Detention Officer (Entry)

Lubbock County; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Lubbock County seeks a Detention Officer to manage inmate intake and daily facility operations at the Lubbock County Detention Center.

Responsibilities include screening, verifying paperwork and warrants, maintaining inmate property, and coordinating with attorneys and law enforcement to ensure safety and compliance. Must have a high school diploma or GED and a valid TX driver’s license, plus pass English and typing assessments.

Qualifications

• Must read, write, speak and understand English.
• Typing assessment at 35 WPM with 80% accuracy required.
• Knowledge of laws and jail standards helpful.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial screenings for inmates (Suicide/Medical/Mental/Disabilities).
• Verify arrest paperwork, warrants, and court orders for legality.
• Maintain and organize inmate files, property, and documentation.
• Operate security procedures to prevent contraband and ensure safety.

Skills

English language

Typing 35 WPM

Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

TCOLE Jailer License

Job description

Responsible for the accurate and timely processing of inmates into and out of the Lubbock County Detention Center, serving as the primary contact for daily interactions with attorneys, law enforcement agencies and the public, and ensuring the safety and security of the facility and personnel.

• Perform the initial Suicide/Medical/Mental/Developmental disabilities screening for all inmates entering into the facility.
• Verify the validity and accuracy of arrest paperwork, warrants, and court benchorders to ensure the legality of holding inmates in the custody of the facility.
• Verifythevalidityandaccuracyofreleasepaperwork,bonds,andcourtbench orders to ensure the legality of releasing inmates from the custody of the facility.
• Administerbodyscantechnologytopreventtheintroductionofcontrabandintothe facility.
• Document,search,inventory,andmaintaininmatepersonalpropertytopreventthe spread of contraband within the facility.
• Determine the initial level of search for inmates entering the facility through the use of a decision tree.
• Obtain and maintain proper certifications with TCIC/NCIC to ensure the legality of searching for and viewing criminal history information.
• Performfingerprintingandbuccalswabprocedures.
• Screeninmatesandvisitingmembersofthepublicforactivewarrants.
• Maintainandorganizearrest,booking, andreleasedocumentationininmatefiles.
• Maintain thesafetyandsecurityofthe facilitythrough theseparation, sorting, and search for contraband of all incoming and outgoing inmate correspondence.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. An individual must have the ability to read, write, speak and comprehend the English language. A language skills assessment and a typing evaluation will be given to evaluate the employee’s ability to understand the English language. Acceptable typing evaluation will be a minimum 35 WPM with 80% accuracy. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill(s) and/or abilities required.

EDUCATION? EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma or GED and must be at least 18 years of age. Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license. Must be able to communicate effectively with others in writing and verbally.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of pertinent federal, state and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. Officers will obtain a basic understanding of standards established by the Texas Minimum Jail Standards, Lubbock County and Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Policies and Procedures. Officers must possess the ability to work independently in the absence of supervision. Employees will maintain physical conditioning appropriate for the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following: subdue resisting individuals, lift and carry moderate weight materials, stand or sit for extended periods of time, operate assigned equipment. Employees will be required to effectively handle the work environment and conditions which involve: responding to emergency situations, working closely with others, irregular work hours, exposure to bodily fluids and effectively deal with personal danger which may include exposure to armed/dangerous persons and communicable diseases. Officers must also maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: making observations, reading and writing, operating assigned equipment, communicating with others, ability to maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of exercising sound judgement and rational thinking under dangerous circumstances, evaluating various options and alternatives, choosing appropriate and reasonable courses of action, and demonstrating intellectual capabilities during training and testing processes.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Possession of, or ability to obtain a Basic Jailer’s License Certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Officers will maintain the ability to stand, walk up and down stairs, kneel, bend, reach, grip and use fine dexterity. Officers will also maintain the ability to push and pull objects, occasionally flex the upper trunk forward at the waist and partially at the knees. Employees must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds such as books and records. Employees may rotate upper trunk to the left or right while sitting or standing, place arms above, at, or below shoulder height. Officers must maintain their use of vision and depth perception required, to include color vision. Employees may be occasionally called upon to perform acts of intense physical exertion during emergency situations. Employees will be expected to operate in a jail environment which includes: responding to emergency situations, working closely with others, irregular working hours, exposure to bodily fluids, possible exposure to armed/dangerous persons and communicable diseases. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Employees may be occasionally called upon to perform acts of intense physical exertion during emergency situations. Employees will be expected to operate in a jail environment, which includes responding to emergency situations, working closely with others, irregular working hours, exposure to bodily fluids, possible exposure to armed/dangerous persons and communicable diseases. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

DISCLAIMER: The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the standard functions of this position and should not be constructed as a thorough description of all work requirements. The characteristics of the work environment described are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Employer: Lubbock County will not discriminate in our employment practices based on an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.