Corrections Officer

Blaine County Sheriff's Office; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is seeking a dedicated Correctional Officer to perform custody and detention duties in the jail facility, including inmate processing, medical screening, meal delivery, and security monitoring.

You will work 12-hour shifts with rotating nights, weekends, and holidays. A high school diploma or GED is required, with examinations and background checks. Prior correctional experience is preferred and equal opportunity employment is offered.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; or 1–3 months related experience and/or training.
• Passing score on written examination.
• Successful completion of a background investigation, mental health examination, medical examination, and voice stress analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform booking and admittance procedures for detainees/inmates; secure individuals and belongings.
• Admit/release detainees; inventory property; arrange transportation as needed.
• Maintain inmate and detention records; prepare arrest records and classifications.
• Photograph and fingerprint detainees; update property logs and medical screening information.
• Deliver meals and administer medications as directed; monitor and preserve sanitary conditions.
• Provide escorts within the facility; control access points and supervise inmate behavior.
• Assist with supervision and safety measures; respond to emergencies and enforce rules.

Skills

Decision making

Communication

First aid

Physical fitness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

The Correctional Officer performs duties assigned in the areas of legal process, including general custodial and detention functions essential to the operation of the Detention Center/Jail Facility. The Correctional Officer position is responsible for performance of dispatching functions as required and assigned. The Correctional Officer ensures that the detention center is operating in a peaceful manner. The Correctional Officer provides security for detainees/inmates/prisoners in the Jail Facility, assuming responsibility for all needs of the detainees/inmates/prisoners during their detention in the Jail Facility by performing the following duties:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Other duties may be assigned at the discretion of the Sheriff or his Designee.

• Conduct booking admittance process/procedure for detainees/inmates/prisoners coming into the Jail Facility after assuming custody of them from the arresting Deputy or Transport Deputy. Secures detainees/inmates/prisoners into an assigned cell after searching for weapons, valuables, narcotics, or any other item that is prohibited in the Jail Facility.
• Admits and releases detainees/inmates/prisoners, including searching detainees/inmates/prisoners and property and making inventory of the personal property of the detainees/inmates/prisoners. Books and discharges detainees/inmates/prisoners; issues clothing and supplies to new inmates; arranges for detainees/inmates/prisoner’s transportation as required.
• Maintains inmate and detention records on file. Prepares arrest records identifying detainees/inmates/prisoners and their criminal charge(s) assigned.
• Photographs and fingerprints detainees/inmates/prisoners during booking admittance process/procedure. Classifies incoming inmates and places them in proper cells.
• Completes medical screening questionnaire with detainees/inmates/prisoners to identify any medical conditions/needs and their overall general health.
• Using computer and paper methods, prepares, processes, analyzes, and manages information documents and property pertinent to prisoners, departmental and facility operations. Places booked detainees/inmates/prisoners personal into property bags/tubs/approved storage container. (clothing, jewelry, and money)
• Uses a computer to create, input and retrieve data. Compiles data for necessary written incidents and other required reports.
• Deliver/serve meals to detainees/inmates/prisoners. Disperses medication to detainees/inmates/prisoners as directed by medical professionals and provides or summons medical aid/assistance if needed. Assists in the cleaning of the jail areas. Ensures that cells, facilities, and grounds are kept sanitary. Assists with computer jail entries. Checks on detainees/inmates/prisoners on a routine and regular basis, to include scheduled “count” procedures.
• Provide escorts to detainees/inmates/prisoners within the Detention Center/Jail Facility. (i.e. to and from visiting rooms, attorney visits, recreation area and medical offices)
• Controls ingress and egress locations of the Detention Center/Jail Facility and screens visitors to the Detention Center/Jail Facility.
• Distributes commissary items purchased by detainees/inmates/prisoners, such as personal hygiene items, and records the delivery of the item(s) per protocol and procedure.
• Assists with the supervision, security, control and conduct of detainees/inmates/prisoners at the Detention Center/Jail Facility, including the control of weapons, contraband, keys, tools, doors and other related safety and security precautions.
• Observes detainees/inmates/prisoners directly and indirectly through visual, audio and video monitoring, checking for unusual or abnormal activity, to ensure the physical safety of detainees/inmates/prisoners, staff, and the public. Observes and responds to obvious and subtle changes in detainees/inmates/prisoners’ conversation or behavior that might be inappropriate or indicate the potential for trouble.
• Promotes acceptable attitudes and behaviors of detainees/inmates/prisoners to assist them in adjusting to a confinement setting.
• Performs work in a manner consistent with safe practices. Develops and maintains positive, professional relationships with the public and other employees. Performs other duties and functions as assigned and necessary for the proper performance of the position.
• Stabilizes and provides backup in emergency situations for the protection of the public, staff and prisoners in situations such as aggressive behavior, fights, riots, or other disruptive behavior, escape attempts, fires, accidents, and medical emergencies. Utilize approved control methods to control unruly or combative detainees/inmates/prisoners with verbal commands and/or physical force if required.
• Enforces Detention Center/Jail Facility rules and standard operation procedures (S.O.P.). Reports infractions orally/written, confronting prisoners who violate rules. Initiates segregation or disciplinary procedures and performs enforcement activities in compliance with General Orders. Explains rules and procedures of the Detention Center/Jail Facility to (individual/group) prisoners so they understand the expectations and consequences of their behavior.
• Additional duties as prescribed by the Sheriff.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Stress Management/Composure.
• Problem Solving/Analysis.
• Teamwork Orientation.
• Decision Making.
• Technical Capacity.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but employee may serve as a Field Training Officer for newly hired Correctional Officers in the Sheriff’s Office.

Physical Demands:

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 communicate and gather information. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must be able to use force. The employee must frequently move up to 50 pounds. The employee may be required to remain stationary for extended periods of time.

Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position includes the possibility of physical attack or injury.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This position regularly requires twelve (12) hour shifts with the possibility of additional hours, rotating shifts, to include frequent night, weekend, and holiday work.

Travel:

Travel in this position is very limited, although some local or out of the area travel and overnight may be expected for training purposes.

Required Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree (G.E.D.); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Passing score on written examination unless waived by the Sheriff or his Designee.
• Successful completion of a background investigation, mental health examination, medical examination, and voice stress analysis.

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

• Prior experience working as a Correctional Officer.
• Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Possess a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Knowledge of first aid principles.
• Ability to work without supervision and to make appropriate decisions.
• Ability to restrain an individual and employ all use-of-force options.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Employees are required to work both day and night shifts. Exposure to extreme weather conditions may occur.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee has a significant chance of incurring a disabling or life-threatening injury. The position is exposed to a physically challenging environment, which may include exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens, physical assault, verbal assault, loud noises, prolonged sitting, restricted movement within the facility, and highly stressful and hazardous situations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is an equal-opportunity employer.