Detention Officer

Harris County Sheriff's Office • Tx 77002, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Harris County Sheriff's Office is hiring Detention Officers within its Criminal Justice Command. Detention Officers are responsible for maintaining care, custody, and control of individuals housed in the Harris County Jail, including people awaiting trial or commitment to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The position is civil service-protected. Employment begins on the first day of the required seven-week Basic Jailers Course at the Harris County Sheriff's Office Academy; successful completion of the course is required for continued employment. The agency provides the opportunity to obtain Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Corrections Officer (Jailers) Certification at no cost through the academy.

The position requires at least 40 hours of work per week and includes nights, weekends, and holidays. Mandatory overtime may be required to meet operational needs. Officers must maintain punctual and reliable attendance and follow departmental scheduling and reporting procedures. Work involves direct interaction with inmates, may take place under stressful conditions, and may involve exposure to communicable diseases or body fluids.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 18 years of age.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated citizenship exception for qualifying permanent legal residents who are honorably discharged U.S. military veterans with at least two years of active service and evidence of a citizenship application.
• Valid driver's license or state-issued identification.
• Correctable vision of 20/20 in both eyes, normal color vision, and peripheral vision.
• Correctable hearing within the normal audible range in both ears.
• Pass pre-employment written testing, which may assess spelling and vocabulary, reading comprehension, and attention to detail.
• Pass physical agility testing, including squats, walking lunges, and a 165-pound dummy drag.
• Pass a thorough background investigation, including criminal background check, fingerprinting, and personal interview.
• Pass a psychological evaluation and drug screening.
• Ability to stand for extended periods while observing and monitoring inmates, checking cells, and escorting inmates.
• Ability to bend, stoop, and kneel while searching under tables, beds, and mattresses.
• Finger dexterity and steady hands and arms to adjust knobs and switches and operate a computer keyboard.
• Eye, hand, and arm coordination to fingerprint individuals.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds when lifting and positioning a Scott Air Pack.
• Ability to climb stairs while moving within cell blocks.
• Successfully complete the seven-week Basic Jailers Course for continued employment.
• Ability to read and comprehend handwritten and printed materials, computer-screen information, and data; prepare legible, grammatically acceptable logs and reports; communicate with supervisors, coworkers, the public, and inmates; give verbal directions; and add and subtract for prisoner counts.
• Ability to detect abnormal inmate behavior, identify colors, hear alarms and communications over telephone and intercom, distinguish routine jail sounds from signs of improper behavior, and detect smoke, alcoholic beverages, or illegal drugs.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from a law enforcement high school program.
• Participation in a law enforcement Explorers program.
• Previous law enforcement or corrections work experience.
• Honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces.

Responsibilities

• Receive assignments, instructions, and direction from sergeants, lieutenants, and captains.
• Read pass-on logs and receive activity briefings from personnel ending their shift.
• Observe and monitor inmates and detect and deter improper or unacceptable behavior.
• Control and direct inmates outside their cells during transfers, work assignments, meals, recreation, and other activities.
• Book inmates into the Inmate Processing Center.
• Search individuals and jail cells for weapons or contraband.
• Prepare logs, records, and reports of jail activities.
• Perform other duties and assignments as required or necessary.
• Maintain punctual and reliable attendance and comply with departmental scheduling, call-in, and reporting procedures.

What This Job Offers

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