Classification Specialist

Osceola County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Christopher A. Blackmon; Kissimmee (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Osceola County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Christopher A. Blackmon seeks a journey-level classifications professional to determine inmate housing and program placements within the corrections facility. You will assist inmates in adjusting to institutional life and provide counseling while coordinating with security staff.

Additionally, you will maintain detailed records, conduct counseling interviews, and help design community re-entry plans and education/work schedules for inmates.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, or related field.
• One year of experience in criminal justice, corrections, or social work.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.
• Knowledge of inmate classification and housing placement principles.
• Ability to prioritize, analyze data, and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Classifies inmates by applicable rules and placement guidelines.
• Monitors custody, housing, and program placements.
• Coordinates with Security Staff regarding housing and placement.
• Responds to inmate requests and grievances.
• Screens and assigns trustee workers.
• Provides counseling and assists inmates adjusting to jail life.
• Maintains records and prepares reports.
• Facilitates education and work schedules for inmates.
• Assists inmates with obtaining legal documentation.
• Maintains daily calendars and movement lists.

Skills

Inmate classification

Housing placement

Counseling inmates

Record keeping

Data analysis

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Associate's degree in criminal justice or related field

Job description

General Description of Duties

Under direction, the purpose of the position is to conduct critical classifications of each inmate housed in the facility more than 48 hours to determine appropriate housing placement. This position also assists inmates in adjusting to institutional life, and to select appropriate self-help, therapeutic, educational and/or vocational programs. Employees in this classification perform at journey professional level to process inmate movement throughout the facility and to provide assistance and counseling to inmates. Work includes the evaluation and classification of special management, violent or at‑risk inmates.

Essential Job Functions

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

• Classifies inmates according to all applicable rules, guidelines, and regulatory requirements of jail classification in the Osceola County Corrections Facility.
• Monitors inmate custody, housing, and program placements to ensure all inmates are appropriately classified; reclassifies inmates appropriately.
• Coordinates with the Security Staff daily to advise the Classification Supervisor of problems or potentially problematic situations with inmate housing and placement.
• Receives, researches, and replies to inmate requests and grievances directed to Classification regarding housing and placement rules and regulations.
• Screens, determines eligibility, and assigns inmates as trustee workers according to departmental policy and procedures.
• Receives telephone inquiries and concerns, ascertaining the nature of the call, and resolving personally, directing it to the appropriate individual or department, or acting as liaison to the appropriate Corrections staff.
• Provides assistance and counseling to inmates; counsels inmates to assist them in adjusting to jail life and to address personal and family problems;
• Performs a variety of specialized administrative support functions, e.g., analyzing data, typing, reports processing, documentation verification.
• Conducts counseling interviews with assigned cases in accordance with approved counseling techniques; receives and addresses inmate interests, activities, and concerns; provides constructive methods for addressing individual problems.
• Determines inmate eligibility for programs and if such programs would be beneficial to the inmate’s overall adjustment; coordinates and facilitates education and work schedules for individual inmate programs to prevent conflicts between programs; assists inmates in developing a community re‑entry plan and in accessing community resources.
• Assists inmates to obtain legal documentation from the approved research liaison.
• Calculates all jail sentences greater than five days, to include the application of gain time in order to determine projected release dates.
• Serves as a liaison to other facility departments for the dissemination of information and feedback on inmate’s placement.
• Attends and actively participates in meetings related to classification issues to keep up with trends and legislative changes and safety.
• Performs a variety of critical record keeping duties; maintains department record keeping and filing systems relevant materials appropriate to assigned unit.
• Generates and maintains a variety of critical legal records and reports (i.e., statistical data, inmate demographics, placement records and applicable logs – housing, custody, etc.).
• Maintains a variety of detailed legal records and reports; collects and prepares various information; prepares legal documentation as required, i.e., number of inmates served, case narratives, placement records.
• Performs a variety of records maintenance tasks of incoming and outgoing inmates; file checks; daily calendars for next day releases; inmate movement/transfer lists; commitments for inmates being transferred to DOC.
• Provides training and completes Daily Observation Reports for new employees as needed or assigned.
• Performs duties as assigned/necessary, which are related, or logical in assignment to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or a closely related field.

Experience: One (1) year of experience in criminal justice, corrections, and/or social work. An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience may be considered.

