Correctional Officer

Correctional Officer DEPARTMENT: Sheriff’s Office (Jail location) STATUS: Full-Time-(Typically, 12-hour shifts). STARTING SALARY The starting salary for this position is $53,352 annually ($25.65/hr) based on the current 2026 pay grid (pay step increases may be considered based on experience), plus receive differential pay of $1.35 per hour when working night shifts and weekends. Receive anniversary step increases plus annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) per the current collective bargaining agreement. JOB OBJECTIVES A Correctional Officer provides safety, security and assists in managing the daily operations of the Douglas County Jail. Enforces detention facility security policies and procedures. Ensures all state guidelines, rules, and laws are adhered to during their shift. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Monitor and enforce correctional facility security policies and procedures. Intake, booking and monitor incoming inmates and be responsible for the release of inmates at their designated time. Directly supervise inmates in their cell blocks and living units and maintain security and protection of all cell areas. Conduct cell block searches, monitor, and track all inmates at all times. Maintain proper correctional facility documentation and review documents before accepting or releasing inmates. Fingerprinting and photographing of all incoming inmates; inventorying and releasing inmate property. Brief all incoming inmates on correctional facility rules and regulations. Administer proper medications to inmates, provide first aid and care for sick or injured inmates, and arrange for medical attention, when needed. Oversee the laundry and distribution of clothing to inmates, the cleaning and sanitizing of the cell area, and coordinate the inmate's daily activity schedules. Maintain safe and secure facility including, but not limited to locking facilities doors, removing of any times that could be used as weapons, and inspecting incoming and outgoing inmate mail for contraband. Delivering meals to all inmates, supervising tray delivery for special/medical diets, picking up trays, accounting for all trays and utensils. Oversee the release and return of work release inmates. Receive and route all telephone calls or take messages and distribute the same inmates, when appropriate. At times, transport inmates to and from other facilities. Assisting probation, courts and attorneys. Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment. Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality. Performs other duties, as assigned or apparent. ACCESS TO NOT PUBLIC DATA In this job, you may come across private or confidential information about people we serve. This data is protected by law and should only be viewed or used when it’s truly needed for your work. You are expected to only look at private data when your job duties require it. Keep it secure and make sure others who don’t need to see it don’t have access. Stop accessing the data once your task is done, and store or dispose of it properly, following the rules in Minnesota’s Data Practices Act (Chapter 13). If your job duties change and you need access to different private data, that access should also be limited to only what you need to do your job. REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE Education High School diploma or equivalent. Licenses and Other Possess a valid Class D Minnesota Driver's License at all times. Have an operating telephone in their residence, so they may be reached in case of emergency. Physical Fitness Must be free of any physical disabilities that would prevent execution of assigned duties. Must be physically fit to perform all duties assigned and be able to perform any physical fitness standards that may be set by the Sheriff's Office. REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE Must possess good character, good judgment and have the ability to deal well with people. They must have good social and interpersonal skills, general intelligence and an aptitude for correctional facilities duties. Knowledge of modern methods in detention and correction. Ability to write and prepare legible documents. Good written and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of first aid and CPR. Ability to defend themselves and others from unruly inmates. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, court, and enforcement agency representatives, as well as the general public. Must have knowledge of federal, state, and county policies, laws, and regulations regarding correctional facilities. DESIRABLE OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Education Completed education beyond high school. Previous education in Law Enforcement related field. Experience Previous work experience where duties involved substantial work with the public. Previous experience in Law Enforcement related field. Skills directly related to correctional officer duties. Licenses and Other Current CPR, First Aid, Medication Delivery, and Use of Force certificates. Computer skills and typing ability. Previous experience with Microsoft Office Suite. Previous experience entering and retrieving data from databases. History of performing volunteer work in a community. WORK ENVIRONMENT Public Building -The Douglas County Jail. 99% of work is indoors. Works independently frequently, but works with others and around others constantly. Occasional contact with the public. Constant contact with individuals with behavior challenges. Possible exposure to infectious diseases such as TB or bloodborne pathogens. Exposure to mechanical equipment such as vehicles and overhead doors. Exposure to electrical equipment such as cameras, radios, and master control equipment. Exposure to pressurized equipment such as fire extinguishers and moving equipment. Occasional exposure to smells such as body odor and heights when working on an upper tier of housing units. Shifts Applicants must be able to work 12-hour rotating shifts that fit the 24 hours a day/7 days a week operation, with night, holiday, and weekend shifts. Overtime may be required. Shift differential of $1.35 per hour for hours worked between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. and also between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Generally, the scheduling will be 80 hours every two weeks, with 5 on, 5 off, 2 on, 2 off, with the 5 off being every other weekend. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Amount Lifted: Amount Lifted Up to 50lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Amount Lifted 51 to 101+ lbs.: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Amount Pushed or Pulled Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Amount Pushed or Pulled 11 to 50 lbs.: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Amount Pushed or Pulled 51 to 101+ lbs.: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Vision: Near and Far Vision: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days Depth and Color: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days Field of Vision: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Contact With Others: Works Alone: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Works with and around Others: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days Customer/Public Contact: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Clients with Behavior Challenges: Constant: = Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days Communications: Talking and Hearing: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Reading: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Basic Body Positions: Sitting and Standing: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Walking/Moving About: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Climbing: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Balancing: Not Present Crouching, Kneeling and Crawling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Motor Skills: Handling: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Grasping, Reaching and Feeling: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Using Fingers: Frequent: = Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days Driving: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Exposures To: Mechanical and Electrical Equipment: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Pressurized Equipment: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days Burning Material/Equip: Not Present Explosive and Radiant Energy : Not Present Moving Equipment: Rare: = Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 di Heights: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Fumes/Odors: Occasional: = Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days Dirt/Dust and Gases: Not Present See also Physical and Environmental Factors Form. EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED Handcuffs, restraint belts, shackles, radio, Taser, pepper spray, food/medical/property carts, property conveyor, and PIPE (computer logging system for corrections). Microsoft Word and Excel, Outlook, Portals, CIS, POR, and S3 websites. Scanner, camera, flash drive, card readers, and computer. OTHER Must pass a full background check, physical examination, and psychological examination. BENEFITS We also offer no-cost/low-cost health insurance plan options. Douglas County contributes to a Health Savings Account and a PERA pension plan. Douglas County is also a qualified Employer for the Public Sector Loan Forgiveness Program. Life Insurance – as a County employee you will be covered by $40,000 of life insurance at no expense. Supplemental coverage is available for you, your spouse, and your dependents. Vacations: Employees will accrue vacation according to the following schedule: 0 - 4 years - 10 working days. 5 -9 years - 15 working days. 10 - 14 years - 20 working days. 15 - 19 years - 25 working days. Over 20 years - 30 working days. Sick Leave/Earned Safe and Sick Time: An employee shall be credited with 1 day of sick leave for each month of service accumulative to 90 days. The first 48 hours (or up to 80 hours if any eligible time was carried over) will be counted as ESST. The schedule is an every two-month rotation from day shifts to night shifts. SUPERVISION Supervision Received: Under the immediate supervision of the Jail Sergeant. Supervision Exercised: Inmates. Labor Group: Union -LELS FLSA Status: Non-Exempt. Grade: 6 EEO Job Category: Protective Service Workers. Work Comp Code: 7720 This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change. Revised: updated 7/2026. #J-18808-Ljbffr