Detention Officer

Pottawattamie County, Iowa; Council Bluffs (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

IPERS retirement

Paid time off

Long-term disability

Job summary

Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, IA is hiring a Detention Officer to join a full-time team responsible for safety and security within the jail. The role emphasizes maintaining order, supervising inmates, and contributing to secure facility operations.

Responsibilities include supervising inmate behavior, transporting inmates when needed, conducting searches, and performing medical support tasks while following established procedures.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and experience in using a standard keyboard for typing or data entry.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of mathematics and the ability to post simple accounts according to established procedures.
• Ability to understand and follow specific oral and written instructions.
• Ability to retain composure when dealing with violent or hostile inmates.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and to complete standardized report forms and compose brief descriptive narratives.
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the general public, inmates, government officials, law enforcement agencies and fellow employees.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and control inmate behavior in the correction facility through the use of direct contact, surveillance devices, patrolling and inspections of persons and areas.
• Direct inmates while they are moving through the facility, monitoring actions and approving entry or exit.
• Search inmates' persons, clothing, living areas and other facility area for weapons or contraband.
• Enforce procedures for secure areas to maintain general security of the correction facility.
• Transport inmates safely and securely while outside the facility.
• Maintain fire safety, respond to emergency situations and review emergency procedures to be initiated in case of fire, escape, disaster or riot.
• Carry a handgun while guarding inmates outside the correction facility and be responsible for cleaning and inspecting a handgun.
• Follow established procedures to record, admit and release inmates into and from the correction facility.
• Perform medical support services including administering medication, and supervising inmates during such care, investigating inmate injuries and determining necessity of emergency medical treatment, and applying first aid as needed.
• Enforce inmate procedures and rules concerning such areas as mail, telephone, access to courts and visitation.
• Review, investigate and enforce inmate discipline.
• Provide interpersonal and human relations skills to ensure health and welfare of inmates.
• Serve food and supervise cleanup as needed.
• Establish, maintain and update inmate records, accounts and files, including inventorying and securing inmate personal property.
• Provide court-related records and legal testimony as requested.
• Conduct and participate in employee orientation, training and communications.
• Operate and maintain equipment, tools and devices related to corrections operations (i.e. corrections vehicle, photographic camera, cell doors, fire equipment, computer).
• Maintain facility upkeep and maintenance and report mechanical failures.
• Periodically count inmates, determine their location and record inmate location lists.
• Classify inmates; assign to housing areas, review arrest records.
• Investigate, record and report inmate grievances and explain procedures to inmates.
• Provide administrative support to prepare reports, file documents and answer telephones.

Skills

Typing

Data entry

Communication

Follow instructions

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Posting number: 2026-115

Department: Jail

Job classification: Detention Officer - Jail

Posting type: Open

Categories: Corrections

Summary

Are you ready for a career that combines public service, teamwork, and personal growth? The Pottawattamie County Jail is seeking dedicated, resilient, and caring individuals who are 18 years of age and older, to become part of our team as a Detention Officer. At the Pottawattamie County Jail, we believe in fostering a dynamic work environment that supports growth and development. As a Detention Officer, you'll play a key role in maintaining safety and security within the Jail, while also contributing to the care of inmates.

This position is full-time, working 12-hour shifts.

Pottawattamie County offers employees a strong benefit plan at a reasonable cost. Our benefit offerings include health, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, and other voluntary benefits.
To highlight some of our amazing benefits:

• We offer a family plan at $239.62 per month cost to the employee, with an additional $30 savings if the employee participates in the wellness program
• $1,500 family deductible
• 100% employer paid long-term disability coverage
• premium free single dental coverage
• generous paid time off; sick leave and vacation leave
• IPERS retirement; Unlike benefits from other retirement plans, IPERS benefits aren't tied to the performance of the stock market. With IPERS, you don't need to make complicated investment decisions for your retirement dreams to become a reality.

View the full
Pottawattamie County Benefits Guide
Here.

Examples of duties

Supervise and control inmate behavior in the correction facility through the use of direct contact, surveillance devices, patrolling and inspections of persons and areas.

Direct inmates while they are moving through the facility, monitoring actions and approving entry or exit.

Search inmates' persons, clothing, living areas and other facility area for weapons or contraband.

Enforce procedures for secure areas to maintain general security of the correction facility.

Transport inmates safely and securely while outside the facility.

Maintain fire safety, respond to emergency situations and review emergency procedures to be initiated in case of fire, escape, disaster or riot.

Carry a handgun while guarding inmates outside the correction facility and be responsible for cleaning and inspecting a handgun.

Follow established procedures to record, admit and release inmates into and from the correction facility.

Perform medical support services including administering medication, and supervising inmates during such care, investigating inmate injuries and determining necessity of emergency medical treatment, and applying first aid as needed.

Enforce inmate procedures and rules concerning such areas as mail, telephone, access to courts and visitation.

Review, investigate and enforce inmate discipline.

Provide interpersonal and human relations skills to ensure health and welfare of inmates.

Serve food and supervise cleanup as needed.

Establish, maintain and update inmate records, accounts and files, including inventorying and securing inmate personal property.

Provide court-related records and legal testimony as requested.

Conduct and participate in employee orientation, training and communications.

Operate and maintain equipment, tools and devices related to corrections operations (i.e. corrections vehicle, photographic camera, cell doors, fire equipment, computer).

Maintain facility upkeep and maintenance and report mechanical failures.

Periodically count inmates, determine their location and record inmate location lists.

Classify inmates; assign to housing areas, review arrest records.

Investigate, record and report inmate grievances and explain procedures to inmates.

Supervise and arrange inmate activities such as counseling, social services, recreation, religious services and library use.

Direct and control inmate work program.

Conduct inmate support activities and notify inmates concerning daily schedule.

Direct and control inmate hygiene, laundry, housekeeping and sanitation.

Provide administrative support to prepare reports, file documents and answer telephones.

Qualifications

Knowledge of and experience in using a standard keyboard for typing or data entry.

Knowledge of the basic principles of mathematics and the ability to post simple accounts according to established procedures.

Ability to understand and follow specific oral and written instructions.

Ability to retain composure when dealing with violent or hostile inmates.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and to complete standardized report forms and compose brief descriptive narratives.

Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the general public, inmates, government officials, law enforcement agencies and fellow employees.

Supplemental information

Graduation from an accredited high school or successful completion of the high school GED test.

Must possess a valid driver's license at the time of hire.

Must be certified as mandated by the Sheriff's Department within twelve months of the date of hire.
Detention Officers are required to perform physical activities to support the control and supervision of inmates, including but not limited to the following:

• ability to lift up to 100 pounds
• subdue combative inmates
• operate restraint devices
• walk and stand continuously
• mop and sweep floors

While performing these duties, the incumbent is required to talk, hear, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects or controls. Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision correctable to 20/30 peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Detention Officers are often placed in a position of physical and mental stress.