Correctional Officer

State of Iowa • Mount Pleasant - 52641 - Henry County, IA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa DOC mission is ‘Creating Opportunities for Safer Communities’, and at Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility (MPCF), or mission is, ‘Helping People Become Their Best’. As a Correctional Officer you can help make a positive impact in incarcerated individuals lives and our community by supporting, motivating and influencing change in others. At MPCF you will be a part of a diverse team of employees working toward helping reintegrate individuals back into the neighborhoods of Iowa. If you see yourself as a positive role model and find fulfillment in helping others, this is the position for you! Available shifts are 2pm - 10pm and/or 10pm-6am. The Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility has a long history of helping people since 1861. Both staff and incarcerated individuals have opportunities to give back to the local surrounding communities through collaborative programs. MPCF is a minimum custody, male facility, that houses approximately 1150 incarcerated individuals. We are focused on re-entry efforts by providing treatment, work, education and apprenticeship opportunities to help with the success of our individuals returning to our communities.

Requirements

• Ability to use interpersonal skills and appropriate communication to provide corrective action and guidance to incarcerated individuals while maintaining a safe environment
• Listen openly to incarcerated individual questions or grievances to help resolve or refer problems/issues to appropriate staff
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work without supervision and to make appropriate decisions
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize and be flexible in work
• Ability to work with outside agencies, co-workers, incarcerated individuals and the public in a professional manner
• Possess creative thinking, self-confidence and strong role-modeling
• Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency
• Must be able to successfully pass psychological tests
• Must be able to successfully pass a background investigation check
• Must be able to successfully pass a post-offer health screen administered by an institutional physician
• Must be able to successfully pass a urinalysis screen for drugs
• Must complete all new employee training during the probationary period, including local orientation, new employee orientation, and emergency preparedness training

Nice To Haves

• Opportunities to provide input into the treatment of incarcerated individuals through reporting observations to other team members and departments such as treatment, medical and education
• Opportunities to make an impact on the lives of incarcerated individuals who are going through a more difficult moment in their lives
• Opportunities for professional development, personal growth and skill development through continuous training
• Opportunities to join specialty teams such as Crisis Negotiation or Crisis Emergency Response
• Opportunities for promotion
• Applicants may be required to obtain a Commercial Driver's License and endorsements within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Providing security and care to incarcerated individuals
• Ensuring incarcerated individual and staff safety
• Enforcing rules and regulations
• Maintaining order
• Escorting individuals
• Supervising other activities and programs as required
• Patrols facilities and makes security checks
• Inspects all areas of the institution (control center, cell areas, rooms, halls, dormitories, recreation/work areas and grounds) for safety/security deficiencies
• Searches individuals, vehicles, packages, mail, equipment, clothing and living areas for contraband items
• Verifies incarcerated individual population in an assigned area at regular/irregular intervals and participates in incarcerated individuals counts
• Observes incarcerated individuals' behavior/interaction with staff, other incarcerated individuals, and visitors
• Continuously interacts with incarcerated individuals, assisting in the development of problem-solving skills, providing positive reinforcement when appropriate, and instituting corrective measures (informal counseling or sanctions, formal disciplinary action, or physical force) when necessary and as authorized by law/policy
• Instructs incarcerated individuals in policy, procedure, expectations, and assists incarcerated individuals in the development of attitudes and skills necessary for successful adaptation to life within an institution
• Supervises incarcerated individuals work assignments and evaluates work performance

Benefits

• health insurance
• dental insurance
• flexible spending account
• life insurance
• Bi-weekly vacation accrual
• separate sick leave
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions
• Employee discount programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, to name a few)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED