Head Correction Officer - Community Corrections - POLE III

Tippecanoe County Government•Lafayette, IN

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Incumbent serves as Head Correction Officer for Tippecanoe County Community Corrections Work Release program, responsible for directly supervising shift operations and assigned personnel. This position oversees facility operations, ensuring compliance with rules, regulations, and legal standards. The role involves supervising and directing work release program participants, including scheduling work and leave, orienting new participants, maintaining records, providing meals, and distributing medications. It also includes supervising and directing assigned personnel, performing intake procedures, conducting searches, managing participant compliance, inspecting living quarters, maintaining facility security, and communicating with various stakeholders.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED with Associate’s degree in related area or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain required certifications, such as First Aid/CPR, Taser, OC Spray, and/or Firearms.
Ability to meet all Department hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test, background check, and polygraph examination.
Working knowledge of standard policies and practices of legal process, with ability to effectively apply and enforce applicable policies and procedures, complete required case reports, make recommendations to court, and apply and adapt procedures as cases demand.
Working knowledge of and ability to properly use all assigned Departmental uniforms and/or equipment, including but not limited to computer, printer, calculator, metal detector, body scanner, mechanical hand restraints, breathalyzer, cameras, radio, telephone, video surveillance cameras, and electronic locking devices.
Working knowledge of radio frequencies, codes, procedures and limitations; ability to properly operate and maintain all assigned vehicles, equipment, and supplies.
Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to prepare documents, forms, correspondence, and detailed reports within established Department deadlines.
Ability to effectively resolve emergency/crisis situations and take appropriate action as required, including effectively communicating with incensed participants and resolving situations using motivational interviewing and de-escalation techniques.
Ability to obey all written and oral orders and directives from department superiors.
Ability to perform essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of oneself and other individuals in the workplace.
Ability to protect oneself from infectious diseases by avoiding high-risk environments and by having knowledge of and utilizing universal health precautions.
Ability to deal swiftly, rationally, and decisively with potentially violent individuals in precarious situations, and take authoritative action applying appropriate discretion and common sense.
Ability to remain alert and respond to problems, emergencies, and safety or security violations, such as rule infractions, conflicts between residents, employment conflicts, attempted escapes and walk-away, irrational or inappropriate behavior and illnesses, and take appropriate action and/or discipline residents as appropriate.
Ability to supervise and direct assigned personnel, including interviewing applicants, making hiring recommendations, orienting new employees, planning/delegating/controlling work assignments, providing training and corrective instruction, evaluating work performance, and maintaining discipline.
Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, Police and Sheriff’s Departments, clients, social agencies, employers, victims and their families, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including encounters with hostile/violent individuals.
Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, often working under pressure and on several tasks at the same time.
Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
Ability to speak clearly and distinctly, hear and be heard and understood when communicating in person, by radio, and/or by telephone.
Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and a demonstrated safe driving record.

Responsibilities

Oversees facility operations, ensuring compliance with rules, regulations, and legal standards.
Supervises and directs work release program participants, including scheduling/verifying work and other leave from the facility, orienting new participants, maintaining detailed records, providing participants with meals, and distributing medications.
Maintains logs of activities performed and prepares reports as required.
Records and reports inappropriate behavior to appropriate Department personnel.
Supervises and directs assigned personnel, including interviewing applicants, making hiring recommendations, orienting new employees, planning/delegating/controlling work assignments, providing training and corrective instruction, evaluating work performance, maintaining discipline, answering questions, and solving problems.
Approves or denies time off requests, monitors staffing levels, and processes timecards for assigned personnel.
Performs intake procedures of participants, including entering required information in computer, receiving and receipting money and personal property, and ensuring participants are changed into proper uniform and searched for weapons and other contraband.
Conducts random strip searches, pat downs, and body scanner searches upon participants’ return to facility.
Receipts payments from participants for fees, meals, and phone cards.
Monitors participants for compliance with rules, regulations, and special conditions, including preparing rule violation and disciplinary action reports, conducting revocation hearings, and oral/urine drug screens.
Submits drug screen samples to testing company and prepares required forms.
Inspects living quarters of program participants for cleanliness and contraband and prepares written report of findings.
Distributes personal items as needed, and launders bedding upon change out.
Maintains interior and exterior security of facility, including monitoring surveillance cameras, door controls, meals, and conducting rounds.
Maintains accurate counts of all participants.
Answers telephone and greets visitors, providing information and assistance, taking messages or directing to appropriate individual or department.
Responds to inquiries and maintains communication with employers, victims, and victims’ families.
Communicates with Work Release Coordinator, including compiling individual statistics, preparing reports, informing him/her of evening and/or weekend disciplinary situations, and performing other duties as assigned.
Coordinates work release participants’ schedules, including daily release to and from facility, updating scheduling changes, and communicating with employers.
Performs duties of Work Release Coordinator in his/her absence.
Remains current on education and best practices in the correctional field, including utilizing effective communication and motivational strategies when communicating with program participants.
Completes a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education and required training annually.
Serves on 24-hour call for emergencies.
Performs related duties as assigned and/or required by law.