Correctional Specialist-Corrections

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

Job summary

Howard County Government is seeking a professional corrections role at the Howard County Detention Center to interview, orient, classify, and counsel inmates. The position also schedules inmates for programming and maintains case histories, ensuring accurate records in the jail management system.

The role includes developing treatment plans, coordinating with parole and community programs, and supporting policy implementation while adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum age of 21 years or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Eligible for certification by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission within 1 year of appointment.
• Possession of a Class C Maryland Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Interview, orient, classify, and counsel inmates at the Detention Center.
• Develop and implement treatment plans and conduct education and rehabilitation programs.
• Schedule inmates for programming and manage case histories.
• Enter inmate information into the jail management system and perform checks using MILES/NCIC/CJIS.
• Coordinate with agencies for Parole Hearings, Detainer Act processing, and related services.
• Assist in developing institutional policies related to classification and community programs.
• Conduct hearings for violations and ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Interviewing inmates

Counseling inmates

Case history files

Records management

Criminal history checks

Education

Bachelor's degree

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.