Corrections Officer

Lccpa; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

County correctional facility security and custody position at full performance level. Responsibilities include enforcing rules, maintaining order, escorting inmates, preventing escapes, and operating electronic control panels and security equipment.

The role requires accurate record keeping, incident reporting, daily inspections, and professional communication with inmates, staff, volunteers, and visitors. Applicants must meet all county requirements and be over 21 with a valid license;

Qualifications

• Ability to learn and apply correctional facility rules and regulations.
• Ability to quickly learn control and custody techniques, including appropriate force.
• Ability to supervise inmate activities and enforce rules.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and stay alert.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to maintain clear, concise records and reports.
• Direct supervision of inmates and enforcement of rules.
• Maintain facility security through rounds, searches, and movement control.
• Manage housing unit operations, meals, medications, and counts.
• Ensure cleanliness and hygiene across the facility.
• Operate electronic door controls and log activities.
• Communicate professionally with inmates, staff, and visitors.
• Respond to security and medical emergencies; administer first aid/CPR; follow Use of Force policy.

Responsibilities

• Enforce rules and maintain order and discipline among inmates.
• Escort inmates and prevent escapes; operate security equipment and panels.
• Supervise housing unit operations: meals, meds, commissary, laundry; conduct counts.
• Conduct rounds, searches, and medical/psychiatric checks as needed.
• Keep accurate logs; write incident and misconduct reports.
• Communicate professionally with inmates, staff, volunteers and visitors.
• Respond to emergencies and provide first aid/CPR per policy.

Skills

Rule enforcement

Order and discipline

Inmate escorting

Use of force knowledge

Emergency response

Record keeping

Reporting writing

Security equipment operation

Job description

Summary:

• This is corrections security and custody work, at the full performance level, ensuring the care, custody and control of inmates in a County correctional facility. Work includes immediate responsibility for enforcing rules and regulations, maintaining order and discipline among inmates, escorting inmates, and preventing escapes; work also involves operation of electronic control panels and other security equipment, as well as, computers. A position in this class reports to supervisory-level corrections personnel.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to learn and understand the rules and regulations relating to the operation of a correctional facility.
• Ability to quickly learn the methods and techniques used in the control and custody of inmates, including appropriate use of force and defensive tactics.
• Ability to supervise the activities of inmates in custody.
• Ability to understand and follow both verbal and written instructions. Ability to remain alert at all times.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to keep records and to write clear and concise reports.
• Directly supervises the inmate population by enforcing rules and regulations of the institution.
• Maintains security of the facility by performing security procedures which include, conducting and documenting routine tours and rounds; performing cell searches; performing clothed and unclothed inmate searches; monitoring the movement of inmates, staff, volunteers, and visitors; collecting urine samples.
• Manages housing unit operations which includes monitoring inmate activities in the dayroom and outdoor exercise yard; supervising the distribution of meals, medication, commissary, and laundry; conducting a physical count of all inmates; issuing movement passes; confiscating and accounting for inmate property and conducting rounds, medical checks and psychiatric checks.
• Responsible for the cleanliness of all areas of the institution and conducts daily inspections of dayrooms, cells, and all other working areas. Assures all inmates maintain an acceptable level of hygiene.
• Monitors and controls all movement in the facility through the proper operation of electronic door control panels.
• Maintains an accurate log of all activities, writes incident reports, inmate misconducts reports, and reports all information through the chain of command.
• Communicates professionally and respectfully with inmates, staff, volunteers and visitors.
• Calls and responds to security and medical emergencies. Administers first aid/CPR and follows the Use of Force policy when handling situations.

Comments:

• A COUNTY APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SUBMITTED, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS POSITION. APPLICANTS SHOULD NOT STATE "SEE RESUME" ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY APPLICATION - THE INFORMATION MUST BE ON THE ACTUAL COUNTY APPLICATION. IF AN APPLICANT DOES NOT COMPLETE THE ENTIRE COUNTY APPLICATION, HE/SHE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• Applicants must be over age 21.
• Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license is also required.

A criminal background check is required.