Correctional Officer

Okaloosa County Inc.; Crestview (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Okaloosa County Inc. seeks a Corrections Officer to oversee custody, care, and supervision of inmates while safeguarding the community.

The role includes enforcing rules, monitoring with surveillance, coordinating meals, visits, medical, and recreation, and maintaining accurate records.

Candidates must meet Florida FDLE Corrections certification requirements, hold a valid driver's license, and pass background checks and a physical exam.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED.
• US citizenship and ability to pass background checks.
• FDLE Corrections Certification is required; valid driver license; CDL Class C with P endorsement preferred.
• K9 handler certification may be required depending on assignment.
• Must pass a medical physical examination and meet statutory Florida requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide security oversight and supervision of inmates at all times; enforce rules and regulations.
• Monitor inmates and grounds with surveillance cameras, head counts, visitor logs, and scheduled activities; report unusual activity.
• Oversee inmate activities including meals, classes, visitation, medical, and recreation.
• Ensure inmate housing areas are clean and comply with regulations; issue cleaning supplies as needed.
• Conduct inmate and cell searches; transport inmates if required.
• Inspect visitors and packages for security purposes; process incoming/outgoing prisoners.
• Communicate rules and safety procedures to inmates and visitors; maintain detailed records and reports.
• Respond to crises and confrontational situations as per policy; coordinate with other facility areas.
• May perform duties as a K9 handler; handle and care for canine partner as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Policy reading

Clear communication

Data entry

Stress management

Decision making

Education

High school diploma or GED

FDLE Corrections Certification

Tools

Valid driver license

CDL Class C with P endorsement

K9 handler certification (if required)

Job description

Responsible for the custody, care, control, and overall supervision of inmates while safeguarding the surrounding communities.

• Provides security oversight and supervision of inmates at all times; enforces established rules and regulations.
• Monitor inmates and grounds with surveillance cameras, through head counts, visitor logs, and inmate scheduled activities and reports unusual activity to ensure safety and security.
• Oversee inmate activities including meals, classes, visitation, medical, and recreation.
• Ensures inmate housing areas are clean in compliance with regulations to include issuing cleaning supplies and other items approved for use in housing areas.
• Conducts inmate and cell searches.
• May be required to transport inmates using a motor vehicle.
• Inspects visitors and packages delivered to the facility.
• Books and processes incoming and outgoing prisoners according to written policies and procedures.
• Communicates rules, safety and security procedures, and related responsibilities to inmates and visitors of the facility.
• Creates and maintains detailed and accurate records, forms, and reports.
• Responds to crisis and confrontational situations as outlined by policies and procedures.
• Effectively communicates with all other areas of the facility.
• Participates in disciplinary hearings.
• May require the obligations of a K9 handler; e.g., training, handling, caring and overall well-being of the canine partner at all times, depending on assignment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience:

• Requires a high school diploma or GED.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and a citizen of the United States.
• Must be able to pass a background investigation and fingerprinting, which includes no felony convictions, no misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or received dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces.
• Must be able to pass a physical examination by an approved licensed physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse.
• Must meet all other statutory requirements as outlined in sections 943.13 F.S. and 943.135 F.S.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Certification in the Corrections discipline through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is required.
• Requires a valid driver license.
• A valid Class ‘C’ CDL with a “P” endorsement is preferred.
• May require certification as a K9 handler through the National Police Canine Association or other recognized certifying agency, depending on assignment.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to exert in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must ascend/descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs or hands and arms.
• Must be able to run occasionally.
• Must be able to bend the body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Must be able to bend legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).
• Must be able to bend body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.
• Must be able to reach, extend hand(s) in any direction.
• Must be able to handle, seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with hand(s).
• Must be able to finger, pick, pinch or otherwise work primarily with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm.
• Must be able to stand and/or walk for more than 50% of the time.
• Physical demands exceed those of sedentary work.

Language Ability:

Requires the ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, work orders, logs, technical data, etc. Requires the ability to enter data into computer and prepare reports, correspondence, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Must be able to speak with clarity, voice control and confidence and to articulate information to others.

Intelligence:

• Requires the ability to apply principles of effective jail management and common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions; to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in or from standardized situations; to make independent judgments in the absence of supervisor; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
• Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

Numerical Aptitude:

• Must be able to add and subtract totals, multiply and divide.

Interpersonal Temperament:

• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond receiving instructions.
• Must be able to perform under high levels of stress when confronted with an emergency or tight deadline.