LATERAL CORRECTIONS (CUSTODY) OFFICER

Summary The incumbent of this position is responsible for the safe care and secure custody of individuals confined in the Lynnwood City Jail. The employee is also responsible for transporting individuals to and from court and other jails. The position is located in the Police Department and is under the direct supervision of a Custody Sergeant. Incumbents are placed on the salary range depending on their experience.

Special Incentives: Lateral Custody Officers hired by the Lynnwood Police Department will receive a twenty five thousand dollar ($25,000) incentive. Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) will be paid upon successful completion of Phase 1 of the jail's field training (FTO) process. Five thousand ($5,000) will be paid upon upon successful completion of the field training program (FTO). Five thousand ($5,000) will be paid upon successful completion of their probationary period. Five thousand ($5,000) will be paid upon successful completion of their second year of service. Lateral custody officers are only eligible to participate in the incentive program once. Lateral custody officers will be credited with vacation accrual consistent with their prior experience up to seven (7) years of service.

Custody Officer Salary (2026 Base Wages) Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Hourly Rate$42.5573$43.7633$45.2824$46.5463$47.9959Per Pay Period$3,404.58$3,501.06$3,622.59$3,723.70$3,839.67Annual Salary$88,519.18$91,027.66$94,187.39$96,816.30$99,831.47

Are you interested in becoming a Custody Officer but do not qualify as a Lateral Custody Officer? To learn how to become an entry Custody officer click this link to Public Safety Testing.

Essential Functions Includes but is not limited to such essential functions as listed below:

• Books prisoners that are brought into the jail facility using supplied computer equipment.
• Fingerprints, photographs and searches prisoners.
• Maintains jail security, insuring that prisoners are properly cared for and supervised. Issues clothing and personal care items. Responsible for feeding prisoners, supervising work details and insuring that their medical needs are met. Monitors prisoner physical and mental health.
• Serves as security for the court; monitors and searches entrants as appropriate, maintains court conduct rules and removes participants if required.
• Releases prisoners from custody when told to do so by the proper authority.
• Supervises trustees assigned to cleaning the jail, police station, yard area, and any other work project performed by inmates.
• Transports prisoners to and from court and other jail facilities in the surrounding area.
• Arranges with state and adjacent counties for transport of prisoners by other agencies and completes necessary documents for prisoner transfers.
• Maintains proper security of all records stored in the jail.
• Communicates court dates to prisoners.
• Completes fingerprint requests made by the public.
• Maintains equipment used in day-to-day work and jail operations.
• Responds to internal alarms at the municipal court and front desk.
• Serves warrants and takes into custody persons who have warrants issued against them; maintains a current warrant file.
• Completes the reports and forms necessary to insure the proper accountability of evidence property including stolen, retrieved and confiscated property. Prepares forms necessary to return property to rightful owners, disposal or for police auction via the property rooms.
• Orders and maintains jail supplies and food for prisoners.
• Maintains files of fingerprint cards, inmate health records, and other prisoner records.
• Assists with work at the counter by answering questions and providing information over the phone and in person. Accepts incident reports at the counter and accepts bail money.
• Maintains correct records in the computer for each prisoner for billing, UCR, or other statistics as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular attendance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Corrections Officer's Academy or an equivalent out-of-state course.

AND

• Currently working in that field (no minimum) or have worked in corrections for 12 consecutive months in the past 36 months and high school diploma or GED.

Additional Information

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS FOR POSITION OF CUSTODY OFFICER INTEGRITY

• Any material misstatement of fact or significant admission during the application or background process shall be disqualifying, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies. In addition, any disclosures revealed by active law enforcement applicants (laterals) that reveal criminal actions or potentially damaging information to their employing agency may be revealed to their current employer.
• Any forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.
• As an adult, being convicted of any crime, felony or misdemeanor, involving perjury, false statements, or a crime of moral turpitude.
• Recent or ongoing affiliation with, and/or support of, an organization or group which advocates the violent overthrow of the United States government, or whose professed goals are contrary to the interests of public safety.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL

• Being under current academic dismissal from any college or university where such dismissal is still in effect and was initiated within the past two years prior to the date of application.
• Having been academically dismissed from any CJTC certified basic law enforcement academy wherein no demonstrated effort has been made to improve in the deficient areas, except: subsequent successful completion of another CJTC basic law enforcement academy shall rescind this requirement.

JUDGMENT UNDER PRESSURE

• Admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal convictions for any act amounting to assault under color of authority or any other violation of federal or state Civil Rights laws.
• Any admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal conviction for failure to properly report witnessed criminal conduct committed by another law enforcement officer.

