Correctional Officer

Salary : $59,571.20 Annually
Location : Leonardtown, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202200022
Department: Office of the Sheriff
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Job Summary
ATTENTION:

ALL APPLICANTS FOR THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER POSITION ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT PRIOR TO SELECTING "APPLY" WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW. THE PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION. COMPLETE THE STATEMENT AND SAVE IT TO BE ATTACHED AT THE END OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Personal History Statement
Sign-on bonus $10,500 (Three installments - $3,500 upon academy graduation , $3,500 upon successful completion of 1 year probation in this position, and $3,500 upon completion on two years of employment in this position)

Lateral bonus, in addition to the sign-on bonus above: $7,500 (Three installments - $2,500 when hired, $2,500 upon release from probation in this position, and $2,500 upon completion of two years employment in this position)

This is correctional work involving the custody and care of prisoners; performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

1. Enforce policies and procedures pertaining to inmates, including supervision, inmate intake and discharge and related correctional administrative tasks;
2. Maintain accurate official inmate counts;
3. Inspect inmates' quarters and enforce standards of cleanliness, safety, sanitation and fire prevention;
4. Ensure security of the facility to prevent escape including screening visitors and inspecting packages and other items brought or sent to the detention center;
5. Search inmates and their property, living quarters and detention center facilities to detect pilferage and the possession of contraband;
6. Supervise the distribution of meals to inmates and ensure that all utensils are accounted for and returned to the kitchen;
7. Maintains records and prepares written and oral reports as required;
8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Education and Experience:

1. High School Diploma or GED;

Additional Requirements:

1. Must be 18 years of age, possess a valid Maryland State Motor Vehicle License and be a U.S. Citizen or a resident alien;
2. Must pass written entrance exam, physical agility test, polygraph, physical, psychological examination, drug screen and successfully pass extensive background investigation with favorable results;
3. Weight must be in proportion to height, body frame and age;
4. Vision must be correctable to 20/20;
5. Must successfully complete the entrance level program for Correctional Officers within one year of appointment;
6. Must be able to work shift work including weekends and holidays.

Supervision:

Supervisor: Correctional Officer First Class I in the absence of a Corporal

Supervises: N/A
Physical Training Requirements:

Training academy Recruits will be subject to being taken down to the ground aggressively in the prone position and participate in playing the role of an officer and aggressor. Recruits will be exposed in the face with Oleoresin Capsicum/ OC Spray.
Recruits must also Demonstrate the following:
Execute a jump and climb from a height of at least four (4) feet, must have the ability to run 1.5 miles with a distance of at least 300 yards at full speed, and have the ability to run up and down two flights of stairs as well as have the ability to demonstrate other various fitness requirements such as; push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups (males) and flex arm hang (females)

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
Work demands occasional strenuous effort. For example, handling of moderate to heavy boxes, tools, equipment, or materials of 30 to 150 pounds and have the ability to evacuate people from dangerous conditions.
This position requires the ability to run, climb, jump, lift, drag, crawl, carry, push and pull of objects and have the ability to use bodily force, wearing of Personnel Protective Equipment/PPE, including but limited to; Kevlar vest, gun belt and Gas/Protective mask.
The work environment involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress and physical threat which require a range of safety and other precautions, e.g., aggressive human behavior, or similar situations where conditions cannot be controlled.

Education and Experience
1. Ability to gain thorough knowledge of St. Mary's County Government policies and procedures;

2. Ability to gain thorough knowledge of the Office of the Sheriff policies and procedures;

3. Ability to gain thorough knowledge of modern correctional methods and objectives;

4. Ability to use and care for security equipment, firearms and non-lethal weapons;

5. Ability to effectively communicate with other staff and especially members of the public;

6. Ability to make decisions in accordance with established federal, state and local laws;

7. Ability to apply departmental policies to daily work problems;

8. Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions;

9. Ability to work independently on tasks and maintain records;

10. Ability to plan, organize, and execute complicated and continuing assignments accurately, with minimum instruction or review;
11. Effective business English, grammar, legal terminology, and math skills
We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, identity theft protection, sick-leave transfer, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Regular Part-time employees who work an average of 20 or more hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at the following link:
01


Are you currently 18 years old or older?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a current Maryland Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

Required Question