Correctional Officer

Nebraska.gov; Lincoln (NE); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Nebraska is seeking a Correctional Officer to provide security and care in a correctional facility. The role includes supervising inmates, managing behavior, and ensuring safety. Candidates should have knowledge of the criminal justice system, effective communication skills, and willingness to address emergencies. Competitive starting wages are $32.32 per hour with merit increases. Join us to make an impact in the community.

Benefits

Health insurance

Career advancement opportunities

Starting wages of $32.32/hour

Qualifications

• Knowledge of correctional facility operations.
• Knowledge of minority cultures and religions.
• Ability to work with outside agencies in a professional manner.

Responsibilities

• Provide security and care to incarcerated individuals.
• Prevent and control volatile situations among inmates.
• Document inmate activities and complete reports.

Skills

Knowledge of the criminal justice system

Ability to communicate effectively

Ability to observe inmate behavior

Ability to manage inmate behavior

Ability to respond to emergencies

Education

Graduation from a senior high school or equivalent

College-level coursework in criminal justice

Job description

Overview

Are you ready to put the U in J_stice? If you’re looking for a job that does you justice, offers benefits from day one, and provides a place where you can make an impact, apply to be a correctional officer. Work at one of the most progressive criminal justice agencies in the Midwest. The Lancaster County Department of Corrections prides itself on the impact our officers make on people in some of the more difficult moments of their lives. With excellent starting wages, career advancement opportunities, great insurance, and much more, our benefits go far beyond your average job.

With full-time and on-call positions starting at $32.32 with an annual merit increase up to $39.62 an hour, competitive pay is always an option. Your increased pay can start from your first day on the job with qualifying previous corrections experience as well. So don’t miss out on this opportunity, say hello to better pay and a better career opportunity.

Correctional Officers are direct contact positions in the Lancaster County Department of Corrections.

Our officers are responsible for providing security and care to incarcerated individuals, ensuring inmate safety, enforcing rules and regulations, maintaining order, escorting inmates, and supervising various inmate activities and programs. Officers also provide input into the treatment of individual inmates and the correctional facility population in general through reporting observations to counseling, medical, and supervisory staff. All work is performed under general supervision of a superior and includes work reviews though reports, conferences, and observations. This job gives our officers the opportunity to make an impact on lives in ways that no other job can. Do you have what it takes?

Responsibilities

• Process new inmates; supervise inmate activities, recreation, personal visits, and phone calls; provide inmates with services such as laundry, meals, mail, sanitation & numerous others.
• Prevent and control volatile situations among the inmates; conduct searches or shakedowns to control contraband; escort inmates to any medical or legal appointments.
• Supervise inmate activities including educational, recreational, and trustee duties.
• Listen openly to inmate questions or grievances to help resolve or refer problems/issues to appropriate staff.
• Document inmate activities and relevant incidents and complete oral and written reports when required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of correctional facility operations.
• Knowledge of minority cultures and religions.
• Ability to effectively manage inmate behavior in custody environments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to observe and assess inmate behavior for signs of potential suicide, riot, and/or other violent behavior.
• Ability to respond to medical and life threatening emergencies.
• Ability to work with outside agencies, inmates, attorneys, co workers, and the public in a professional manner.
• Ability to perform computer data entry and word processing.
• College-level coursework in criminal justice and some experience in the following, or any combination thereof: a correctional setting, as a counselor in a social setting, law enforcement work, military, particularly in law enforcement or corrections, or with responsibility for individuals in other institutional settings.
• Graduation from a senior high school or equivalent.
• Must be a citizen of the United States and be at least nineteen (19) years of age.
• At the time of employment, must be fingerprinted for a criminal history search; must be free of any convictions of crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for a term of one (1) year or more, from which a pardon has not been received.
• Must submit to and successfully pass a substance abuse test.
• Must be examined by a licensed physician and meet the medical requirements of the Corrections Department. Possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to be insured by the County’s insurance carrier is required in the performance of assigned duties.