Captain- Detention Center

Doña Ana County; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Doña Ana County is seeking a Captain to lead detention center operations, ensure safe, secure, and professional inmate management, and maintain compliance with laws and accreditation standards. The role provides direction to Lieutenants and Sergeants and aligns operations with policy and strategic goals.

Responsibilities include administrative oversight, staffing, budgeting, investigations, and coordination with external partners to support detention services and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Ten (10) years of detention facility experience.
• Five (5) years supervisory experience at Lieutenant or Shift Supervisor level.
• Pre-employment background and driving record checks required.
• CPR and First Aid certification within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee detention center operations and services.
• Develop and implement operational goals and long-range plans.
• Provide leadership to Lieutenants, Sergeants, and staff.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to support detention operations.

Skills

Leadership

Detention operations

Regulatory compliance

Policy development

Investigations

Communication

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Job Description PURPOSE SUMMARY.

Serves as a command-level position responsible for the administration, coordination, and oversight of detention center operations. This position provides leadership and direction to supervisory personnel, ensures effective facility operations and inmate management practices, oversees compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements, and supports the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and operational strategies. The Captain may be assigned responsibility for specialized areas of detention operations and ensures the delivery of safe, secure, and professional detention services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES.

• Detention Center Administration and Leadership
  • Direct and oversee assigned detention center operations, programs, and services to ensure safe, secure, effective, and professional service delivery.
  • Assist in developing and implementing operational goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and long-range plans.
  • Provide leadership and direction to Lieutenants, Sergeants, and other assigned personnel.
  • Direct, assign, and evaluate subordinate supervisors and staff; address performance deficiencies and recommend or implement corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with County policy and delegated authority.
  • Evaluate staffing, work processes, operational practices, and resource needs; recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, safety, security, and service delivery.
  • Coordinate staffing plans, schedules, assignments, and operational coverage.
  • Review complaints, grievances, use-of-force incidents, disciplinary matters, and significant operational events; conduct or coordinate investigations in accordance with established procedures.
  • Develop, review, and maintain operational reports, records, correspondence, and other required documentation.
  • Participate in the development, administration, and monitoring of budgets, equipment, staffing, contracts, and other operational resources.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, County policies, detention center procedures, contracts, and accreditation standards.
  • Communicate and coordinate with County officials, law enforcement and justice partners, courts, service providers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
  • Represent the Detention Center at meetings, committees, working groups, and other official functions.
  • Monitor detention center operations and performance; identify deficiencies, risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Facility Operations and Security
  • Direct and oversee assigned facility operations, security functions, inmate supervision, and related detention services through subordinate supervisors.
  • Monitor facility security, staffing levels, housing operations, inmate movement, and operational practices to ensure compliance with established standards and procedures.
  • Conduct or direct inspections of housing units, facilities, equipment, and operational areas.
  • Ensure compliance with post orders, operational directives, emergency procedures, and security protocols.
  • Respond to operational issues, inmate concerns, emergencies, and critical incidents; assess conditions and direct or coordinate appropriate responses.
  • Assume or participate in command functions during critical incidents and other emergency situations.
  • Oversee inmate intake, processing, classification, movement, and related functions as assigned.
  • Review operational reports and documentation to identify trends, deficiencies, and corrective actions.
  • Coordinate with internal departments, law enforcement agencies, courts, healthcare providers, contractors, and other external partners as necessary to support detention operations.
  • Ensure continuity of safe and secure facility operations during staffing shortages, emergencies, and other unusual circumstances.

If Assigned To: Compliance

• Direct and coordinate detention center compliance, accreditation, licensing, and regulatory programs as assigned.
• Coordinate accreditation, licensing, inspections, audits, surveys, and corrective-action processes.
• Monitor compliance with applicable detention standards, regulations, contracts, and accreditation requirements.
• Maintain required compliance documentation, reports, records, and supporting materials.
• Identify deficiencies and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate personnel.
• Serve as PREA Coordinator when assigned and perform related responsibilities in accordance with applicable requirements.

