Corrections Officer - Experienced CO's Desired

Marathon County • Wausau, WI

6d • $28 - $29 • Onsite

About The Position

Marathon County Human Resources, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office, is recruiting Corrections Officers for current vacancies. Officers ensure the safety and supervision of inmates at the Marathon County Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, facilities that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The work involves maintaining secure, safe, and sanitary conditions and may involve an element of danger. Officers must be able to work in all facility areas and may assist with Classification and Court Officer duties.

Employees work 12-hour shifts on a rotating 2-on/2-off, 3-on/2-off, 2-on/3-off schedule, which provides every other weekend off as a three-day weekend. Employees are not forced to work on their off days. The schedule includes holidays. New hires are typically assigned to the night shift, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Work is performed according to established policies and procedures, with some independent judgment used to monitor inmate behavior. Direct supervision is provided by supervisors or higher-ranking officers, and work is reviewed through observation and inspection.

The position offers a 14-week paid training program and an additional five weeks of paid training for state certification requirements during the first year. Other opportunities include special team assignments, such as the Dive and Crisis Negotiations Teams, and a team-driven work environment. Compensation starts at $27.61 per hour with County benefits. Lateral transfers with three or more years of prior experience may qualify for up to $29.01 per hour with County benefits.

New employees meet the definition of Jailer and are eligible for Jailer protective status in the Wisconsin Retirement System. Protective status involves a higher pre-tax contribution rate, eligibility to retire at an earlier age, and participation in the Duty Disability Insurance Program. New hires have one opportunity to opt out of protective status and elect General Jailer status within 60 days of hire; the election is irrevocable for the employee’s lifetime with Marathon County.

The selection process may include assessment of education and background, an oral interview, reference review, an extensive background investigation, and other job-related procedures. Candidates offered employment must satisfactorily complete post-offer medical and physical/back examinations, a psychological assessment, drug screening, and fingerprinting, paid for by the County. The classification may involve occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Have no unpardoned felony convictions or convictions for offenses that could be punished as felonies in Wisconsin.
• Have no convictions for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in 18 USC 921(a)(33), domestic abuse as defined in § 968.075(1)(a), Wis. Stats., or a crime subject to the domestic abuse surcharge under § 973.055(4), Wis. Stats.
• Be of good character and free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition that might adversely affect the ability to perform the duties.
• After the appropriate training period, know departmental rules, regulations, and statutes concerning custody and discipline of adult or juvenile inmates and operation of the assigned facility.
• Have working knowledge of police arrest procedures and juvenile intake procedures.
• Be able to detect potential hazards and dangers to inmate or facility security and safety.
• Be able to deal firmly with potentially dangerous people while remaining aware of their personal needs.
• Be able to maintain a calm demeanor in highly emotional and stressful situations and act quickly and appropriately in emergencies.
• Be able to observe and accurately interpret inmate mental and physical conditions and behavior.
• Be able to deal firmly and tactfully with the public, including lawyers, doctors, law enforcement officers, and inmates’ families.
• Be able to understand and implement oral and written instructions, maintain accurate records, learn to use a computer terminal, and operate facility communications and emergency equipment.
• Be able to contribute to a positive work culture that supports customer service and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

• Work experience involving direct care and safety of inmates in a correctional setting, residents in a group or shelter home, or patients in a secured institutional facility.
• Previous law enforcement experience.
• Related education, including an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Rotate assignments among the floor, housing control, central control, booking, escort/transportation, and Huber/home monitoring duties.
• Receive arrested, detained, or sentenced persons and book inmates according to established procedures.
• Maintain the security of adult or juvenile inmates and the facility through direct supervision and periodic checks of housing blocks.
• Complete inmate population counts, security logs, and incident reports as needed.
• Enforce facility policies, search cells as necessary, and report discrepancies to supervisors for disciplinary review.
• Deliver meals, prescribed medications, linens, mail, and canteen items to inmates.
• Escort inmates within the facility for attorney and probation visits, court appearances, sick call, and programs, and outside the facility for court appearances, medical appointments, and other needs.
• Operate electronically controlled doors, monitor closed-circuit cameras and alarms, and dispatch staff to areas of need.
• Monitor vehicles entering the secure garage and visitors in secure areas.
• Operate TIME systems computers and other central-control equipment and maintain security of the central-control area.
• Complete required documentation and process bonding before releasing inmates.
• Monitor Huber inmates’ arrival and departure times and search inmates returning to the facility.
• Guard inmates receiving medical care when assigned hospital duty.
• Use passive countermeasures and control alternatives when interacting with combative inmates, as required.
• Develop solutions to work issues that add value for customers.
• Participate in setting professional development goals that support broader County goals.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance and work overtime or extra hours as required.
• Perform related work as required.

Benefits

• County benefits.
• 14-week paid training program.
• Additional five weeks of paid training for state certification requirements within the first year.
• Access to special team assignments, including Dive and Crisis Negotiations Teams.
• Wisconsin Retirement System Jailer protective status, including participation in the Duty Disability Insurance Program and eligibility to retire at an earlier age.
• Post-offer medical and physical/back examinations, psychological assessment, drug screening, and fingerprinting paid for by the County.

What This Job Offers

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