Detention Officer

Job Purpose

The purpose of this position is to provide care, custody, and control of inmates, ensuring the safety and security of the facility, staff, inmates, and the public. The role monitors inmate behavior, supplies food and medical care, processes bookings and releases, maintains detainee property and paperwork, and keeps the facility sanitary and operational.

This position does not supervise other employees.

• Observe inmates for rule violations and behavioral changes; maintain appropriate use‑of‑force continuum as needed.
• Schedule, supervise, and control inmate activities; maintain discipline; diffuse potentially violent situations; physically restrain or escort inmates as required.
• Supervise safety and security of staff, inmates, visitors, and facilities; promote acceptable attitudes and monitor inmate behavior.
• Conduct constant inspections to ensure areas are safe, secure, sanitary, and free of contraband.
• Provide inmate care: dispense and oversee meals, administer medications, enforce hygiene and shower schedules, coordinate medical, counseling, personal, and other appointments, and arrange transportation and court appearances.
• Process bookings, conduct searches and tests, inventory inmate property, and maintain related records.
• Process authorized releases: return property, notify victims, verify documentation, and file records with appropriate divisions.
• Maintain files, records, event logs, charts, and other documents; prepare reports as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position has no responsibility over any budget.

This position does not have project responsibilities.

• Oral:
  Train colleagues and explain procedures or processes.
• Written:
  Create or edit documents, internal memos, emails, and reports.

Interacts regularly with internal coworkers and other department personnel via telephone, email, or in person; incidental contact with the public may occur.

High School Diploma or GED.

Six (6) months relevant experience.

• Within one year of hire, complete the Detention Officer Basic Course presented by the Arizona Detention Academy and pass the semi‑annual firearms course with assigned duty firearms. Failure to complete the course within one year results in termination.
• Maintain certification in CPR and other duty‑specific equipment and weapons.
• Possess and maintain a valid Driver’s License.

First Aid, CPR, or Lifeguard procedures; public safety and security; transportation; law enforcement; emergency management;
English language and composition; federal, state, and local laws and regulations; defensive tactics.

Effective negotiation, persuasion, analysis of complex detention issues, solution development, law interpretation, diplomacy, fairness, firmness, sound judgment, accurate reporting, and interaction with diverse populations.

Communicate verbally and in writing; make independent judgment; multitask and maintain composure in stressful situations. Manage inmate communication and mediation; escort inmates; operate computers and specialized software; handle weapons, restraints, locks, keys, and chemical agents; remain alert and react calmly in emergency situations.

• Constantly stand to perform public safety duties and attend to customers.
• Constantly sit to complete reports and operate computers.
• Lift under 10 lbs; regularly lift up to 25 lbs; rarely lift over 75 lbs.
• Require dexterity for peacekeeping tools and keyboard operation.
• Walk between work sites, bend to reach and grab; occasionally kneel or twist.

Work in a jail and correctional facility environment with intense concentration on surrounding activities. Exposure to personal danger, hazardous conditions, and the need to subdue hostile individuals. Must work in uniform during all shifts.

Potential exposure to verbal abuse, physical danger, mechanical, chemical, electrical hazards,…