JOB POSTING: Correctional Officer

Principal Function: The Correctional Officer is responsible for ensuring the safety of all city and federal inmates while they are in the jail, and/or until they either bond out or are transported out of the jail, and within the City of Hammond, and all other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Pats down everyone coming into the jail ensuring that they do not have any weapons, drugs, or other harmful paraphernalia.
2. Books city arrestees and makes sure that their property is accounted for, logged into the departmental software program, and transported to the proper area in the property room.
3. Searches city arrestees, places in a jail cell, and gives them phone calls when they are able to accept calls.
4. Makes fingerprints and takes mug shots as part of the booking process.
5. Distributes clothing to be worn in jail cells, as needed.
6. Maintains the inmate wall board, as needed.
7. Removes inmates from cells and escorts them as directed.
8. Conducts watch tours every ten minutes in all lockdown areas to ensure everyone is safe.
9. Monitors federal inmates in lockdown making sure of the following:
   • No one is fighting.
   • Food is ordered and that inmates are fed at the proper times.
   • Medications are administered at the proper times and documented when taken.
   • Mail and other related necessities are delivered.
   • Supplies to include: toilet paper, rolls of paper, visitors forms, tape, and puzzles are delivered.
   • Laundry to include clothing, bedding, towels, etc. has been washed, dried, and folded.
   • Visitation with civilians is managed.
   • Addresses other issues related to inmates living in the jail, as needed.
10. Restocks supplies and materials that are low so that they are ready to be used, as needed.
11. Completes all paperwork for the Prosecutor’s Office, and enters data into the departmental software program related to the arrest, incarceration, and bonding out process of inmates.
12. Handles bonding out money in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
13. Communicates with dispatch, detectives, and others, as needed.
14. Conducts weekly jail cell searches in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
15. Removes trash and other debris from jail cells, as needed.
16. Performs all tasks of the Booking Supervisor, as needed.
17. Communicates with and between city offices/departments, and the Police Sergeant, as needed.
18. Attends all meetings, conferences, training sessions, etc., as required by the City of Hammond and the department.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at the City of Hammond should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Public Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping one’s emotions under control; Solicits feedback to improve service.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views and is willing to try new things; Gives and welcomes feedback from team members; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Builds morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Oral and Written Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions verbally and in a written format; Writes clearly and informatively and edits work for spelling and grammar; Reads and interprets written information; Presents numerical data effectively, as required by the job.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes the essential duties and responsibilities of the job correctly and on time; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments, as required; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity; Participates in meetings; Supports the municipality’s goals and values; Represents the municipality in a positive manner when engaged in outside activities.
• Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required; and one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience is desired. Previous Correctional Officer experience is desired.
Within the first year of employment employee must pass all the following in order to not be considered probationary any longer:

• 40-hour Correctional Officer Course at the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (NILEA), in Hobart, Indiana.
• Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training and certification.
• Physical Tactics/Use of Force course.
• De-Escalation techniques course.
• Fire safety course.
• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
• Basic First Aid course.
• Taser certification.
• Basic fingerprinting training.
• The ability to be bonded.
• The ability to meet the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requirements to become a certified Indiana Data and Communications System (IDACS) user.

Other Skills and Abilities: The following skills and abilities are either required or desired.

• Computer software skills desired include: Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• The ability to learn office and municipality-specific software within a reasonable timeframe is desired.
• A working knowledge of administrative policies, procedures, standards, and work methods is required.
• A basic knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and codes governing the arrest and booking process, the incarceration of both city and federal inmates, and the bonding out process is required.
• A comprehensive understand of how to read and interpret documents such as legal paperwork, court documents, and procedure manuals is required.
• The ability to use and monitor the use of all cameras, surveillance equipment, taser, handcuffs, and other equipment used in the jail is required.
• The knowledge of basic mathematical skills is required.
• A basic knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules and regulations with regards to material safety data sheets (MSDSs), bloodborne safety, lock-out tag-out, proper lifting, the proper use of tools and machinery, etc. and the safety of employees and inmates in the department is required.
• A general knowledge of all municipal operations within the City of Hammond is required.
• A working knowledge of the Jail Division and Police Department’s policies, procedures, standards, internal controls, and work methods is required.
• Familiarity with other public agencies associated within the Jail Division and Police Department is required.
• The ability to maintain and cultivate positive relationships with the public, vendors and other City of Hammond departments is required.
• The ability to make sound and rational decisions including exercising independent judgment within established protocols and guidelines is required.
• The ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment while providing exceptional customer service is required.
• The ability to recognize confidential information and to keep that information confidential as required by state statutes and internal office processes, procedures, and guidelines is required.
• The ability to remain current with all required licenses, certifications and in-service requirements is required.
• The ability to operate a fingerprinting machine, computer, printer, copy machine, scanner, fax machine, postage machine, calculator, and other office equipment is required.
• The ability to speak, read and write in English is required. Spanish is desired.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. In addition, the employee is occasionally required taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to move up to 100 pounds and may use a cart, dolly, or other assistive device.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to working near moving mechanical parts, electrical shock, vibration, fumes or particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather), extreme heat (non-weather). The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to very loud.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required on a job site may include: bulletproof vest, safety harness, ear protection, gloves, rubber steel-toed boots, safety glasses/goggles, hearing protection, hard hat, hair covering, protective coat, safety vest, and various respirators to include: dust mask, chemical cartridge, and/or supplied air, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The department will provide all PPE as required by the job.

The Jail Division of the Police Department is open 24-hours per day, seven-days per week. This job is considered shift work and employees will be scheduled to work according to their assigned shift. The employee may be required to drive City of Hammond vehicles as part of their job duties. Thus, a valid driver’s license may be required and the employee will need to be able to be insured by the city.