as well as other standard office equipment; Be mindful to the feelings of others and resolve problems in ways that do not arouse antagonism; Physically subdue violent detainees; Perform difficult or unpleasant housekeeping tasks.
• Skills: Skill in the operation of a personal computer and related software; keyboarding skills.
• Licenses, Certificates And/or Equipment Required: CPR and First Aid Certifications required.
• Essential Personnel: When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.
• Physical Demands: Heavy work lifting no more than 100 pounds (with or without assistance) at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects; Frequent lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds; Considerable walking and standing; Frequent pushing, pulling, bending, and twisting requiring full range of body movement; Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate control panel and other equipment as well as controlling detainees; Hand/foot coordination for operation of van; Speech communication, hearing, and listening to maintain communication with other employees and detainees; Vision to monitor controls, video equipment, and detainees’ activities.
• Work Environment: Works indoors in a detention/jail facility with some time spent outdoors; Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views of opinions of inmates and other persons in an antagonistic environment; Some exposure to noise and dust.
• Equipment Used: Operates a motor vehicle; survey equipment; measuring equipment such as tapes, levels and micrometers, camera and personal computer. This position may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.

Physical Demands

• Heavy work lifting no more than 100 pounds (with or without assistance) at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects
• Frequent lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds
• Considerable walking and standing
• Frequent pushing, pulling, bending, and twisting requiring full range of body movement
• Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate control panel and other equipment as well as controlling detainees
• Hand/foot coordination for operation of van
• Speech communication, hearing, and listening to maintain communication with other employees and detainees
• Vision to monitor controls, video equipment, and detainees’ activities

Work Environment

• Works indoors in a detention/jail facility with some time spent outdoors
• Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views of opinions of inmates and other persons in an antagonistic environment
• Some exposure to noise and dust

Equipment Used

• Operates a motor vehicle
• Survey equipment
• Measuring equipment such as tapes, levels and micrometers
• Camera
• Personal computer

City of Aurora

• Equal Opportunity Employer
• Drug-Free Workplace
• Thorough Criminal Background Check
• Drug Testing
• Employment References