Correctional Officer

Minnehaha County•Sioux Falls, SD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is hiring Correctional Officers to work in its jail and contribute to public safety. The role involves maintaining a safe, secure, and orderly facility while treating inmates, staff, and the public professionally and respectfully. Officers conduct counts, wellness checks, inspections, and security rounds; respond to emergencies; use crisis-intervention and de-escalation techniques; and oversee daily activities and inmate movement. Officers also handle intake and release, fingerprinting and photography, inmate property, records and documentation, NCIC checks, warrants and protection orders, communications equipment, mail, and supplies. The position includes 11 weeks of paid classroom and on-the-job training, including Crisis Intervention Training. Training and successful completion lead to several listed certifications. Officers work 12-hour shifts, 15 shifts per month, with year-long rotations and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays off every other week. The recruitment may also be used to staff Correctional Systems Operator positions at a lower pay grade. The 2027 hiring range is $28.40 to $31.31 per hour, with earning potential up to $42.08 per hour. The posting describes opportunities for pay increases, a night-shift differential, bilingual specialty pay, and potential retention bonuses for newly hired Juvenile Correctional Officers who meet eligibility requirements. The job offers opportunities for special assignments and promotion within the Jail Division and, for some officers, advancement to Deputy Sheriff in the Patrol Division.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and one year of relevant work experience; a comparable combination of education and work experience may be considered.
Valid driver's license and maintenance of a safe driving record with Minnehaha County.
Successful completion of the pre-employment background process.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to maintain credibility as a witness in court.
Ability to make appropriate decisions quickly, with tact and impartiality.
Ability to learn and apply law-enforcement operations policies and procedures.
Ability to perform physical restraint techniques as instructed.
Ability to build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues, other agencies, and the public.
Professional appearance and respectful, approachable communication.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
Experience working in corrections.
Knowledge of legal terminology.

Responsibilities

Conduct inmate head counts, wellness checks, cell inspections, and security rounds throughout the jail and perimeter.
Respond to emergencies and use crisis-intervention and de-escalation techniques, including in mental-health situations.
Oversee inmate intake and release, fingerprinting and photographing, property management, and accurate, secure documentation.
Supervise recreation, meals, medication distribution, visitations, and inmate movement.
Conduct NCIC checks, manage warrants and protection orders, and support inmates' access to programs and services.
Handle communications equipment; log movement and activity; distribute mail and supplies; and maintain detailed records.
Help maintain a secure and respectful environment for inmates, staff, and the public.
Apply facility policies and procedures and make timely, tactful, and impartial decisions.
Perform physical restraint techniques as instructed to protect inmates and others.

Benefits

Potential retention bonuses for eligible newly hired Juvenile Correctional Officers: $1,000 at 9, 18, 27, and 36 months of service, subject to performance and program eligibility requirements.
Night-shift differential of $1.00 per hour.
Bilingual specialty pay of $0.50 per hour for officers who pass a bilingual exam.
Paid 11-week classroom and on-the-job training.
Annual confidential mental-health visits, with additional sessions available to officers and family members.
Access to financial resources, legal advisors, work and lifestyle support, and educational resources.
Onsite workout facility, gym reimbursement, wellness challenges, and health and fitness education.
Generous paid time off and extended sick leave.
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
Retirement through the South Dakota Retirement System, providing lifetime income throughout retirement.
Regular opportunities for pay increases, including up to 5% increases after the first, second, and third years in addition to annual increases.