Correctional Specialist-Corrections

Howard County Government; Jessup (MD); On-site; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The Howard County Detention Center seeks a professional to interview, orient, classify, and counsel inmates, and to schedule programming as part of collateral assignments.

The role involves developing treatment plans, maintaining case history files, and coordinating with agencies for parole hearings and related supervision, with a starting annual salary of $63,034 and benefits in a stable county government environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and must be at least 21.
• Eligibility for Maryland Correctional Training Commission certification within 1 year.
• Class C Maryland Driver's License required.

Responsibilities

• Interview and orient inmates to Detention Center rules.
• Classify inmates and assign housing and programs.
• Provide counseling and support inmate program participation.
• Enter inmate information into the jail management system.
• Perform criminal history checks using MILES/NCIC/CJIS.
• Coordinate parole hearings and related processes.

Skills

Interviewing

Counseling

Case management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MILES/NCIC/CJIS

Job description

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is a professional level position that is responsible for interviewing, orienting, classifying, and counseling inmates at the Howard County Detention Center. This position also performs a variety of collateral assignments including scheduling inmates for programming.

STARTING SALARY AT HIRE: $30.31/Hourly/$63,034/Annually

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Performs professional level corrections operations work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes interviewing, counseling, orienting inmates in the Detention Center; classifying inmates and developing and implementing treatment plans; and conducting education and rehabilitation programs.

*This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months*

Inmate Orientation and Intake:

• Orient newly incarcerated inmates to Detention Center rules and regulations.
• Conduct interviews with inmates to identify problems, needs, and appropriate referrals.
• Develop and maintain case history files.

Classification, Housing and Assignment:

• Assign and reassign inmates to appropriate housing units.
• Screen, assess, and assign inmates to institutional jobs and programs.
• Assist in developing institutional policies and procedures related to classification and community-based programs.

Programs and Community-Based Supervision:

• Assist in the placement and supervision of inmates in community-based programs, including work release and home detention.
• Provide counseling services to support inmate program participation and adjustment.

Records Management and Information Systems:

• Enter inmate information into the automated jail management system.
• Perform criminal history and warrant checks using MILES/NCIC/CJIS systems.

Compliance, Hearings and Institutional Discipline:

• Conduct hearings for inmates charged with violation of institutional rules.
• Document decisions and ensure compliance with established policies.

Interagency Coordination and Specialized Programs:

• Serve as liaison and coordinator for Parole Hearings, Intrastate Detainer Act processing, Social Security reporting, Victim Witness Notification, and Child Sex Offender programs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Bachelor's degree and minimum age of 21 years or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

• Eligibility for certification by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission and possession of such certificate with 1 year of appointment.
• Successful completion of required in- service training courses.
• Class C Maryland Driver's License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, sit, and walk
• The employee is occasionally required to taste and smell.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. May be exposed to hostile situations where risk or physical injury is possible due to nature of the immediate working environment. or possible exposure to communicable disease. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.