Detention Deputy -Trainee and Lateral

Maricopa County • Phoenix, AZ

1d • $27 - $36 • Onsite

About The Position

Trainees will earn $56,160.00 plus sign-on incentive in their first full year of employment! Laterals may earn up to $72,000+ in their first full year of employment, DOE. Applicants will be required to attend the Physical/Written assessment and Orientation on Friday, September 4th, 2026. An invitation to the physical/written assessment/orientation and instructions will be sent to the e-mail address provided on your application approximately 5 days prior to the scheduled assessment/orientation. Physical Readiness Assessment (PRA) Applicants must successfully demonstrate physical readiness by completing a series of assessments which consists of the following: 1. Agility Run – 27.1 seconds – Measures agility and coordination 2. Push-Ups – 5 with no time limit – Measures upper body dynamic strength 3. Sit-Ups – 13 in 1 minute – Measures abdominal muscular endurance 4. 1.5 Mile Run - 26 minutes, 10 seconds – Measures aerobic power & vascular endurance. Are you passionate about serving and protecting your community? Now is your chance to join the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) as a Detention Deputy! In this role, high importance is placed on ensuring public safety is provided and maintained by an individual who takes pride in their work and considers the impact of their actions on an individual, team and organizational level. We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal and customer service skills, the ability to effectively resolve conflict, and a desire for enhancing public safety. Ideal candidates will have a keen sense of emotional intelligence and be motivated by serving others and their community. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you...your adventure with MCSO awaits! To be part of our team as a Detention Deputy, you must: Be an effective communicator, even in the most challenging of situations. Care about the safety and well-being of others, both within and outside a jail setting. Respect all individuals regardless of background or socio-economic status. Embrace the concepts of integrity, accountability and transparency as core values. Collaborate with team members, supervisors and managers to forward the mission and vision of MCSO.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED, or are expected to graduate/receive GED within the next 90 days.
• Must be eighteen (18) years of age.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Applicants must possess, or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
• Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all applicants complete the following: background investigation; polygraph exam; medical exam with attestation of physical readiness and psychological exam.
• High School diploma or GED.
• Must have successfully completed at least a 8 week in person Arizona detention or corrections academy, or Correctional Officer Training Academy (COTA) and have prior experience (within the last 3 years) working as a detention or corrections officer for the State of Arizona, an Arizona city, county or town, or a private prison/detention center.
• Candidates who have completed at least 8 week in person detention/corrections academy outside the state of Arizona may also be considered. An evaluation of prior training and experience will determine if out of state candidates are eligible for the lateral position.
• Completed 40 hours of Defensive Tactics Training.
• OC spray certification.
• 2 consecutive years of Detention or Corrections Experience.
• Applicants must possess, or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
• Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all applicants complete the following: physical readiness assessment (PRA), a written examination, orientation, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological exam and medical exam.
• Knowledge of: Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling, rules of composition and grammar.
• Skill in: Using standard office equipment.
• Ability to: Read, learn, understand, apply and follow rules, regulations, instructions, jail practices and procedures.
• Ability to: Direct the activities of prisoners by speaking clearly and concisely in an authoritative manner.
• Ability to: Maintain accurate records and make routine verbal and written reports using concise and clear communication.
