Correctional Officer

Correctional Officer

Incumbent serves as Correctional Officer for the Vigo County Jail, responsible for maintaining security and order within the jail facility.

Examples of Duties:

• Enforces local, state, and federal laws by implementing effective policy to protect the lives and property of the people.
• Maintains interior and exterior security of Jail, including monitoring surveillance cameras, operating electronic and digital door controls, monitoring detainee activities, and conducting watch tours/patrols.
• Maintains accurate accounting of all detainees, conducting periodic cell checks, shakedowns, roll calls, and head counts of detainees in assigned areas.
• Performs booking procedures of individuals being detained, including photographing, fingerprinting, entering required information in computer, completing required forms and intake reports, receiving and receipting money and personal property, and searching detainees for weapons and contraband.
• Registers sex offenders as required.
• Oversees detainees in allowable activities, such as telephone calls, commissary purchases, counsel, and family visitations.
• Distributes daily meals and ensures all trays are removed from cellblocks.
• Ensures personal hygiene of detainees and cleanliness of cell areas, accounting for all personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, laundry, and equipment issued to detainees.
• Provides detainees with prescribed medications according to orders of physician.
• Follows Department procedures to ensure detainees receive proper medical attention.
• Ensures compliance with facility rules and regulations, including recording and reporting inappropriate behavior to appropriate Department personnel and taking necessary action to correct any problems that arise.
• Properly secures and/or physically restrains violent and uncontrollable detainees as situations demand.
• Transports and/or escorts individuals detained by the County to various locations, such as Court, Department of Corrections (DOC), medical facilities and hospitals, dental appointments, recreation, library, AA, and other meetings and activities.
• Responds to inquiries from family members, attorneys, and members of general public regarding visitation and status of individual detainees.
• Responds to detainee grievances following established chain of command procedures.
• Maintains and updates institution logs, incident reports, daily activity reports, booking/release records, and medical records.
• Submits all reports and summaries of activities according to established Department deadlines.
• Receives, sorts, inspects, and logs incoming and outgoing mail and personal items for detainees.
• Answers telephone and receives jail visitors, including logging all calls and visitors, providing information and assistance, taking messages or directing calls/visitors to more appropriate individual or department.
• Testifies in legal proceedings/court as necessary.
• Attends seminars and in-service training as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned or required.

Typical Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Must be at least 19 years of age.
• Completion of Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for Correctional Officers.
• Possession of or ability to obtain required certifications and training, including, but not limited to, handgun/firearm qualification by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, First Responder/CPR certification, IDACS/NCIC certification, and taser, chemical spray, and defense tactics training.
• Ability to meet all Department hiring requirements, including passage of written, medical and psychological exams, and a drug test.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of the customary practices, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Department, and take authoritative action as situations demand.
• Working knowledge of and ability to use all assigned Department equipment and weapons, including computer, calculator, radio, camera, fingerprint equipment, breathalyzer, handgun, stun gun, handcuffs, tear gas/mace, AED, SCBA/air pack, restraints, security panels, video monitoring, and fire suppression devices.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to complete required reports within established Department deadlines.
• Working knowledge of universal health precautions and bloodborne pathogens control, and ability to apply such knowledge to protect oneself against infection.
• Working knowledge of radio frequencies, codes, procedures, and limitations and ability to speak clearly and distinctly, hear and be understood when communicating in person, by radio, or by telephone.
• Ability to obtain and apply knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, ordinances, and accepted police procedures.
• Ability to appropriately receive, maintain, and account for detainee articles received.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, law enforcement agencies, DOC, Courts, detainees, and members of the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including everyday encounters with hostile/violent persons.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and follow oral and written instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense.
• Ability to perform essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of self and other individuals in the workplace.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, occasionally under time pressure, and on several tasks at the same time.
• Ability to compile, compare, coordinate and analyze data, make determinations, and take action based on data analysis.
• Ability to count/make simple arithmetic additions/subtractions.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people/locations and utilize good judgment in extreme and uncommon situations.
• Ability to work extended or irregular hours, evenings, and/or weekends as scheduled, and occasionally travel out of town for training and inmate transports, sometimes overnight.
• Ability to occasionally respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.
• Ability to testify in legal proceedings/court.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

Supplemental Information:

Incumbent performs duties in a jail and is regularly exposed to hazards associated with jail operations, including hostile/violent individuals and communicable diseases. Regular duties involve sitting/walking at will, sitting/standing/walking for long periods, walking/running up/down flights of stairs, physically restraining violent individuals, working in confined spaces, lifting/carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, bending, reaching, crouching/kneeling, close/far vision, color/depth perception, handling/grasping/fingering objects, keyboarding, hearing sounds/communication, and speaking clearly. Protective gear and/or equipment must be worn according to Department policy. Incumbent works extended or irregular hours, evenings, and/or weekends as scheduled, and occasionally travels out of town for inmate transports and/or training, sometimes overnight. Incumbent occasionally responds to emergencies on a 24-hour basis. As an EOE/AA employer, Vigo County Government will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran or disability status.