Corrections Deputy (Entry Level and Lateral)

Corrections Officer

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office offers challenging and exciting careers for Corrections Officers. When you become part of the team, you are welcomed into our close-knit family. Whatcom County Corrections Deputies perform tasks related to the operations of a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week maximum- and minimum-security jail and other assigned facilities.

Key duties include:

• Receiving, booking, maintaining custody of, escorting, transporting, caring for, monitoring, overseeing, and releasing inmates.
• Maintaining facility security and coordinating work crew activities.
• Complies with strict legal standards and requirements, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Assesses and responds appropriately to emergency situations.

Application process: The start point for all Whatcom County law enforcement positions is with a valid Public Safety Testing (PST) Law Enforcement Exam. Here are the steps to get started:

• Visit the PST website and choose your career path (Corrections).
• Select Whatcom County as one of the agencies you are interested in.
• Review and agree to the required qualifications to join our team.
• Select a date and time for your Law Enforcement Exam.
• Create an applicant profile. Filling out your profile ensures that agencies have the information required for the hiring process.
• Take your test. Be prepared to succeed when you arrive at your test location.

If you list Whatcom County as one of the agencies you are interested in, we will receive the results of your written and physical fitness tests. We will then send you an invitation to apply to Whatcom County. We will receive your online application, screen it to ensure you qualify, and then contact you to set up on Oral Board examination. Your PST score, oral board score and any veteran preference will determine your position on the eligible register. You will then be eligible for further steps in the hiring process (i.e., background investigation, etc.) for six months after placement on the eligible register. Prospective applicants should check our list of automatic disqualifiers before applying.

The basic requirements to be a Corrections Deputy, Entry Level are:

• Requires a high school diploma or GED
• College-level coursework in the area of corrections, law enforcement, law and justice, police science or social services is desired, but not required

The requirements for a Lateral Candidate are:

• Been employed for at least 2 years within Washington State or another state, territory or commonwealth of the United states as a full-time Corrections Deputy with general corrections experience.
• Passed a probationary period with a previous law enforcement employer.
• No more than a 24-month break in service since the most recent law enforcement employer.
• Completion of the WSCJTC Basic Corrections Academy or WSCJTC-recognized equivalency academy.

Among other special requirements, a successful candidate must:

• Be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident
• Able to read and write the English language.
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have a driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards

Candidates must successfully complete pre-employment testing and background exams including:

• Written Test - administered through Public Safety Testing
• Physical Agility Test - administered through Public Safety Testing
• Polygraph Test
• Law Enforcement Background Check
• Physical Examination
• Psychological Examination