Corrections Officer I

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of a Sergeant or designee, setting and conveying expectations for the incarcerated population as governed by the operating philosophy of Strategic Inmate Management (SIM), managing and regulating offender behavior assessing risk, ensuring the provision of basic needs, and influencing productive activity and engagement.

Essential Functions

• Conduct routine security and health inspections, detecting potential contraband and/or hazards, reporting damage/dangers, and staying vigilant of potential security breaches.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service Rules, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Serve as the sole authority in the unit, supervising inmates, unit activities and deciding matters concerning inmates and housing area activities.
• Establish and maintain a positive supervisory relationship with the incarcerated population, directing, redirecting and coaching.
• Provide information and respond to legitimate requests and concerns, utilizing available resources.
• Interact professionally with inmates, initiating interactions, setting expectations and listening.
• Obtain and maintain knowledge of inmates (e.g. acknowledging by name, recognizing behavior changes, understanding restrictions).
• Detect and address problems early (e.g. monitor behavior, recognize potential problems or conflicts) and alert supervisors of potential issues.
• Provide positive reinforcement, serving as a role-model for appropriate social behavior.
• Hold inmates accountable for complying with rules and expectations utilizing positive motivation techniques.
• Encourage in-unit activities participation, understanding available programming opportunities.
• Collaborate with leadership and peers, providing support on inmate management issues and strategies.
• Prepare reports and written materials.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Post-secondary education in Criminal Justice or related field preferred.
• Work experience in a correctional facility, criminal justice agency and/or providing security preferred.
• Must be at least 19 years of age.
• Compliance with random drug testing required.
• Valid driver’s license upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Complete training in Defensive Tactics (DT) courses within (6) six months of hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, physical assessment, medical review and conditional offer drug screen required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.

• Work is generally performed in a locked correctional facility. Noise level is typically moderate to loud. Work schedule will vary (e.g. days, shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime, emergency call-in). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and dangerous drugs. Work requires close interaction with offender populations and may stressful when changing assignments, multiple/changing priorities, critical situations, and irate/verbally abusive individuals.

• Corrections Officers are required to physically engage inmates in order to protect the inmate, oneself, other staff, and inmates. This may involve subduing and restraining one or more inmates who may have weapons. Officer may be required to take action before assistance arrives. Incidents requiring physical intervention may arise frequently several times a day, and may not last long. Officers are required to remain physically fit without medical conditions that pose a threat to oneself or others should physical confrontation arise. Officers must also have the strength, endurance, agility and coordination to perform the job’s essential functions including self-defense and inmate restraint.

• Incumbents must meet the following specific job-related physical requirements:

Standing/Walking/Bending

Constant, up to 80% of shift or as needed

Climbing

Frequent, stair climbing may be involved

Sitting

Occasional, up to 20% of shift

Running

Occasional, typically one-to-two minute duration

Kneeling/Stooping/Crouching

Occasional

Balance

Frequent climbing stairs or when restraining a combative inmate

Ability to Quickly Change Position

Occasional, from kneeling to standing

Lifting

Frequent up to 50 pounds and occasional up to 50 pounds

Maximal Voluntary Grip

65 pounds or better

Pushing/Pulling

Frequently up to 50 pounds

• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, smell and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities includes the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Olfactory abilities include the ability to smell odor and fumes. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment (e.g. control panels, radios, handcuffs, leg irons, hook knife, chemical agent, doors, alarms).

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans