Correctional Officer

Terre Haute, IN
Vigo County Sheriff

Salary: $21.63 Hourly

Position Summary:

Incumbent serves as Correctional Officer for Vigo County Community Corrections, responsible for maintaining security and order within the Work Release facility.

Essential Functions:

  • Enforces local, state, and federal laws by implementing effective policy to protect the lives and property of the people.
  • Maintains interior security of facility, including monitoring surveillance cameras, door controls, meals, and visitors, conducting patrols and routine “shakedowns” of all cells/dormitories and searching residents for contraband. Maintains accurate accounting of all residents.
  • Monitors resident activities and behaviors, ensuring compliance with facility rules and regulations, and reporting all unusual activity and/or inmate grievances to appropriate Department staff.
  • Assists residents with modifying behavior by promoting and modeling positive social values, personal accountability, daily living skills, personal hygiene, and health care issues. Compiles and prepares reports and summaries of behavior/progress of residents for Courts and Department superiors.
  • Maintains order in common areas, such as showers, dining hall, dorm and dayroom and oversees residents in the performance of allowable activities, including making commissary purchases and telephone calls. Intervenes as per policy in critical incidents, preventing escape, injury, and/or property damage.
  • Distributes meals, supervises work details and other activities in and around facility, ensuring proper and timely completion.
  • Regularly inspects facility, ensuring security and cleanliness of all areas, and monitoring general health and welfare conditions of detainees. Issues prescribed medications according to physicians’ orders and assists in administering emergency first-aid measures as needed. Operates portable Alco sensor and collects drug screens as required.
  • Verifies resident release from facility for work, counseling, and approved requests, and checks residents in/out following prescribed procedures. Escorts residents to/from treatment providers, Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities, Court, medical facilities, and other sites as directed.
  • Answers telephone and greets facility visitors, providing information and assistance, taking messages and/or directing caller to appropriate individual or department. Responds to inquiries regarding individual residents and facility activities.
  • Maintains current knowledge of rules, regulations, and laws concerning Community Corrections operations and ensures program is compliant with guidelines established by Vigo County Advisory Board.
  • Attends in-service training as required.
  • Occasionally testifies in legal proceedings/court.
  • Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or GED.
  • Must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Possession of or ability to obtain required certifications and training, including, but not limited to, First Responder/CPR certification, and conflict de-escalation and defense tactics training.
  • Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of the customary practices, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Department, and take authoritative action as situations demand.
  • Working knowledge of and ability to make practical application of basic street slang and security threat groups (STG), conflict resolution, crisis intervention techniques, and safety hazard precautions.
  • Working knowledge of and ability to use all assigned Department equipment and weapons, including computer, calculator, copier, fax machine, printer, radio, breathalyzer, handcuffs, restraints, security panels, video monitoring, metal detector, medical blister packs, and fire suppression devices.
  • Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to complete required forms and reports within established Department deadlines.
  • Working knowledge of universal health precautions and bloodborne pathogens control, and ability to apply such knowledge to protect oneself against infection.
  • Working knowledge of radio frequencies, codes, procedures, and limitations and ability to speak clearly and distinctly, hear and be understood when communicating in person, by radio, or by telephone.
  • Ability to obtain and appy knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, ordinances, and accepted police procedures.
  • Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, law enforcement agencies, Department of Corrections, detainees and members of the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
  • Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
  • Ability to comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
  • Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including, everyday encounters with hostile/violent persons.
  • Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and follow oral and written instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
  • Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying apppropriate discretion and common sense.
  • Ability to perform essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of self and other individuals in the workplace.
  • Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, occasionally under time pressure, and on several tasks at hte same time.
  • Ability to compare, observe, analyze and evaluate data, and make determination s based on data analysis.
  • Ability to count/make simple arithmetic additions/subtractions.
  • Ability to apply knowledge of people/locations and utilize good judgment in extreme and uncommon situations.
  • Ability to work extended or irregular hours, evenings, and/or weekends as scheduled, and occasionally travel out of town for training and inmate transports, but not overnight.
  • Ability to occasionally respond to emergencies from an off-duty status.
  • Ability to testify in legal proceedings/court.
  • Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.