Corrections Lieutenant

Job Details

Job : 32959
Agency: Department of Corrections - Rapid City Minimum Center
Location: Rapid City, SD
Salary: $30.00 to $33.00 per hour, depending on experience
Pay Grade: GI
Closing Date: 09/30/2025

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Corrections. For more information on the Department of Corrections, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). .

The South Dakota Department of Corrections is hiring! Join the DOC - view DOC Recruitment video here:

This position enforces Department of Corrections policies and correctional institution implementation adjustments (IA s) and procedures by scheduling and supervising correctional personnel and controlling and monitoring inmate activities to maintain security and safety for offenders and employees.

Corrections Lieutenants supervise an assigned area of a correctional institution, and the correctional personnel and offender assigned to that area. This position makes determinations on immediate disciplinary actions on offenders for policy, operational post orders, and procedure infractions affecting the security of the institution and serves as institution s ranking officer on night shift and on weekends.

Functions include scheduling correctional staff, enforcing policies and IA s and procedures, determining appropriate actions in emergencies, supervising staff, conducting interviews, providing training, approving leave, addressing staff problems, and maintaining security and records. The lieutenant may direct offender counts, coordinate searches, arbitrate disputes, conduct drills and staff training, and manage offender movement and intake processes. They may serve as Disciplinary Hearing Officer and respond to security and emergency situations.

They may work with a K9 unit and support administrative tasks to ensure efficient facility management.

• successfully pass all modules of the South Dakota Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics and firearms/armed transport curriculum;
• possess the physical ability to successfully complete Defensive Tactics;

• lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
• use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows;
• withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows;
• rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic;
• get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions;

• will be exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum during Basic Training and will be exposed while on assignment;
• must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety and security;
• seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
• demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
• must be able to work 12 hour rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends;
• work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;
• deal with individuals with a range of moods and behaviors, utilizing tactfulness and a congenial, personable manner;
• work with people of the opposite sex, diverse racial ethnic groups, mentally ill and emotionally disturbed offenders;
• communicate by talking, listening and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information, assignments;
• work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
• willing and able to travel;
• willing and able to work various shifts, days, afternoons, graveyards (nights) which includes a rotating shift schedule;
• TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
Three (3) years of progressively responsible corrections experience working directly with offenders to include at least one (1) year in a supervisory role (Sergeant or higher) supervising correctional staff.

- OR -

A combination of education (Criminal Justice, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or similarly related field) and experience as defined above equal to three (3) years.

Corrections-related experience is defined as experience in which the employee provided a direct service to/with clients detained against their will such as custody/control, teaching, social work, nursing, food service, and general maintenance; or supervised offenders in the implementation of a program such as correctional industries. This experience is not typically earned in clerical support programs.

NOTE: Entry level officers and clerical support experience does not have the authority outlined in the minimum qualifications to perform components of offender management as it relates to classification hearings, ICC,…