Correctional Officer

Job Summary:
Establishes secure and safe environment for inmates and staff within state correctional guidelines. The primary focus of the position is to maintain an atmosphere that ensures the legal responsibilities to inmates and the safety of the public.

Essential Functions:

Conducts daily oversight of inmates and facilities, including observation, control, confinement, and counsel.

Provides all daily necessities for inmates’ meals and hygiene; keeps utensil count to make sure all items are returned.

Provides prescribed medications and facilitates medical care when needed.

Completes routine and specific searches of facility, grounds, inmates’ property, and inmates as needed.

Provides transport as necessary for inmates within the Detention Center or to Court or medical appointments.

Clears all civilian visitors, County maintenance staff and vendors; accepts deliveries.

Monitor, defuse or break up verbal and physical conflicts among inmates.

Ensures access to legal materials and visits from legal counsel.

Provides security for legal visits and family/friend visitation.

Oversees inmate activities: recreational yard, library, law library.

Processes, classifies, and fingerprints new inmates; releases inmates only when authorized documentation is presented.

Keeps detailed account of all weapons, keys, and security devices.

Performs regular, documented checks in all living quarters, and maintains constant watch on high security inmates.

Maintains facility cleanliness through scheduled inmate work details; notes needed repairs.

Maintains detailed and accurate records of inmates and their histories, inmate counts, materials inventories, and logs of all actions during work shifts.

Performs other duties as required.

Supervision:

The position reports to the Corporal. The position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Communications Skills: Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with correctional officers and other staff, county and state officials, other law enforcement officers, inmates, and their legal counsel/family/friends. Ability to write clearly and informatively; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, government officials and the public, especially victims of crime. Be able to work all shifts and be subject to 24-hour’s notice call into work.

Customer Service Skills: Represents the department professionally and effectively in both internal and external interactions. Manages difficult, emotional, or challenging situations successfully. Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of cultural background, status, or position. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views.

Innovation and Change Management Skills: Responds positively to changes in procedures or equipment. Adapts behaviors in response to new or changing work situations. Presents ideas and information in a manner that is easily understood by coworkers and the public.

Technical Skills: Effectively utilizes security, fingerprint scanners and communication equipment. Ability to deal with persons displaying asocial and antisocial behavior; to write and complete concise reports; to deal with situations requiring tact, diplomacy, understanding, fairness, firmness, and good judgment; to accurately interpret and properly enforce institutional rules and regulations; to remember names; and to learn rapidly to minimize the need for constant supervision.

Computer Related Skills: Ability to work with the internet for basic research; Microsoft Office skills and use of law enforcement or criminal justice databases.

Additional Requirements, must:

Be at least 18 years of age;

Be able to pass a criminal background check, urinalysis test, and psychological examination;

Be able to safely operate agency vehicles including transporting inmates.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma required.

Six months to one-year related experience.

Or equivalent technical training, education, or experience.

Valid Maryland driver’s license and an acceptable motor vehicle record.

Corrections Certification required or able to complete within one year of hire.

Firearms Qualification (Annual) required.

CPR/AED /First Aid Certification required.

Non-Lethal Force Certification preferred.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
Work is conducted in a variety of settings which can include potential interactions with violent, mentally, or physically ill inmates. Routinely requires lifting of moderately heavy items and/or long periods of walking or standing. Work requires special safety precautions, e.g.: working around firearms, soiled materials, airborne or blood-borne pathogens, chemical substances, and adverse weather conditions. Protective gear may be needed.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g.: use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls and observance of fire regulations.

Benefits

Vacation, Sick, and Personal Leave

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Long-Term Disability & Short-Term Disability Coverage

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

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The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.

This and all County positions are subject to transfer, based on need.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Kent County Government provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.