What are the responsibilities and job description for the Correctional Sergeant position at Wisconsin Department of Health Services?
Introduction
Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) within the Department of Health Services (DHS) is recruiting to fill a Correctional Sergeant position in Mauston, WI.
SRSTC opened in 2001 and provides care and treatment for several different patient populations. The center houses Wisconsin’s Sexually Violent Persons Program, provides care and treatment for persons found not guilty by reasons of mental disease or mental defect, and provides court ordered treatment, testing, and education to patients found not competent to stand trial. SRSTC is a 500-bed treatment facility and is part of the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS). Watch this video to learn more about the work of DCTS.
As an employee of the state of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package, including:
- 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time.
- Top rated health plan options starting at $42/month for single plans and $104/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service.
- Premium pension plan with at least a 6.95% employer match in 2025. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!
- Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
- A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer
Schedules Include:
- 1st Shift - 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- 2nd Shift - 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- 3rd shift - 10:15 p.m. to 6:15 a.m.
- Rotations of up to 7 days in a row.
- 3-4 consecutive days off over a weekend at least once per month.
- As needed based on operational needs, overtime shifts up to 16 hours total in one shift may be required.
Position Summary
As a Correctional Sergeant, you will be responsible for the security, control, and treatment of patients at SRSTC. Duties include:
- Supervising patients in work, housing unit, and activity situations
- Escorting patients off grounds as required
- Patrolling buildings and grounds
- Monitoring visitation
- Providing a therapeutic environment for patients
- Maintaining record keeping systems
- Acting as a lead worker and assuming total responsibility for post operations in a particular area on an assigned shift.
Salary Information
- Starting pay is $35.29/hour (approximately $73,400 per year)
- An $.80/hour night differential and an $.80/hour weekend differential apply to worked shifts. When working a night shift on a weekend, the differentials will be combined for a total of $1.60/hour.
- The pay schedule and range is 05/32. Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction.
- A 12-month probationary period is required.
- Additional increases to the base pay are based on years of service following the structure below.
Job Details
All applicants who may be appointed to this position will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
All appointees will be required to receive a TB test, which will be administered by SRSTC or medical personnel approved by the facility after their start date.
Due to the nature of the position, individuals will be required to complete a physical ability verification. This includes but not limited to lifting a minimum of 30 lbs., squat, kneel, utilize stairs, drag up to 90 lbs., walk and run 200-meter distance.
Applicants would not be eligible if they were convicted of a Barred Crime (as defined by Wisconsin Statutes, s. 48.685 and s. 50.065, see chart below), or if they were convicted of a crime that is not listed below, but is substantially related to the position.
Wisconsin Statutes
Barred Crimes—Cannot hire caregivers convicted of these
940.01
First-degree intentional homicide
940.02
First-degree reckless homicide
940.03
Felony murder
940.12
Assisting suicide
940.19(2) through (6)
Battery (felony)
940.22(2) or (3)
Sexual exploitation by therapist; duty to report
940.225(1) (2) or (3)
First-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault
940.285
Abuse of vulnerable adults (misdemeanor or felony)
940.29
Abuse of residents of a penal facility
940.295
Abuse or neglect of patients and residents (misdemeanor or felony).
948.02(1) or (2)
First- or second-degree sexual assault of a child
948.025
Repeated acts of sexual assault of same child
948.03(2)(a) (b) or (c)
Physical abuse of a child—intentional causation of bodily harm
948.05
Sexual exploitation of a child
948.055
Causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity
948.06
Incest with a child
948.07
Child enticement
948.08
Soliciting a child for prostitution
948.11(2)(a) or (am)
Exposing a child to harmful material, descriptions, or narrations
948.12
Possession of child pornography
948.13
Child sex offender working with children
948.21(1)
Neglect of a child—resulting in death (felony)
948.30
Abduction of another’s child; constructive custody
Qualifications
Your resume and letter of qualifications should address the following qualifications:
At a minimum, you’ll need the following:
- Successful completion of the Academic Training Academy provided by the DOC Correctional Training Center, DHS Training Center, or other similar training.
- Experience demonstrating leadership amongst peers in a previous or current role (e.g., training, mentoring, facilitating conflict resolution, promoting a positive work environment, etc.).
- Experience or training responding to emergency situations.
It would also be great if you have one or more of the following:
- Experience working with a diverse multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population.
- Experience overseeing or following institutional operational procedures (e.g., conducting institutional counts, emergency counts, initiating emergency response teams, emergency dispatch, Federal mail, patient/inmate/client property, etc.).
Your letter of qualifications is limited to one (1) page. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.
Additional requirements include:
- Ability to meet the physical ability standards of this position described above.
- Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed including staying for the next shift (up to 16 hours total in one shift)
- Must meet the requirements of the State of Wisconsin Fleet Vehicle Policy which requires a valid driver’s license, minimum two years of driving experience, and must be 18 years of age or older. Additionally, the driving record must not reflect the following conditions: three or more moving violations and/or at fault accidents in the past two years, an OWI or DUI violation within the past 12 months, or suspension or revocation of the driver's license.
How To Apply
Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process. Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application.
Helpful Information:
- Once an application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
- You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
- Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above.
- Please monitor your email for communications related this position.
- Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
- If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.
- For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position or for other employment inquiries, please contact Katie in Human Resources at Katherine.hartmann@dhs.wi.gov
DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.
Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.
Deadline to Apply
The deadline to apply is February 4th at 11:59pm. Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is not available after 4:30 PM on the deadline date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Salary : $73,400