Correctional Officer

Correctional Officer

Our Correctional Officers take great pride in wearing the uniform and badge of the Washington County Sheriff's Office. As a Correctional Officer at the Washington County Jail (WCJ) your daily routine will never be boring. Our Correctional Officers are focused on maintaining peace, security, and safety within the WCJ. Correctional Officers train extensively in mental health crisis intervention and can remain calm, confident and security-minded in the most adverse and stressful situations. Additionally, our Correctional Officers enforce facility rules and maintain order, directly supervise the daily activities of inmates, search for contraband and weapons, complete facility inspections, and write reports on inmate conduct and behaviors.

2026 salary will be from $32.26 per hour + shift differential for afternoon and night shifts

Department focused on employee wellness:

• Generous benefit program
• On-site access to Mental Health Providers at no cost
• Peer counseling
• On-site fitness center

Experience based consideration for experienced Correctional Officers is available!

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:

• Possess a bachelor's degree (or higher) in any field of study
• Possess an associate's degree in corrections, law enforcement, psychology, sociology, or criminology

SELECTION TECHNIQUE: Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top-scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

Candidates must achieve a passing score in each of the following: testing/interview process, psychological examination, background investigation, physical examination, and drug test at the time an appointment is offered. Individuals operating a motor vehicle for county business must possess a valid driver's license.

HOURS / DAYS: Correctional Officers currently work a five day on/three day off rotation schedule. Shifts are generally 9 hours long.

• Days 6:00 am - 3:00 pm (0600-1500)
• Afternoons - 2:00 pm - 11:00 pm (1400-2300)
• Nights - 10:00 pm - 7:00 am (2200-0700)
• Shift exchanges are also allowed with other staff if you need a special event off.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RATE: $32.26/ hour - $38.55/hour + shift differential for afternoon and overnight shifts. Experience based considerations (Lateral Wage Points) available - see attached. Lateral wage points will be based on experience, education, and specialty assignments

E-Verify Participation: Washington County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Washington County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Washington County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

The Correctional Officer is responsible for the safety and security of incarcerated persons in the County jail. Work is performed under general supervision and is reviewed through observation, discussion and evaluation of results attained.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Requires graduation from High School, or equivalent and two years' related work experience in corrections, law enforcement, security, military or human services, or two years of post-secondary education in a related field, or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience to total two years.

Candidates must achieve a passing score in each of the following: testing/interview process, psychological examination, background investigation, physical examination and drug test at the time an appointment is offered. Individuals operating a motor vehicle for county business must possess a valid driver's license.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE:

• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace
• Demonstrates knowledge of laws, rules and best practices relating to working with inmate contact
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate with authority without provoking retaliatory behavior
• Demonstrates the ability to deescalate aggressive or negative behavior

Perform daily inmate management duties within a jail facility:

• Process people received at Intake/Master Control including fingerprinting, mug shot, searching, storing property and obtaining booking information; during this process, Correctional Officers qualify charges and ensures inmates are released after proper authorization;
• Supervise, control and escort inmates, visitors, staff and vendors; ensures that all movement is authorized;
• Determine the security risk of prisoners going to court and escort prisoners to and from court controlling their conduct; assist court security for emergencies if requested.
• Deescalate disturbances and altercations in the Jail;
• Record appropriate court data accurately and concisely regarding the status of persons in custody, sentencing orders and other information on persons being sentenced;
• Act as liaison between programs, probation officers, nurses, building services, crew leaders and the Jail; may be called to testify in court;
• Ensure the safety and security of visitors, staff, and contractors;
• Makes well-being checks of housing units and work areas and initiate counts of inmates at regular and irregular intervals; maintain control and discipline including use of physical restraint and restraining devices and professional communication techniques.
• Supervise inmates in housing units; instructs inmates in housekeeping and sanitation; enforces rules, observes behaviors and documents inmate's behavior; maintains and updates records on inmates, including logs, incidents, profile information, and forms;
• Maintain proper security of inmates being transported; ensures that all transportation orders are completed accurately and signed by the appropriate authority; institutes proper restraints as appropriate for inmate's custody classification; check transportation vehicles before and after transport;
• Answer questions of the public, law enforcement officials, other departments and inmates in accordance with the Data Practices Act and County policy;
• Respond to emergency situations in the jail, such as medical, weather, fire emergencies and inmate disturbances; acts in accordance with policy and procedure notifies proper authorities; administer basic first aid as necessary;
• Work auxiliary posts in the jail: Laundry, Juvenile and Office Support, Trustee supervisor;
• Operate all jail equipment properly; inventories all security items and equipment during a shift;
• Follow the lawful directives of supervisors.
• Operate numerous technology systems such as ALERTS, lotus notes, Citrix, CCTV, security systems, water management system, fingerprint machine, ID system, and internet;
• Dispense medication under the supervision of the Correctional Health Professional and complete and process inmate referrals to Mental Health Professionals;
• Distribute meals, laundry, canteen hygiene items, and cleaning supplies;
• Enter and verify data into a computer system according to established procedures; maintain computer or manual logs; prepare new files.
• May volunteer to participate on work teams such as ERT, FTO, SRT uniform, safety, recognition, LMC and instructor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The job is light to medium physically with the frequent standing, walking, climbing and intermittent lifting up to 50 pounds and intermittent heavier, pushing, pulling or restraining required. The job requires a rapid response to code calls and inmate disturbances. Officers must be able to distinguish between the colors of blue, khaki, red, green, orange, yellow, white and pink to maintain inmate security. The job requires working with 2-way radios, computers, telephones, DMT, fingerprinting equipment, pneumatic tubes, restraints, irritants, and a taser.

The work is performed in a secure jail and involves supervising inmates incarcerated for criminal activities ranging from misdemeanor to felony offenses. This position frequently encounters verbal or physical posturing or intimidating behavior with an on-going threat of the situation becoming physical and which may require the physical restraint of inmates. There may be exposure to disagreeable odors (body odors, dirty clothes), body fluids, hazardous chemicals, communicable diseases, mentally unstable individuals and individuals under the influence of controlled substances. Since the job is a 24/7/365 position, there may be occasional needs to alter normal work times to provide continuity of adequate staffing.

Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed