DETENTION OFFICER - Sheriff's Office

Detention Officer

Detention Officers supervise inmates who are confined 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Tarrant County Confinement system to ensure the safe keeping of all inmate property and maintain care for all persons in the custody of the Sheriff. This position may also perform basic administrative duties to arrange and coordinate the surrender and transfer to Tarrant County Texas of individuals accused or convicted of offenses outside the territory of the asylum state and within the territorial jurisdiction of Texas. This position description applies to all TCSO Detention Officer positions and functions.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Performs required duties in all areas of assigned responsibilities
• Maintains physical fitness required to perform essential job duties
• Must immediately respond to emergency situations and routine drills
• Must use reasonable force when necessary to prevent a direct threat to the health and safety of individuals in jail facilities
• Supervises inmate feeding and monitors those with special dietary needs
• Supervises the cleaning of jail housing area
• Supervises inmate movement within the facility
• Distributes mail, hygiene items and approved items to inmates
• Supervises inmate recreational activities
• Must be able to effectively utilize emergency equipment including all fire and emergency medical equipment (e.g., air packs, fire extinguisher, fire hoses, medical back boards, etc.)
• Must work shift assigned
• Enforces all applied rules and regulations of given position
• Remains current on all departmental and bureau policies and procedures. Ensures that these policies are followed and applied
• Handles volatile situations quickly, responsively and professionally
• Maintains control and custody of inmates during tour of duty
• Maintains safety and security of facilities assigned
• Completes mandatory paperwork relating to the custody and care of inmates
• Produces legal documents required in daily performance of duties
• Conducts security checks as required
• Attends and completes all training required by statute or TCOLE to maintain required certification(s) and (licenses)
• Performs all other related duties as assigned

Skills, knowledge and abilities required for this position include:

• Good interpersonal and public relations skills
• Experience or training in public speaking desirable
• Ability to understand, interpret and properly apply court orders, relevant State statutes and administrative rules including the Jail Standards, and other policies and procedures required to perform essential job duties of the position assigned
• Ability to prepare official documents required to perform assigned functions including but not limited to forms, affidavits, incident reports, and inmate processing documents
• Proficiency in the use of defensive tactics requiring physical force including the use of intermediate impact weapons and firearms if required
• Ability to obtain a working knowledge of the Jail Standards and other State statutes required in the performance of duties
• Ability to obtain a working knowledge of applicable County policies including but not limited to TCSD Civil Service Rules, the Tarrant County Employee Handbook, TCSO policies and Confinement Standard Operating Procedures
• Ability to obtain a working knowledge of department organization and functions
• Ability to control emotions and focus on professional duties and obligations in all circumstances regardless of provocations or stresses encountered
• Ability to communicate necessary information to others in a calm, clear, dispassionate and purposeful speaking voice in all circumstances
• Ability to create accurate, clear, concise, comprehensive, relevant and grammatically correct reports
• Ability to work with employees and citizens from diverse population groups to meet Department mission and serve public interest
• Ability to focus personal efforts and participate in team efforts toward continuous performance improvement
• Ability to actively seek opportunities to increase and improve knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to improve personal performance
• Ability to actively listen by aggressively practicing good listening techniques
• Ability to use interpersonal skills to foster positive working relationships with team members (peers, supervisors, and other providers) required to provide superior services in the public interest
• Ability to take appropriate action to accomplish assigned duties and accept accountability for outcomes
• Ability to use appropriate physical force when imminently necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to others or self

Minimum requirements for this position include:

• High school diploma or GED
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Must obtain Jailer License within one (1) year
• Must possess a valid driver license and obtain a Texas license within 30 days of hiring
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

To be considered for this position, applicants must fully complete all sections of the application, including EDUCATION, DRIVER'S LICENSE and EXPERIENCE. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. Resumes alone will not substitute for a completed application. Failure to provide the required information will result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Attendance at pre-employment briefings are by invitation only. If you meet the minimum requirements for this position and the department is interested in your qualifications, you will be notified by email.