• Ability to: Distinguish between simultaneously sounding audio alarms for various devices, such as radio duress activations, PA systems, phone ringing, and perimeter alarm activations.
• Ability to: Distinguish color and shapes to identify items for inventory purposes.
• Ability to: Establish and maintain successful working relationships.
• Job requires the ability to work any shift due to detention facilities operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Job requires ability to: perform sprints, jumping and vaulting tasks; perform lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling; move quickly around objects and obstacles in pursuit situations; and pursue, extract and use force in both short intense effort and sustained effort situations.
• Perform lifting and carrying that may include lifting heavy and awkward objects weighing 50 lbs. or more; carrying heavy and awkward equipment and objects 10 to 60 ft.; and carrying equipment weighing 20 to 50 lbs. up and down stairs
• Perform dragging movements that may include extracting victims weighing up to 175 lbs. and dragging victims, objects or suspects weighing up to 175 lbs., 20 to 30 ft.
• Perform pushing and pulling that may include pushing heavy objects or people weighing up to 200 lbs., 10 to 25 ft.; pulling heavy objects or people weighing up to 150 lbs., 10 to 25 ft.; and pulling self over 6 ft. obstacle.
• Perform range of motion activities that may include bending to reach for objects; bending and twisting in use of force situations; crouching during movement of 10 to 15 ft.; and climbing ladders and fire escapes.
• Use force that may include self-defense situations for 45 to 60 seconds; control holds in self-defense situations for 30 to 60 seconds; strikes using hands, elbows, feet, and knees; use of intermediate impact weapons; and forced entry by pushing and pulling.
• Perform foot pursuits that may include running sprints of 100 feet or more; running for sustained periods, usually 300 feet but up to 5 minutes; running up and down stairs, usually 2 flights but may be up to 4 flights; run over uneven terrain; and dodge around obstacles.
• Work Environment: Indoors and outdoors. May encounter temperatures above 90 degrees and below 40 degrees
• Work Environment: Confined areas and use of stairs or ladders
• Work Environment: Exposure to chemical and fumes, smoke and dust, wet and damp areas
• Work Environment: Unprotected heights
• Work Environment: Exposure to high noise, dim and bright lighting
• Work Environment: May encounter exposure to contagious diseases
• Physical Environment: Sitting, standing and walking
• Physical Environment: Driving a vehicle
• Physical Environment: Speaking, hearing, seeing, and reading
• Physical Environment: Distinguishing colors
• Physical Environment: Bending, kneeling, and reaching
• Physical Environment: Twisting, climbing, crawling, crouching and balancing
• Physical Environment: Wearing protective gear
• Physical Environment: Precise dexterity
• Physical Environment: Physical restraining and running
• Physical Environment: Lifting floor to waist fifty (50) pounds
• Physical Environment: Lifting waist to shoulder of fifty (50) pounds
• Physical Environment: Lifting shoulder to overhead of fifty (50) pounds
• Physical Environment: Carrying a weight of up to fifty (50) pounds for a distance of various feet
• Physical Environment: Pushing/pulling a weight of up to 200 pounds for a distance of various feet
• Social Environment: Working in conditions involving emergencies and traumatic subject matters
• Social Environment: Dangerous environment
• Social Environment: Handling multiple or complicated tasks and frequently changing and unscheduled tasks
• Social Environment: Working under time pressures with constant interruptions
• Social Environment: High volume of work
• Social Environment: High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Social Environment: Decision making
• Social Environment: Concentration/vigilance
• Social Environment: Working in a team environment in close proximity with others
• Social Environment: May have to work in isolated conditions
• Social Environment: Isolation
• Social Environment: Public contact
• Social Environment: Overtime/rotating shifts
• Social Environment: Reassignment to different locations
• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive.

