Correction Officer

This Required Form must be UPLOADED into your application in the Attachments Section as the HCSO Required Forms when applying for a Sheriff’s Office position

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, include the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics listed below. This list of responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Summary

Under administrative supervision, the Corrections Officer performs duties to ensure the safety and security of all inmates and staff in the jail facility. This position maintains that level of security while conducting the operations of the jail at the County Sheriffs Office. This position affects the operation of the Sheriff’s Office as well as the well being of inmates, county employees and the public. The work involves addressing a variety of problems and situations. The Corrections officer must have a strong work ethic. The Corrections Officer must follow directions, meet deadlines, have good attendance, be punctual, be reliable, have honesty, integrity, be free from moral turpitude and have a proper attitude.

Individuals in this position serve at the pleasure of the current elected official.

• Assures the services delivered by the Sheriff’s Office meet quality and timeliness standards
• Monitors cameras to observe inmate movement and interaction and document any unusual occurrences
• Controls doors throughout the facility to control access into and out of various parts of the facility
• Communicates with inmates to provide and receive information
• Maintains daily activity log for succeeding shifts
• Transfers inmates to and from Bonding to other areas within the Jail
• Receives criminal histories of inmates
• Conducts headcounts of inmates in their daily activities of recreation, work, and other multiple locations
• Maintains constant vigilance for unusual or questionable activity by inmates
• Assists other officers as needed
• Releases inmates to work releases and checks work release inmates back into the facility
• Delivers inmate food trays and picks them up at the end of meal periods
• Receives and delivers inmate request forms, including visitation, commissary, medical, and other requests
• Conducts pat downs of incoming arrestees for security and safety of inmates and staff
• Obtains personal information on inmates for booking process including medical history, suicidal tendencies, next of kin, place of birth, tattoos, address, phone, and other related information
• Updates information and processes arrestees into the jail
• Photographs and fingerprints arrestees and inmates for local and out of county agencies
• Assists Judge in magistration by preparing proper forms and rosters
• Prepares necessary paperwork and interviews inmates for criminal history, violent and aggressive tendencies, escape history, etc. to determine the most suitable housing assignment
• Locates appropriate inmates for assignment to trustee position (inmate worker)
• Enters data into inmate classification files
• Updates and produces various lists, documents and forms maintained on the computer
• Resolves disputes involving inmates
• Maintains inmate phone system as directed
• Provides a uniform procedure of inmate visitation so all inmates that have completed the policy requirements may have visitors
• Answers and files requests from inmates pertaining to visitation
• Provides for the safety and security of inmates and staff by ensuring the care, custody and control of the inmate and protecting the inmate from themselves and others
• May operate the commissary funds by making deposits and withdrawals from inmate accounts as they order commissary items and invoices inmates accounts for payments while ensuring total accuracy by balancing accounts daily
• Delivers commissary items to inmates
• May make bank deposits, write checks and balances checking accounts
• May account for and handle petty cash as needed
• Provides the equipment and supplies needed to maintain a clean environment to which to live
• Prohibits the growth and spread of disease, varmints, rodents, and parasites
• May supervise the Jail laundry ensuring clothing and other articles are washed, disinfected, and clean on a regular basis promoting a clean work environment for fellow employees and inmates
• Escorts inmates to see family members in emergency situations, including critical illness, death, funeral, and other similar situations as well as scheduled doctor and dentist appointments, warrants, court commitments, hospitals, and other locations as authorized
• Visually checks inmates and provides safety measures for inmates while working grounds maintenance outside the facility proper and directs inmates in the conduct of work to be performed
• Provides meals for the inmates while on ground maintenance details and works with classification officers to decide who may go outside the jail setting to work grounds maintenance
• Assists inmates with daily work assignments and solves problems and answers questions from inmates
• Catalogues and processes evidence to make sure the chain of custody is followed and items are stored in accordance with policies and procedures
• Keeps records on evidence and property and files proper records to place property tags with case files and property control sheets
• Researches cases and dispositions
• Photographs and fingerprints the public for job requirements, concealed weapon permits, and other related requirements
• Picks up inmate mail from each picket and delivers mail to the post office
• Delivers inner office mail to and from the Sheriff’s Office and Government Center
• Screens incoming mail to inmates for contraband
• Logs incoming legal mail for attorneys, courts, Department of Justice, and other similar reasons
• Responds directly to inmate requests to provide assistance, as needed using in-house or referral sources
• Communicates via telephone with the public answering their questions
• Releases inmates on their scheduled release date after verifying that it is the inmates release date
• Accepts cash bonds, surety bonds, attorney bonds, out-of-county bonds and fine money and releases inmates upon receipt of the appropriate bond
• Requires the employee to be able to render credible testimony in any court proceeding to include Justice Courts, County Courts, District Courts and any U.S. Federal Court
• Performs other duties as assigned

• High School diploma or GED
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to the required education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job
• Experience in corrections preferred

• Licensed TCOLE Basic Jailer must be obtained within one year of hire date in position
• Ability to maintain continuing education requirements as outlined by TCOLE
• Class C TX driver’s license
• Must be 20 years of age
• Must pass typing test at 15 WPM