Corrections Officer

County of Northampton; Easton (Northampton County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Northampton in Easton, PA seeks a Corrections Officer to maintain order and secure inmates at the county jail. You will supervise inmate activities, perform searches, and coordinate daily operations with staff while ensuring safety and compliance with policies.

Requirements include a high school diploma, valid driver’s license, medical clearance, and successful completion of required trainings and certifications.

Qualifications

• Completion of a high school diploma or GED.
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record.
• Preferred age 21; applications may be considered from 18–20 based on experience.
• Post-offer medical exam including urine drug screen.
• Annual physical agility assessment for special teams.
• Pre-interview Personality Inventory required.
• Post-offer background check including criminal history and child abuse clearance.
• Background re-checks every five years; annual driving record checks.
• Academy training within one year and firearm certification as needed.
• OC spray qualification required and renewed annually.
• All staff must clear X-ray and be subject to searches.
• Mandatory training as outlined by the department.

Responsibilities

• Process incoming inmates and maintain order in the jail.
• Conduct searches of inmates and cells per policy.
• Transport inmates as needed and monitor activities.
• Coordinate daily inmate activities and perform rounds.
• Complete daily reports and incident documentation.
• Interact with the public and coordinate with outside agencies.
• Enter information into the jail computer system.
• Review court orders, remands, and releases.
• Observe inmates for violations and suspicious behavior.
• Physically restrain inmates when necessary to ensure safety.
• Use weapons and restraints to maintain discipline when required.
• Attend shift briefings and review issued bulletins.
• Direct inmates in housekeeping duties to maintain sanitation.

Skills

Inmate searches

Jail regulations

First aid

Crisis management

Effective communication

Emergency response

English language

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Firearms

OC spray

Handcuffs

Inmate records systems

Job description

Questions regarding this posting may be directed to Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst at [e-mail] or 610-829-6382.

Equal Employment Opportunities – It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Corrections Officer position is responsible for maintaining order and securing inmates in the County Jail.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

This position reports directly to a Corrections Supervisor – Sergeant and Corrections Supervisor – Lieutenant, and/or other higher level supervisory officer as designated.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

• When necessary, Corrections Officers may be required to work in excess of eight (8) hours at one time and without restrictions, and be able to perform the duties and responsibilities at 100% of capacity, in order to be deemed fit for duty.
• Processes incoming inmates.
• Conducts searches within the facility and searches of inmate cells in accordance with established policies, regulations, and/or procedures.
• Transports inmates as necessary.
• Monitors inmate activities, including both supervision and interaction with inmates.
• Coordinates daily activities of inmates.
• Makes required rounds to check safety and welfare of inmates.
• Processes paperwork, completing required reports and forms on a daily basis, such as incidents of misbehavior or violation of rules.
• Interacts with the public via telephone or face-to-face and coordinates activities with outside agencies and internal County personnel.
• Enter information into the Jail’s computer system.
• Reviews and interprets Court orders, remands, and releases.
• Observes inmates to detect violations of Jail regulations or any unusual physical appearance or behavior of inmates.
• Physically restrains inmates when necessary to prevent injuries to staff and other inmates, and to maintain security.
• Uses weapons, handcuffs, and minimum amount of physical force to maintain discipline and order among inmates in situations which necessitate.
• Learns names and identification numbers, and recognizes faces of problem inmates, by observing and receiving information from other officers so that such persons can be closely observed. Briefs officers on incoming shift as to unusual activities and inmate status.
• On reporting to work, attends shift briefings and reads bulletins issued by the department or institution to keep abreast of changes in policies/regulations, and to receive work assignments.
• Directs inmates in housekeeping duties in the cell block area such as sweeping/mopping of floors, making beds, and dusting/vacuuming to maintain sanitary conditions.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a high school, or general equivalency, diploma; AND
• Corrections Officers are required to possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record; AND
• Preferred age requirement is twenty-one (21) years of age. We will consider applicants between eighteen (18) and twenty (20) years of age based on maturity and documented work experience, education and/or military experience.
• MEDICAL EXAMINATION – a post offer medical examination, including a urine drug screen, is a requirement for employment. Any medical or physical condition or defect which would cause the officer to be a hazard to himself, herself or others, or become aggravated as a result of the performance of these duties, will be cause for the offer to be rescinded.
• Corrections Officers assigned to Special Teams must pass a physical agility assessment test on an annual basis.
• PERSONALITY INVENTORY - A pre-interview Personality Inventory exam must be completed. Failure to demonstrate sufficient capacity to perform duties of this position may be cause for the offer to be rescinded.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - A post-offer criminal history check, child abuse clearance, and motor vehicle driving record check will be completed for all Corrections Officers candidates. Failure to successfully pass the background investigation will be cause for the offer to be rescinded.
• Additionally criminal history and child abuse clearance will be completed for the purpose of compliance every five (5) years. Motor vehicle driving record checks will be completed on an annual basis for authorized drivers.
• ACADEMY TRAINING – All Corrections Officer candidates shall be required to successfully complete a training program within the time period prescribed by law and successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period.
• FIREARM CERTIFICATION – If a Corrections Officer’s assignment requires carrying a firearm, the officer must qualify upon appointment and requalify annually to maintain his or her firearm certification.
• OLEORESIN CAPSICUM (OC SPRAY) – A Corrections Officer’s assignment requires carrying an OC spray, also known as pepper spray, and the officer must qualify upon hire as well as requalify annually to maintain certification.
• ALL STAFF MUST CLEAR THE X-RAY MACHINE UPON ENTRANCE TO THE FACILITY AND ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH AT ANY TIME.
• ALL MANDATORY TRAINING AS OUTLINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED AS AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF THE JOB.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of procedures to perform inmate and institutional searches.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations of the Jail, as well as local, state, and federal laws.
• Knowledge of first aid treatment.
• Knowledge of recreational activities utilized in an institutional setting.
• Ability to cope with crisis situations.
• Ability to react to emergency situations and use physical force necessary to defend oneself and others.
• Ability to follow orders explicitly.
• Ability to write concise and accurate reports and correspondence.
• Ability to empathize with persons of different backgrounds.
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate with inmates, co-workers, and the public both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to perform simple mathematic calculations, i.e. calendar dates for entry/release, counting money, and maintenance of inmate inventory.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and manual recording and information systems, as well as equipment used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to operate and drive a motor vehicle.
• Ability to qualify and use firearms properly.
• Ability to use fingerprint machine, handcuffs, and shackles/body belt.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and other specialized software), calculator, two-way radio, cell phone, fax machine, copy machine, communications equipment, fingerprint machine, firearms, OC spray, control panel for doors/keys, electronic charge devices (e.g. X26-Taser), handcuffs, shackles/body belt, and first aid equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than one hundred (100) pounds. The employee must be able to lift, pull, bend, or physically restrain a combative or injured inmate weighing one hundred and sixty-five (165) pounds or more. The employee is regularly required to carry supplies weighing up to 30 pounds while climbing or descending stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. May be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and/or blood/body fluids.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)

DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE

PAY GRADE: PR/GR01

UNION STATUS: AFSCME PRISON 2549

Updated August 2025