Corrections (Custody) Officer

City of Lynnwood, WA; Lynnwood (WA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring bonus: $10,000

Job summary

City of Lynnwood, WA is seeking an Entry Level Custody Officer to ensure the safe care and custody of prisoners within the Lynnwood City Jail. The role involves supervising inmates, transporting them to court and other facilities, and maintaining accurate records.

Applicants must meet age, licensing, and PST testing requirements. Hiring includes a $10,000 performance incentive paid in stages, with eligibility tied to PAT completion, field training, and probation.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 20 ½ years old.
• Possess a valid Washington State Driver's License (for Lynnwood jurisdiction).
• Successfully pass the Lynnwood Physical Ability Test.

Responsibilities

• Books prisoners that are brought into the jail facility using supplied computer equipment.
• Fingerprints, photographs and searches prisoners.
• Maintains jail security, ensuring that prisoners are properly cared for and supervised.
• Serves as security for the court; monitors and searches entrants as appropriate, maintains court conduct rules and removes participants if required.
• Releases prisoners from custody as requested by the proper authority.
• Transports prisoners to and from court and other jail facilities in the surrounding area.
• Maintains proper security of all records stored in the jail.
• Maintains equipment used in day-to-day work and jail operations.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Note: Prior to an application with the City of Lynnwood, all candidates must pass the written and physical ability testing processes and have been referred by PublicSafetyTesting.com before becoming eligible to apply to the City of Lynnwood. Entry-Custody candidates must test with PST AND achieve a 70% or better on the PST Written assessment AND pass the physical ability test to be considered for our hiring process.

Our hiring process is as follows:

1. Physical ability tests (PAT) - Pass or Fail Examination
2. PST Written Exam - weighted 100%
3. Top 20 placed on Eligibility List
4. You will receive an email with a link to apply to our current posting
5. Criminal background check, psychological assessment, polygraph, and medical assessment
6. Chief's and/or Command Interview
7. Basic Law Enforcement Academy through Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission

This posting will open again soon for qualified applicants.

Hiring Bonus

Entry level custody officers hired by the Lynnwood Police Department will receive a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) incentive. Five thousand dollars ($5,000) will be paid upon successful completion of the department's pre-academy Physical Ability Test (PAT). Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) will be paid upon successful completion of the field training program. Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) will be paid upon successful completion of their probationary period.

Custody Officer Salary (2026 Base Wages)

• Step 1 – Hourly Rate: $42.5573 – Per Pay Period: $3,404.58 – Annual Salary: $88,519.18
• Step 2 – Hourly Rate: $43.7633 – Per Pay Period: $3,501.06 – Annual Salary: $91,027.66
• Step 3 – Hourly Rate: $45.2824 – Per Pay Period: $3,622.59 – Annual Salary: $94,187.39
• Step 4 – Hourly Rate: $46.5463 – Per Pay Period: $3,723.70 – Annual Salary: $96,816.30
• Step 5 – Hourly Rate: $47.9959 – Per Pay Period: $3,839.67 – Annual Salary: $99,831.47

The incumbent of this position is responsible for the safe care and secure custody of prisoners confined in the Lynnwood City Jail. The employee is also responsible for transporting prisoners to and from court and other jails. The position is located in the Police Department and is under the direct supervision of a Custody Sergeant.

Essential Functions

• Books prisoners that are brought into the jail facility using supplied computer equipment.
• Fingerprints, photographs and searches prisoners.
• Maintains jail security, ensuring that prisoners are properly cared for and supervised. Issues clothing and personal care items. Responsible for feeding prisoners, supervising work details and ensuring that their medical needs are met. Monitors prisoner physical and mental health.
• Serves as security for the court; monitors and searches entrants as appropriate, maintains court conduct rules and removes participants if required.
• Releases prisoners from custody as requested by the proper authority.
• Supervises trustees assigned to cleaning the jail, police station, yard area, and any other work project performed by inmates.
• Transports prisoners to and from court and other jail facilities in the surrounding area.
• Arranges with state and adjacent counties for transport of prisoners by other agencies and completes necessary documents for prisoner transfers.
• Maintains proper security of all records stored in the jail.
• Communicates court dates to prisoners.
• Completes fingerprint requests made by the public.
• Maintains equipment used in day-to-day work and jail operations.
• Responds to internal alarms at the municipal court and front desk.
• Serves warrants and takes into custody persons who have warrants issued against them.
• Orders and maintains jail supplies and food for prisoners.
• Maintains files of fingerprint cards, inmate health records, and other prisoner records.
• Assists with work at the counter by answering questions and providing information over the phone and in person. Accepts bail money.
• Maintains correct records in the computer for each prisoner for billing, or other statistics as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular attendance.

Requirements

• Must be at least 20 ½ years old
• Possess a valid Washington State Driver's License
• Successfully pass the Lynnwood Physical Ability Test

Lateral Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Successful completion of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Corrections Officer's Academy or an equivalent out-of-state course AND currently working in that field (no minimum) or have worked in corrections for 12 consecutive months in the past 36 months.

Additional Requirements

Applicants must also meet the requirements of physical and medical standards of the Custody Officer Academy as prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. A thorough medical examination, polygraph, credit check, and psychological assessment will be given prior to appointment. Successful candidates will be subject to a background investigation conducted by the Lynnwood Police Department.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Automatic Disqualifiers

Integrity

• 1. Any material misstatement of fact or significant admission during the application or background process shall be disqualifying, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies. In addition, any disclosures revealed by active law enforcement applicants (laterals) that reveal criminal actions or potentially damaging information to their employing agency may be revealed to their current employer.
• 2. Any forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.
• 3. As an adult, being convicted of any crime, felony or misdemeanor, involving perjury, false statements, or a crime of moral turpitude.
• 4. Recent or ongoing affiliation with, and/or support of, an organization or group which advocates the violent overthrow of the United States government, or whose professed goals are contrary to the interests of public safety.

Academic Disposition

• 1. Being under current academic dismissal from any college or university where such dismissal is still in effect and was initiated within the past two years prior to the date of application.
• 2. Having been academically dismissed from any CJTC certified basic law enforcement academy wherein no demonstrated effort has been made to improve in the deficient areas, except: subsequent successful completion of another CJTC basic law enforcement academy shall rescind this requirement.

Judgment Under Pressure

• 1. Admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal convictions for any act amounting to assault under color of authority or any other violation of federal or state Civil Rights laws.
• 2. Any admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal conviction for failure to properly report witnessed criminal conduct committed by another law enforcement officer.

Illegal Use or Possession of Drugs

• 1. Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven years prior to application for employment.
• 2. Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.
• 3. Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement or military police capacity.
• 4. Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.
• 5. Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.
• 6. Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.

*The following is a link to policy 1000 Recruitment and Selection that includes further details regarding disqualifiers.

https://public.powerdms.com/LYNNWOODWA/documents/26984

For more information about the Lynnwood Police Department watch our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXrFydAdPKo

Employment History

• Termination from or disciplinary action in any employment within five years from the time of application for misconduct, ethics violations, criminal conduct, falsification orally or in writing, or a matter of moral turpitude.