Nice To Haves

• Three (3) years of work experience, prior law enforcement experience, and/or prior military experience preferred.
• Currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to standards set by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST).
• Currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to standards set by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST).

Responsibilities

• Conducts security walks and head counts which involves standing, stair climbing, and walking for long periods of time.
• Performs facility and inmate cell searches which involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, lying down and crawling under bunks, lifting and climbing to reach all areas of the cell and facility including climbing ladders/stairs to reach overhead sky lights, attic crawl spaces, rooftops, etc.
• Performs searches of inmates and visitors which includes touching and feeling clothing to detect weapons and contraband; also includes the ability to squat, stoop, stretch, bend to floor level to search pant legs, socks, and shoes.
• Performs frisk and strip searches of inmates which includes visually observing unclothed inmates to detect weapons and contraband.
• Conducts continual visual surveillance of inmates and various areas of detention facilities which involves prolonged sitting, twisting, and bending to view various monitors.
• Provides inmate services such as recreation (spending several hours exposed to outdoor elements), serving meals, visitation, and clothing exchanges which involves lifting food trays, beverage containers, canteen bags, and bundles of laundry weighing up to 80 lbs. and requires bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Quickly selects and correctly operates appropriate buttons, touch screen control monitors, switches, and knobs used to control doors, sliders, and communication systems while maintaining emotional control under extreme stress.
• Pursues fleeing inmates on foot which involves running, climbing, jumping, bending, stooping, and crawling over a prolonged distance.
• Monitors and controls all activities regarding inmate movement which could include escorting/walking inmates for long distances to various locations within or outside of the jail facility.
• Uses body force, ranging from mild to extreme, to gain entrance through barriers to gain entrance through barriers to seize or rescue inmates.
• Subdues or restrains resisting inmates using hands and feet while employing defensive tactics or approved non-lethal weapons which may include kneeling, bending, or stooping as well as lifting the inmate following restraint.
• Responds quickly to emergency situations that may include physically restraining combative inmates, lifting and carrying inmates during a medical crisis; escorting inmates up and down stairs to evacuate areas while wearing emergency equipment; or putting on air pack for a fire emergency to enter smoke-filled areas appropriately by stooping or crawling, select and open fire extinguishers/hoses and physically removing inmates from danger, which may include dragging unconscious victims (averaging 180 pounds).
• Performs basic first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation which involves kneeling and bending.
• Gathers information for investigations by interviewing and obtaining the statements of the victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants.
• Appropriately utilizes technology to prepare electronic Operations Journal Entries (log book), or when necessary hand write information to produce legible reports, using standard grammar, punctuation, symbols, and simple mathematical functions.
• Inspect and inventories security equipment through testing which includes pressing buttons, turning switches, and lifting/turning equipment.
• Operates telephones, electronic equipment, fingerprint equipment, ADP time recorders/clocks, cameras, video recording devices, scanners, copiers, and fax machines which involve turning electronic knobs and typing for computer/data entry.
• Communicates effectively over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications, often under adverse conditions.
• Communicates verbally and effectively, in areas with the potential of high noise levels, by listening and providing information, direction and commands to inmates and/or the general public to manage interpersonal conflict and maintain order.
• Exercises independent judgment within legal guidelines which involves reading and comprehending rules, regulations, policies and procedures for purpose of insuring appropriate officer behavior/response involving the general public.
• Subdues resisting inmates using approved non-lethal weapons, i.e., pepper spray (chemical discharge containing Oleo resin capsicum), and conducted electrical weapon (short duration exposure containing 50,000 volts and up to .004 amps).
• Manually unlocks and opens 8' X 12' metal gates to allow vehicles to enter the jail grounds.
• Ability to work any shift due to detention facilities operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with regular days off generally being any two consecutive days during the week.
• Performs perimeter checks in a vehicle and/or on foot.
• Provides courtroom security and document judicial information, i.e. bond information, sentence, and release information.
• Inventories inmate belongings such as clothing and personal property for transport to other facilities which involves standing for long periods of time, lifting, and climbing a ladder while carrying semi-heavy bags of clothing.
• Ensures legal documentation pertinent to an arrest/release is complete and provided to the appropriate departments/divisions/units, i.e. court, court desk, facility which involves proofreading, standing for long periods of time and communication with outside agencies including police and probation departments.
• Uses a computerized cash accounting system to maintain an accurate account of inmates' funds; may be required to open or close an account which involves sitting for extended periods of time and having the ability to use the computer and other electronic equipment.
• Be present at work site to perform assigned tasks at the times and dates scheduled/assigned by the supervisor.

Benefits

• Paid training.
• A stable environment.
• Great benefits.
• Flexibility and generous leave.
• An opportunity to serve your community as part of a diverse and talented workforce.
• New Sign-On Incentive of $7,500

What This Job Offers

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