Detention Officer - Sheriff's Office

Detention Officer

Detention Officers supervise inmates who are confined 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Tarrant County Confinement system to ensure the safe keeping of all inmate property and maintain care for all persons in the custody of the Sheriff. This position may also perform basic administrative duties to arrange and coordinate the surrender and transfer to Tarrant County Texas of individuals accused or convicted of offenses outside the territory of the asylum state and within the territorial jurisdiction of Texas.

This position description applies to all TCSO Detention Officer positions and functions.

1. Performs required duties in all areas of assigned responsibilities
2. Maintains physical fitness required to perform essential job duties
3. Must immediately respond to emergency situations and routine drills
4. Must use reasonable force when necessary to prevent a direct threat to the health and safety of individuals in jail facilities
5. Supervises inmate feeding and monitors those with special dietary needs
6. Supervises the cleaning of jail housing area
7. Supervises inmate movement within the facility
8. Distributes mail, hygiene items and approved items to inmates
9. Supervises inmate recreational activities 10. Must be able to effectively utilize emergency equipment including all fire and emergency medical equipment (e.g., air packs, fire extinguisher, fire hoses, medical back boards, etc.) 11. Must work shift assigned 12. Enforces all applied rules and regulations of given position 13. Remains current on all departmental and bureau policies and procedures. Ensures that these policies are followed and applied 14.

Handles volatile situations quickly, responsively and professionally 15. Maintains control and custody of inmates during tour of duty 16. Maintains safety and security of facilities assigned 17. Completes mandatory paperwork relating to the custody and care of inmates 18. Produces legal documents required in daily performance of duties 19. Conducts security checks as required 20. Attends and completes all training required by statute or TCOLE to maintain required certification(s) and (licenses).

21. Performs all other related duties as assigned. SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES: SKILLS - For this position the following skills and abilities must be demonstrated by a level of proficiency or achieved within a normal and customary time period:
1. Must have good interpersonal and public relations skills.
2. Experience or training in public speaking desirable.
3. Must be able to understand, interpret and properly apply court orders, relevant State statutes and administrative rules including the Jail Standards, and other policies and procedures required to perform essential job duties of the position assigned.
4. Must be able to prepare official documents required to perform assigned functions including but not limited to forms, affidavits, incident reports, and inmate processing documents.
5. Must be proficient in the use of defensive tactics requiring physical force including the use of intermediate impact weapons and firearms if required. KNOWLEDGE – For this position the following knowledge is required to perform essential job functions relevant to assigned positions:
1. Must have the ability to obtain a working knowledge of the Jail Standards and other State statutes required in the performance of duties.
2. Must have the ability to obtain a working knowledge of applicable County policies including but not limited to TCSD Civil Service Rules, the Tarrant County Employee Handbook, TCSO policies and Confinement Standard Operating Procedures.
3. Must have the ability to obtain a working knowledge of department organization and functions.
4. Must have the ability to obtain a working knowledge needed to use basic word processing software and County and Jail information systems ABILITIES – For this position the following demonstrated abilities are required to effectively perform essential job functions:
1. Ability to control emotions and focus on professional duties and obligations in all circumstances regardless of provocations…