Correction Officer

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As public servants, correction/jail officers employed by the Suffolk County Sheriff must conduct themselves in an exemplary manner both on and off duty. They must know and scrupulously observe the Department's standards of employee conduct.

Officers ensure the care, custody and control of inmates in accordance with Department policies and procedures. To provide such care, officers must tour assigned areas (which requires them in some cases to periodically climb approximately 10-15 stairs); observe inmate activity in person and on closed‑circuit monitors; identify inmates who have behavioral, medical or other problems so that appropriate safety and security measures may be taken;

and perform general security duties to prevent escape, disorder, rule infractions and harm to inmates, visitors and staff. The general security duties performed by officers require them to search inmates, visitors, cells and other areas for weapons and contraband; monitor and regulate inmate and staff movement; maintain and record inmate counts, cell assignments and other pertinent information; escort inmates within and outside the institution;

use and maintain keys and other equipment; and supervise inmate work details. Specific security duties vary by post assignment. Depending on post assignment, both the general and specific security duties range from sedentary to very active in nature.

Officers are supervised and directed by superior officers and must be able to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions. They are required to prepare accurate written reports and communicate orally and in writing with their superior officers, inmates and staff. If so directed, officers must respond to emergency situations, including incidents involving inmate violence. Depending on assignment, they must be able to respond to such situations by employing emergency equipment, restraints, weapons (including, in certain limited circumstances, firearms) and force when necessary.

They must also lift equipment, perform assisted lifting of inmates, exercise sound judgment, and work under pressure in stressful situations.

All officers must participate in training and may be eligible for special, temporary, and/or provisional assignments and duties. Such assignments and duties include transportation, maintenance, entrance control, public affairs, communications, key control, warehouse receiving, property, booking, field supervision, gang intelligence, kitchen, and canteen management.

In keeping with the requirements of both federal and state laws, it is the policy of the Suffolk County Sheriff to make reasonable accommodations to any employee’s physical restrictions, whether arising out of a work‑related incident or not, and no post or position is exempt from consideration; the specific accommodations of course depend on the employee’s specific physical restrictions.

The rank of officer is the initial rung in a chain‑of‑command ladder that culminates in the Superintendent, who has overall responsibility for the institution. Officers work under the direct supervision of a sergeant and/or one or more corporals who review work for compliance with regulations. Officers also work under the general supervision of Lieutenants and Captains, one of whom is the Shift Commander and the official responsible for the actions and performance of all uniformed officers assigned to a particular shift.