If Assigned To: Operations

• Direct and oversee assigned detention center operational functions and programs.
• Monitor staffing, schedules, assignments, and facility coverage.
• Evaluate operational practices and recommend improvements to enhance safety, security, efficiency, and service delivery.
• Conduct or direct operational inspections and reviews.
• Review operational reports, trends, and performance data and address identified deficiencies.
• Coordinate resolution of operational issues and implementation of approved policies and procedures.

If Assigned To: Support

• Direct and oversee assigned administrative, support, contractual, and service functions.
• Monitor the performance and effectiveness of assigned programs, services, contracts, and resources.
• Coordinate with internal departments, contractors, healthcare providers, and other service providers.
• Monitor procurement, expenditures, contracts, equipment, and other assigned resources.
• Evaluate operational needs and recommend staffing, equipment, services, or resource changes.
• Review performance data and reports and recommend improvements to assigned support functions.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS.

• Education
  • High School Diploma or equivalent.
  • Bachelor's degree in public administration, law enforcement, criminal justice, counseling, psychology or related field is preferred.
• Experience
  • Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible work experience in a detention facility, correctional institute, or similar type program that dealt with the adjudication and incarceration of individuals in a confined and controlled environment; including five (5) years of supervisory experience at a Lieutenant or Shift Supervisor level in a detention facility, correctional institute, or similar type program as defined above.
• Education/Experience substitution

  In accordance with County policy. No substitution for supervisory experience. No substitution for required education.

• Licenses/Certifications
  • Valid driver’s license. Must maintain a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record in accordance with County policy.
  • CPR, and First Aid certification is required within six (6) months of hire.
  • Controlled F.O.R.C.E, and Firearms certifications are preferred.
  • Successful completion of CIT 2 and CPI training within six (6) months of hire.
• Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, driver’s license record, etc.)

  Must undergo and pass pre-employment background and driving record check; NCIC check, credibility/deception assessment, psychological exam, and medical/drug screening. Employees promoted internally must have successfully completed the Detention Center academy prior to appointment. External hires are required to attend and successfully complete the seven-week academy.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THE POSITION.

• Knowledge of:
  • Detention center administration, operations, security practices, and inmate management principles.
  • Applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, policies, procedures, and contractual requirements governing detention operations.
  • Principles and practices of organizational leadership, personnel management, performance management, and employee development.
  • Facility security, safety, emergency management, inspections, and risk management practices.
  • Compliance, accreditation, licensing, auditing, and corrective action processes.
  • Policy development, implementation, evaluation, and operational planning.
  • Detention programs, services, systems, and support functions.
• Skill in:
  • Leading and directing supervisory and operational personnel in a complex detention environment.
  • Planning, coordinating, and evaluating facility operations, programs, staffing, and resources.
  • Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, standards, policies, and operational requirements.
  • Evaluating operational effectiveness, identifying deficiencies, and implementing or recommending improvements.
  • Conducting inspections, investigations, compliance reviews, and evaluations of significant operational events.
  • Developing, reviewing, implementing, and communicating policies, procedures, and operational standards.
  • Preparing and reviewing operational reports, compliance documentation, correspondence, and records.
  • Communicating effectively with employees, command staff, public officials, regulatory representatives, and community members.
• Ability to:
  • Provide effective command-level leadership and direction while maintaining safe, secure, and professional detention operations.
  • Make sound, timely, and objective decisions involving complex operational, personnel, security, and compliance matters.
  • Analyze operational and compliance information and develop appropriate recommendations and corrective actions.
  • Plan and implement organizational goals, programs, policies, and operational strategies.
  • Ensure accountability and compliance with applicable laws, standards, policies, procedures, and accreditation requirements.
  • Manage multiple priorities, resources and competing operational demands in a complex environment.
  • Respond effectively to emergencies, critical incidents, operational disruptions, and sensitive matters.
  • Build effective working relationships and communicate professionally with employees, stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and the community.
  • Exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential, sensitive, or high-risk matters.

Compensation Range $70,387.20 - $114,816.00

Doña Ana County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to abide by all federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability, serious medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, spousal affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other unlawful criteria, except where a reasonable Bona Fide Occupational Qualification exists.

Doña Ana County will make reasonable accommodation(s) for the known physical or mental limitations of an applicant with a disability, upon request, unless the accommodation(s) would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the County.