Detention Officer

at Sanders County in Thompson Falls, Montana, United States

Job Description

Summary of Work: General Duties Work Unit Overview: Full-Time Position (40 hours/week). The Sheriff’s Office performs law enforcement and crime prevention work, including preserving the peace, patrolling assigned areas, serving warrants and making arrests, and assisting in preliminary investigations. The mission of the Sheriff’s Office is to maintain and improve the quality of life within the community by working with all people to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment. All county departments must maintain an open and customer service-oriented environment, cooperate with other County departments and governmental entities, and keep accurate and timely records and information. Job Summary: A Detention Officer is responsible to effectively process and release inmates held in the detention facilities, and to provide for inmate safety, security and adherence to detention rules and regulations. Detention Officers also supervise and oversee that safe inmate facility maintenance and cleaning duties are done in an orderly manner. Detention Officers maintain certification standards, documentation and duties consistent with the Montana Jail Standards and Detention Personnel Policies. Detention Officers demonstrate professional public relations, and perform back-up duties to help maintain smooth facility operations; serves as one of (5) five Detention Officers. Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These duties are the essential functions and are not all-inclusive of all duties that the incumbent performs. DETENTION DUTIES Conducts duties in conformance with federal, state, county and city laws and ordinances. Follows all departmental policies and procedures consistent with Montana Jail Standards and Detention Personnel Policies and Procedures. Prepares incident and booking reports and records as required by dept. policies. Inspects food before serving to inmates to ensure proper quality, portions and utensils are available. Supervises inmates at meal time and inmate meal clean-up. Supervises use of library by inmates. Ensures and facilitates effective scheduling, planning and supervision of inmates for counseling, social services and religious services. Follows procedures for inmate mail and telephone use and logs legal correspondence. Collects, distributes and inspects incoming and outgoing mail or packages. Administers and supervises recreation activities; provides passive recreation, and access to and use of weight room as available. Makes physician medication available to inmates as ordered by a physician and dispenses non-prescription medication as needed. Dispenses, renders and administers basic first aid, CPR, and maintains awareness of other methods of first aid treatment for situations such as bleeding, heart attack, shock, seizure, poisoning, abrasions, broken bones or sprains. Investigates inmates’ injuries and arranges appointments, if necessary; contacts a physician for appropriate medical, dental or other health-related problems. Supervises, controls and administers inmate visits; enforces visiting hours and procedures; schedules visitors, visiting room searches and maintains visiting log; observes visitors and inmates during visitation. Communicates with inmates to ensure health and welfare of inmates; observes behavior for symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse, violent behavior characteristics and inmate unrest; identifies and documents inmate problem areas or potential counseling needs or services. Arranges for inmate haircuts. Directs and controls inmate hygiene, laundry and sanitation; issues and inventories razors, clothing, and bedding; provides hygiene instruction; directs laundry operations, housekeeping and sanitation procedures. Provides for inmate commissary needs and supplies. Transports inmates to specific locations i.e. appointments, meetings, court appearances, etc. as assigned outside of facil