Jail Deputy, Recruit (Entry-Level)

Clackamas County; Oregon City (OR); On-site; USD 69,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is seeking Jail Deputy, Recruit candidates to maintain order and safety in county jail facilities. The role requires passing REACT testing or providing a transcript, meeting DPSST standards, and a clean background.

Applicants must be 21+, be a U.S. citizen or eligible, and hold a high school diploma or higher. The position offers stringent requirements with a structured progression after successful training and certification.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age by date of employment.
• Citizen or eligible to become a United States citizen within 18 months.
• High school diploma, GED, or bachelor degree from an accredited institution.
• Free of serious convictions; no DV or felony record.
• Willing to be fingerprinted and to file fingerprints with the state.
• Meet DPSST requirements and tattoo policy as specified.
• Pass REACT testing or provide transcript showing higher education.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Pass post-offer drug test; undergo extensive background checks.

Responsibilities

• Maintain order, discipline and security of inmates in county jail facilities.
• Answer routine inmate questions; conduct investigations and write reports.
• Assist in booking, fingerprinting, medical screening and processing activities.
• Transport inmates within facility or to court and provide security during transport.
• Operate control room and ensure access only for authorized personnel; monitor doors.
• Assist in lobby processes, including warrant turn-ins and visits.

Skills

Communication skills

Oral and written communication

Relationship building

Education

High school diploma / GED / bachelor degree

Job description

CLACKAMAS COUNTY

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.

Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents.

SPIRIT: Our Core Values

Explore Clackamas County

Recreation, Arts & Heritage

CLOSE DATE

This Job Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on October 14, 2026.

Compensation

Annual Pay Range: $77,061.83

Hourly Pay Range: $37.048958

After approximately one year of employment, successful completion of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Academy and the CCSO Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Jail Deputy, Recruit employees are moved to the Jail Deputy ($38.87 - $49.78 per hour) classification.

Job Details And Qualifications

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is seeking highly motivated, self-directed candidates with strong communication and interpersonal skills to create a pool of candidates eligible for current and future Jail Deputy, Recruit.

Applicants must take the REACT written/video exam and transfer their scores to Clackamas County OR upload a transcript if they have a Bachelor's level degree or higher at time of application submission.

Testing is available through the National Testing Network (NTN) and can be completed online at home as well as several locations in and out of the state.

Applicants MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE by the date of employment.

Visa Sponsorship: Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day.

• Applicants who are currently or have been certified as a basic Corrections Officer or Jail Deputy/Officer for at least one (1) year within the last five (5) years should apply for Jail Deputy (Lateral).

All Sheriff's Office positions require a complete Statement of Personal History (SPH).

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for the position they are applying for will need to submit the SPH. Please closely review the "Important Information" section for full details.

Applicants will receive instructions from the Department of Human Resources or the Sheriff’s Office on how to login to the electronic SPH.

Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:

• Must be 21 years of age by the date of employment.
• Must be a United States citizen or be one within eighteen (18) months of hire.
• Must possess a high school diploma, GED certificate of high school equivalency, or a bachelor degree from an accredited institution.
• Must be free from convictions of a serious nature, such as domestic violence, drug-trafficking and manufacturing, and any felony.
• Must be willing to be fingerprinted and have fingerprints filed with the State.
• Visual and Hearing Acuity: Must meet the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training requirements as detailed in Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) 259-0080000 .
• Must be able to be certified as a corrections officer by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
• Must meet the Minimum Standards for Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer as provided for in Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) 259-008-0010.
• Must meet the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office tattoo policy. See our FAQ's for details https://www.joinccso.com/faq
• Must successfully pass the REACT exam through National Testing Network OR upload proof of Bachelor's degree or higher (transcript).
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test
• Must pass an extensive background investigation, including national fingerprint records check
• Must pass an extensive post-offer pre-employment physical assessment and psychological evaluation ; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation
• Driving is required for County business on a regular basis or to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment.

Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:

• Knowledge of criminal attitudes and behavior patterns.
• Knowledge of purposes and methods of discipline as applied to prisoners under criminal confinement.
• Experience working in a correctional or detention facility.
• For Veterans qualified for Veteran’s Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.

