Correctional Officer

Okaloosa County; Crestview (FL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Okaloosa County seeks a corrections officer to oversee inmate custody, safety, and daily operations at the facility. The role requires enforcing rules, monitoring activity, and maintaining detailed records. Applicants must meet FDLE standards and pass background checks and medical exams.

A valid driver license is required and a CDL with a P endorsement is preferred. The position includes duties such as inmate transport, visits, meals, education, and recreation oversight, with readiness to

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED.
• Must be 18+ years old and a U.S. citizen.
• Must pass background check, fingerprints, and meet clearance requirements.
• Must pass a physical examination by an approved clinician.
• Must meet FDLE Corrections standards.
• Valid driver license; CDL Class C with ‘P’ endorsement preferred.
• K9 handling certification may be required depending on assignment.

Responsibilities

• Custody, care, control and supervision of inmates; ensure safety of campus and community.
• Provide security oversight and enforce rules and regulations at all times.
• Monitor inmates and grounds using surveillance, head counts, logs and scheduled activities; report unusual activity.
• Oversee inmate activities including meals, education, visitation, medical and recreation.
• Maintain housing areas in compliance; issue cleaning supplies and approved items.
• Conduct inmate and cell searches; transport inmates as needed.
• Inspect visitors and packages; book incoming/outgoing prisoners per procedures.
• Communicate rules and safety procedures to inmates and visitors; prepare records and reports.
• Respond to crises per policy; coordinate with other facility areas.

Skills

Security supervision

Crisis response

Communication

Record keeping

Policy compliance

K9 handling

Education

High school diploma or GED

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 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 physically 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.