Correctional Officer

A Correctional Officer provides safety, and security, and assists in managing the daily operations of the Douglas County Jail. Enforces detention facility security policies and procedures. Ensures all state guidelines, rules, and laws are adhered to during their shift.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of those specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
 

• Monitor and enforce correctional facility security policies and procedures.
• Intake, booking and monitor incoming inmates and be responsible for the release of inmates at their designated time.
• Directly supervise inmates in their cell blocks and living units and maintain security and protection of all cell areas.
• Conduct cell block searches, monitor, and track all inmates at all times.
• Maintain proper correctional facility documentation and review documents before accepting or releasing inmates.
• Fingerprinting and photographing of all incoming inmates; inventorying and releasing inmate property.
• Brief all incoming inmates on correctional facility rules and regulations.
• Administer proper medications to inmates, provide first aid and care for sick or injured inmates, and arrange for medical attention, when needed.
• Oversee the laundry and distribution of clothing to inmates, the cleaning and sanitizing of the cell area, and coordinate the inmate's daily activity schedules.
• Maintain safe and secure facility including, but not limited to locking facilities doors, removing of any times that could be used as weapons, and inspecting incoming and outgoing inmate mail for contraband.
• Delivering meals to all inmates, supervising tray delivery for special/medical diets, picking up trays, accounting for all trays and utensils.
• Oversee the release and return of work release inmates.
• Receive and route all telephone calls or take messages and distribute the same inmates, when appropriate.
• At times, transport inmates to and from other facilities.
• Assisting probation, courts and attorneys.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality. 
• Performs other duties, as assigned or apparent.

Access to Not Public Data: The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without  a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions Ch. 13.

 If a new work assignment requires access to not public data, the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed, the employee's work assignment no longer requires access.


REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE: 

Education:
High School diploma or equivalent.

Licenses and Other:

• Possess a valid Class D Minnesota Driver's License at all times.
• Have an operating telephone in their residence, so they may be reached in case of emergency.

Physical Fitness: 
Must be free of any physical disabilities that would prevent execution of assigned duties.  Must be physically fit to perform all duties assigned and be able to perform any physical fitness standards that may be set by the Sheriff's Office.

REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE:

• Must possess good character, good judgment and have the ability to deal well with people.
• They must have good social and interpersonal skills, general intelligence and an aptitude for correctional facilities duties.
• Knowledge of modern methods in detention and correction.
• Ability to write and prepare legible documents.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of first aid and CPR.
• Ability to defend themselves and others from unruly inmates.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, court, and enforcement agency representatives, as well as the general public.
• Must have knowledge of federal, state, and county policies, laws, and regulations regarding correctional facilities.

DESIRABLE OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Completed education beyond high school.
• Previous education in Law Enforcement related field.

Experience:

• Previous work experience where duties involved substantial work with the public.
• Previous experience in Law Enforcement related field.
• Skills directly related to correctional officer duties.

Licenses and Other:

• Current CPR, First Aid, Medication Delivery, and Use of Force certificates.
• Computer skills and typing ability.
• Previous experience with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Previous experience entering and retrieving data from databases.
• History of performing volunteer work in a community.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Public Building -Jail.

99% of work is indoor.  Works independently frequently, but works with others and around others constantly.  Occasional contact with the public.  Constant contact with individuals with behavior challenges. Possible exposure to infectious diseases such as TB or bloodborne pathogens.  Exposure to mechanical equipment such as vehicles and overhead doors. Exposure to electrical equipment such as cameras, radios, master control equipment. Exposure to pressurized equipment such as fire extinguishers and moving equipment. Occasional exposure to smells such as body odor and heights when working on an upper tier of housing units.

Shifts:
Applicants must be able to work 12-hour rotating shifts that fit the 24 hours a day/7 days a week operation, with night, holiday, and weekend shifts. Overtime may be required.

*Shift differential of $1.35 per hour for hours worked between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. and also between the hours of 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.    

Generally, the scheduling will be 80 hours every two weeks with 5 on, 5 off, 2 on, 2 off with the 5 off, being every other weekend.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS can involve, but are not limited to:
Lifting, pushing, and pulling while stationary 1-50 lbs. occasionally typically inmate property bags, supplies, and food in coolers. Lifting pushing, pulling 50 to 100 lbs. rarely which may include a human and medical equipment such as a stretcher.
Lifting, pushing, and pulling while moving about 1-10 lbs. frequently, 10 to 50 lbs. occasionally, typically food trays, medical cart, cleaning supplies, restraint chair, and laundry carts.  50 to 100 lbs. rarely in cases of uncooperative inmates, assisting with medical incidents and team lifts.  Must have near, far, depth, and color vision constantly and field of vision frequently typically for observing inmates and general activity in the facility.  Frequent talking, hearing, and reading are required.  Sitting, standing, and climbing are required occasionally and walking is required frequently.  Crouching, stooping, and kneeling are rare.  Grasping, reaching, feeling, and smelling are required occasionally, using fingers frequently, handling of objects and driving are rare.

EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED

• Handcuffs, restraint belts, shackles, radio, Taser, pepper spray, food/medical/property carts, property conveyor, and PIPE (computer logging system for corrections).
• Microsoft Word and Excel, Outlook, Portals, CIS, POR, and S3 websites. 
• Scanner, camera, flash drive, card readers, and computer.

Must pass a full background check, physical examination, and psychological examination.

Salary : $24 - $25