STEP 1:

Pass/Fail Minimum Qualifications and REACT Testing OR Transcript

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications and pass the REACT written/video testing (passing score is 65 in every section) and transfer their test scores to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office by the close of the recruitment (October 14, 2026).

Applicants who possess a Bachelor's degree or higher must upload a transcript in the "Attachments" section of this application by the close of the recruitment.

STEP 2: Statement of Personal History & Jail Tour

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and pass REACT testing or upload a valid transcript MUST submit a Statement of Personal History (SPH). Application materials will be checked weekly, applicants who have completed all the steps required will be notified to begin work on the SPH. The SPH deadline is October 26, 2026 at 11:59PM. You will be contacted by the Department of Human Resources after Step 1 and given the instructions on how to complete the SPH document.

Additionally, you must go through a jail tour at our facility. Applicants may be scheduled to take a tour during the recruitment process. You will be notified of possible tour dates to complete before moving onto the interview. Tentative tour dates are November 3rd and November 5th.

STEP 3: Department ("in- house") interview, and other post-offer tests

Eligible candidates who successfully pass Steps 1 – 2 may be invited to a department ("in- house") interview based on hiring needs.

Department interviews tentatively will take place during the week of November 16, 2026. This timeline may change based on business needs of the department.

If a conditional offer is made, candidates must also pass a post-offer job-related physical and psychological evaluation and drug testing for the use of prohibited drugs.

Background Investigation

At any time during the application process applicants may have their background packet activated and assigned to a background investigator. PLEASE NOTE: When the Sheriff’s Office directs, a background investigator will contact applicants to schedule an INITIAL INTERVIEW. The INITIAL INTERVIEW will include a meeting with a background investigator to have your photo taken, review the SPH and provide instructions on what documents need to be ordered.

Background investigations may run concurrently with other testing processes. Background investigations are comprehensive, therefore they can average six (6) to eight (8) weeks to complete. Delays in processing your background investigation may be caused by not completing all entries, not submitting required documents, or references not responding to an investigator’s inquiries.

If at any time during the hiring process it is determined by the Sheriff’s Office that the candidate does not pass the background investigation the candidate will be notified and the application will be inactivated. This may occur prior to, during, or after any of the testing phases and/or placement on the eligibility register.

TYPICAL TASKS

• Under close supervision, maintains order, discipline and security of inmates in County jail facilities; supervises the security and conduct of inmates in cells, during group meetings, meals, bathing, recreation, visitations, and on work assignments; performs routine internal security checks, to include a visual inspection of the wellbeing of inmates as directed; assists Jail Deputies in performing perimeter checks/security checks throughout shift.
• Answers routine inmate questions, conducts limited investigations, interviews witnesses, victims, complainants, seizes evidence, makes arrests, writes inmate misconduct reports, special reports and crime reports, prepares cases, testifies in judicial proceedings or before a Hearings Officer; maintains records and writes reports as required.
• Supports in processing activities to include booking and release, fingerprinting, photographing, custody level assessment, medical screening, clothed and unclothed body searches, and issuing of clothing and supplies to new inmates.
• Receives and maintains the personal property of inmates; returns personal property to inmates on discharge.
• Inspects living quarters of inmates for contraband; checks on sanitary conditions and orderliness of living quarters.
• Follows orders/instructions from doctors or nurses in the care of ill inmates.
• Transports inmates within the facility or to and from court, medical facilities, work locations or other detention facilities; performs hospital watches as required.
• With direction, operates the control room, ensuring every door in the facility that is opened is accessed by authorized personnel only; ensures that all vehicles/persons entering the secure portions of the facility grounds are authorized to do so.
• Checks in persons that come into the lobby including warrant turn-ins, attorneys, investigators, family, friends, and clergy.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Working knowledge of: Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation; basic criminal attitudes and behavior patterns; basic purposes and methods of discipline as applied to persons under criminal confinement.