ILLEGAL USE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven years prior to application for employment.
• Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement or military police capacity.
• Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.
• Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.
• The following is a link to policy 1000 Recruitment and Selection that includes further details regarding disqualifiers.

https://public.powerdms.com/LYNNWOODWA/documents/26984

For more information about the Lynnwood Police Department watch our video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXrFydAdPKo

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

• Termination from or disciplinary action in any employment within five years from the time of application for misconduct, ethics violations, criminal conduct, falsification orally or in writing, or a matter of moral turpitude.

For information on City of Lynnwood's benefits, please click on the following link:

https://www.lynnwoodwa.gov/Government/Departments/Human-Resources

01

Are you currently employed as a full time paid custody officer with a municipal, county or state law enforcement agency or correctional institution?

• Yes
• No

02

Have you been employed as a full time custody officer with a municipal, state, or federal agency for at least 12 of the past 36 months?

• Yes
• No

03

Have you successfully completed probation in your present (or most recent) employment as a custody officer?

• Yes
• No

04

Have you successfully completed the Criminal Justice Training Commission Academy for Custody Officers. (or, if you are an out-of-state applicant, an equivalent to this course)?

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered Yes, list the name of academy, location of the academy, date of graduation, and number of hours. If you answered No, enter N/A.

06

Please attach to this application your certificate of graduation and any transcripts, progress reports, or instructor comments if you have them. If you are unable to attach, mail them to the City of Lynnwood, Human Resources Department, Attention: Lateral Custody Officer Candidate.

07

Do you have any activities, commitments or responsibilities that may prevent you from meeting work attendance requirements?

• Yes
• No

08

If you answered Yes, explain. If you answered No, enter N/A.

09

Have you ever been convicted of, or have you served time in a correctional institution for any crime which might have some bearing on your qualifications and fitness to accept the duties and responsibilities of the position for which you are applying?

• Yes
• No

10

If you answered Yes, give details. If you answered No, enter N/A.

11

List all law enforcement agencies or correctional institutions you have worked for, starting with the most recent. Include agency name, agency address, agency phone, position held and salary, name of supervisor, hire date, termination date, reason for leaving.

12

List all professional custody officer courses taken that were 40 hours or more in duration. This will be primarily in-service training but can include other professional, custody related training, as appropriate. List the course title, school, school location, dates, length of course and topics covered.

13

REASON FOR LATERAL TRANSFER: Please give your reasons for leaving your current department and why you want to work for the Lynnwood Police Department.

14

List all custody vehicle accidents you have been involved in, regardless of fault.

15

List all sustained complaints and internal investigations, as well as any disciplinary actions you have received while employed as a custody officer. If there are none, enter N/A.

16

List all commendations you have received while employed as a custody officer.

17

Please attach to your application copies of all commendations, notices of disciplinary actions, and performance evaluations. If you are unable to attach, please mail to the City of Lynnwood, Human Resources Department, Lateral Custody Officer Candidate.

18

NARRATIVE QUESTION: Please respond to the following question: Describe how your employment, experience, and education have provided you the ability to exercise seasoned judgment under stress. Please provide at least one example.

19

Do you have a valid driver's license and a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier?

• Yes
• No

20

If you answered yes, list the State where your license is issued, your drivers license number and the expiration date. If you answered no, enter N/A.

21

Have you ever been charged with, forfeited bail on or been convicted of any traffic law violation?

• Yes
• No

22

If you answered yes, provide the date(s), locations(s) and the disposition of each traffic violation. If you answered no, enter N/A.

23

Have you ever had your drivers license suspended in this State or any other State?

• Yes
• No

24

If you answered yes, give the date(s), location(s) and the reason for the suspension(s). If you answered no, enter N/A.

25

Have you ever been charged with a misdemeanor or felony?

• Yes
• No

26

If you answered Yes, list all arrest information for each incident (other than traffic). Specify what the charge was, when and where you received it and what the disposition of the violation was. If you answered no, enter N/A.

27

Have you ever used any illegal drugs?

• Yes
• No

28

If you answered yes, specify the type(s) of drug used, the years(s) it was used and on how many occasions. (Note: Prior drug use does not necessarily eliminate you from consideration. See automatic disqualifiers on the job posting.) If you answered no, enter N/A.

29

Have you ever had your wages garnished?

• Yes
• No

30

If you answered yes, what was date of garnishment, employer involved, creditor involved, and disposition. If you answered No, enter N/A.

31

Have you ever filed bankruptcy?

• Yes
• No

32

If you answered yes, list the date of the bankruptcy and describe your current financial situation. If you answered No, enter N/A.

33

Are you able to speak/understand a language other than English?

• Yes
• No

34

If you answered Yes, specify what other language(s) your speak/understand. If you answered No, enter N/A.

• Required Question