Detention Classification Specialist

Broward County Sheriff's Office; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Broward County Sheriff's Office is seeking professionals to perform inmate risk assessments, review histories, and determine housing placements while coordinating with medical, mental health, and external agencies. The role includes documenting movements, preparing reports, and ensuring policy compliance.

Responsibilities include conducting inmate interviews, assessing needs for medical or mental health referrals, and liaising with court-related entities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral Science or related field.
• 2 years minimum experience in the criminal justice/social service system.
• Experience interviewing clients to assess mental and physical status, using data and criteria to develop client-based decisions, crisis intervention and assessment.
• Equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered; such experience must be clearly documented for consideration.

Responsibilities

• Assess inmates to determine risk, review criminal history and past incarceration records, evaluate threat level to self or others, and recommend housing placement.
• Perform inmate assessments and determine referrals to medical/mental health units.
• Serve as liaison between inmates and internal departments, judges, state attorney, public/private defense, and external agencies.
• Maintain documentation of inmate movement and status, and prepare status reports for court or transfers.
• Ensure compliance with department policies and procedures and regulatory standards.
• Exert light physical effort and work in a corrections environment with security provisions.

Skills

Interviewing clients

Crisis intervention

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral Science or related field

Job description

1. Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral Science or related field.
2. A minimum oftwo (2) years previous experience in the criminal justice/social service system.
3. Demonstrated experience must include interviewing clients to assess mental and physical status, using data and other objective criteria to develop client-based decisions, crisis intervention and assessment.
4. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered. Such experience must be clearly documented for consideration.

Under administrative direction, employees in this classification function in an assigned area relevant to the inmate population of the Sheriff’s Office Department of Detention. Assignments include, but are not limited to, the assessment of inmates to determine risk, reviewing criminal history information and past incarceration records, evaluating the threat level of to self or others, and recommending housing placement and the continued reassessment of inmates during their incarceration. The assessment may include appropriate referrals to the medical/mental health unit. Work may include an assessment of an inmate’s needs concerning referrals to detention programs. Position performs liaison work between inmates and internal departments, judges, state attorney, public and private defense and other external agencies. Employees in this classification exercise considerable independent judgment within the framework of approved classification criteria, existing laws and departmental policies. Performs related work as directed.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Interviews inmates after admission to the facility for the purpose of analyzing risk factors, reviewing criminal history, evaluating potential threat to self/others and recommending housing placement; assigns custody levels on established parameters.

Conducts inmate orientation with respect to facility policies and procedures and program availability in the various facilities.

Makes recommendations concerning inmates’ needs, e.g., medical care, mental health needs, protective custody, work assignments.

Performs periodic review/reassessment of inmate status; modifies housing recommendations as needed; responsible for documenting all inmate movement/transfer.

Processes inmates for transfer to other facilities or outside institutions by coordinating the transfer with medical, property, housing and transport; may include preparing status reports for the receiving institution.

Reviews inmate requests for relocation to participate in programs and makes recommendations as to appropriateness for participation.

Responds to inmates’ general information requests in both written and verbal contexts, i.e. court system, court dates, referrals.

Communicates with internal departments, and external social and professional entities on behalf of inmates.

Develops status reports on inmates as required through departmental requests for the court; prepares statistical reports as required.

Maintains complete and accurate documentation concerning activities conducted during the course of daily classification duties.

Ensures compliance with department policies and procedures and established regulatory standards.

Performs related duties as directed.

Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation. May require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of heavier objects. Tasks are performed in a corrections environment where proper provisions are in place in terms of employee security and protection. Due to the nature and location of the work environment, tasks include potential for intermittent exposure to disagreeable elements consistent with routine conditions in a corrections detainment environment.

Broward Sheriff’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Broward Sheriff’s Office will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Applicants who qualify will be subject to an extensive selection process and screening program, which may include, but not be limited to evaluation of training and experience; written test; computer based test; interview; polygraph examination; psychological evaluation; employment record, fingerprint and background check; medical examination; and drug screen. The expected duration of the selection process varies by position and could last 10 to 12 weeks. Reapplication will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

BSO is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Veterans' preference per Florida law.