Skill to: Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; learn the operations of a corrections facility; learn the control, direction and instruction of inmates individually and in groups; understand, learn to interpret and enforce institutional rules and regulations with firmness, tact and impartiality; read and interpret written material accurately and rapidly; learn to promote socially acceptable attitudes and behavior of inmates; make rapid, effective and reasonable decisions in emergency situations and take appropriate action; use a computer to enter data, write narratives and reports; maintain accurate records; use basic electronic and phone equipment; learn and use basic radio procedures; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with the public, co-workers, and a variety of criminal justice officials and personnel.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Standards for Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer as provided for in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) 259-008-0010.

Must be able to be certified as a Corrections Officer or Jail Deputy/Officer by the Department of Public Safety and Standards Training (DPSST).

Visual Acuity: Monocular vision must be at least 20/30 (Snellen) corrected in each eye and not worse than 20/100 (Snellen) uncorrected in either eye. Binocular vision must be at least 20/20 (Snellen) corrected. Officers/Applicants whose uncorrected vision is worse than 20/100 must wear soft contact lenses to meet the corrected vision requirement.

Color Vision: Officers/Applicants must be able to distinguish red, green, blue, and yellow, as determined by the HRR Test, 4th Edition. Red or green deficiencies may be acceptable, providing the applicant can read at least nine of the first 13 plates of the Ishihara Test. Officers/Applicants who fail to meet the color vision standard may meet this standard by demonstrating they can correctly discriminate colors via a field test conducted by the employer as approved by the examining physician/surgeon. Depth Perception: Random Stereo Test equal to 60 seconds of arc or better. Peripheral Vision: Visual Field Performance must be 140 degrees in the horizontal meridian combined.

Hearing Acuity: Officer/Applicants must have no average hearing loss greater than 25 (db) at the 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000-Hertz levels in either ear with no single loss in excess of 40 db. Amplification devices may be used to meet the above hearing requirements.

WORK SCHEDULE

Jail Division: Six 12 hour shifts and one 8 hour shift per two week pay period (POA contract language cites exceptions to this schedule.) Shift schedules are determined by seniority and the Peace Officer's Association Collective Bargaining Agreement.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Duties are performed in a secured adult correctional facility involving contact with adults in custody. Exposure to anger, harassing and foul language from those being held for booking should be expected in some cases.

Benefits Information

Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.

We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle.

Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.

Attractive benefits package and incentives for employees in regular status positions are detailed below.

Generous Paid Time Off Package, Including

• 11.7 hours of vacation accrual per month
• Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
• 8 hours of sick accrual per month
• 10 paid holidays and 2 personal days per year

Other Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
• Employer-paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.)
• OPSRP members get vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65
• Employer paid 4% Deferred Compensation
• Employer Paid 4% to Medical Trust
• A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• A Choice of Dental Plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Longevity pay
• Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• A variety of additional optional benefits (see link below for additional information)

This is a full time County position represented by the Peace Officers Association.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

“A Tradition of Service Since 1845.” The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) mission is to provide public safety services to the people in Clackamas County so they can experience a safe and secure community. We will fulfill the mission through teamwork and partnerships, as reflected in our core values.

Values

Courage

Dedication

Integrity

Professionalism

Respect

The CCSO serves over 400,000 residents of the County with over 400 employees. As the County's largest law enforcement agency the Sheriff's Office patrols the unincorporated areas of the county as well as several cities that have contracted with CCSO to provide law enforcement for them. The CCSO has many specialized units such as canine, motorcycle patrol, the dive team, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), search and rescue, narcotics investigation (SIU), detectives and Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT). The Sheriff's Office is also required by law to provide correctional facilities for the county and to offer support services to other agencies in the County, such as: the jail, parole and probation, transitional services, special units and occasionally personnel resources.

The CCSO is committed to enhancing a diverse workforce through principles of active recruitment in the community, equal employment opportunity and positive human resource management. The Administration and staff of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office adopts a philosophy and practice that we recognize the full potential of all employees, treating all persons with respect, fairness and impartiality.

Learn more about the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Clackamas County only accepts online applications.

Help with the Application

If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources by calling 503-655-8459 or emails us at [e-mail]. Our office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays).

How To Claim Veteran's Preference

Requesting Veterans' Preference

Learn more about Oregon's Veterans' Preference

VISA SPONSORSHIP

Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day .

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process.