Miscellaneous: Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of adult inmate classification and housing placement principles, practices, procedures, and systems; knowledge of correction facility operations and systems.
• Considerable knowledge of adult inmate case management and rehabilitation principles, practices, procedures, and systems; knowledge of court and probations systems.
• Considerable knowledge of pertinent federal, state and local rules, regulations, ordinances, and other regulatory standards applicable to the classification of inmates including court and case management procedures and terminology.
• Functional knowledge of correctional facility operations.
• Considerable knowledge of available community resources and social service resources for application to functional area of responsibility.
• Skill in reading, analyzing, and interpreting professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures, and legal documentation.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse.
• Ability to work independently in an office and correctional environment; ability to prioritize work, organize and make sound judgments in inmate supervision; skill in analyzing and developing effective solutions; ability to investigate complaints.
• Skill in professionally and effectively communicating verbally, in writing, and in presentations.
• Skill in interpersonal and leadership communications; ability to deal tactfully and cordially with a variety of individuals from different economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and communications with inmates, social service agencies, co‑workers, department management, security members of the judiciary and the general public.

Physical Demand Requirements

• Physical Demand: Light
• 20 pounds maximum lifting.
• Frequent (up to 2/3 of the work time) lifting, carrying up to 10 lbs.
• If less lifting involved will require significant walking/standing.
• If mostly sitting is involved will require push/pull on arm or leg controls.
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken word or perceiving sound by ear.
• Good eyesight for production or safety of self and others.
• Walk, run, stop, bend, and climb stairs.
• Must be able to walk, sit, or stand for extended periods of time.
• Capable of working under stressful conditions.

Employee Benefits

Welcome to a workplace that values you. Osceola County offers a comprehensive benefits package to fit your needs and the needs of your family.

Join us in making a difference in our community, knowing we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Group Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

Medical and Dental Insurance at no cost to the employee. In addition, the County contributes 83% to the dependent(s) premium coverage.

Deductions Per Paycheck - HRA Base Plan

Coverage

• Employee

• Employee + 1

• Family

Health-HRA Base

• $0.00
• $140.89
• $219.17

HRA Buy-Up

• $40.60
• $188.28
• $292.88

Dental Base

• $0.00
• $13.10
• $24.12

Dental Buy-Up

• $3.45
• $19.82
• $33.61

Vision

• $3.42
• $6.84
• $9.15

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

At no cost to the employee. The County offers Short-Term and Long-Term Disability at 60% of the employee’s weekly base salary. The employee has the option to purchase an additional 10% coverage.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP provides confidential counseling and referral services to employees and their family members at no cost.

Employee Wellness Program

Employee Wellness Program promotes a variety of activities to encourage total well‑being including physical, emotional, and financial health. Rewards can be earned.

Gym Membership Reimbursement

Gym Membership Reimbursement, up to $20.00 per month.

Basic Life Insurance Policy

At no cost to the employee, equal to one time the employee’s annual salary, rounded to the next thousand dollars. Employees can opt to buy additional Life Insurance.

Employee Health Center

The County provides a private health center for County Employees and eligible dependents. The Employee Health Center offers an array of primary care services, including sick visits, enhanced by x‑ray services, pulmonary tests, lab work, and a dispensary offering over 200 generic medications onsite. Services at the Health Center are offered at no cost to the employees and their eligible dependents. Employees who are enrolled on the County’s Medical plan have access to the Employee Health Center on day one of employment. The Health Center is available to patients 8 years of age and older.

Vacation & Sick Leave Accruals

• Service Time

• Accruals Per Month

• 1 month - 5 years

• 8 hours

• 5 years and 1 month - 10 years

• 10 hours

• 10 years and 1 month - 15 years

• 12 hours

• 15 years and 1 month - 20 years

• 13.34 hours

• 20 years and over

• 16.66 hours

Accruals Per Month

• Full time employees

• 8 hours

• Part time employees

• 4 hours

Paid Holidays

Paid Holidays + 1 Floating Holiday (to be chosen by the Employee)

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Thanksgiving - Day After
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day

Administrative Leave

40 hours of Administrative Leave per fiscal year for Exempt employees.

Sick Leave Bank

Available to employees experiencing a catastrophic medical related event, with up to 240 hours per fiscal year. Enrollment required.

Vacation/Sick Leave Buy-Back Program

Eligible employees may sell back up to eighty (80) hours of accrued leave per fiscal year. (This program is subject to availability of funds and may be amended or terminated at any time without notice.)

Paid Bereavement Leave

Up to five (5) working days off.

Tuition Reimbursement

Up to $1,600 per Fiscal Year, for degree seeking employees. Degree must be related to employee’s current position.

Membership in the Florida Retirement System

The County is a Florida Retirement System Employer! For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, County contribution for Regular Class members is 13.59%, subject to a mandatory 3% employee contribution. Rates and Contributions are set by Florida Legislation.

A 457b Deferred Compensation Program

A 457b Deferred Compensation Program is also available to help employees boost their retirement saving goals, with pre‑tax and post‑tax contributions, as well as IRA plan options. Employee sponsored.

Employee Recognition Program

We see your hard work, and we celebrate it! Through our Employee Appreciation Committee and the "You've Been Caught Doing Good" program, we recognize outstanding performance or accomplishments with prizes including monetary rewards and merchandise.