Corrections Officer

Application Requirements

The County of Northampton Department of Corrections will no longer be utilizing the REACT exam for Corrections Officer applicants. The online application now includes the written exam in the form of supplemental questions.

Interview Date - Thursday, January 9, 2025MANDATORY MMPI for Selected Applicants - Saturday, January 11, 2025Academy Date - TBD

Please complete all sections of the application. Applications submitted with incomplete or missing education and/or work experience sections will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. These applicants will be disqualified from consideration. The attachment of a resume to the application does not fulfill this requirement and will not prevent incomplete applications from being rejected. Education and work experience fields must be completed, regardless of the presence of an attached resume.

Please note that the supplemental questions serve as the written exam. Applicants must answer all questions provided. For the short response questions keep in mind that you will be scored on your responses. Please submit well formulated responses, in sentence format, which appropriately answer each question. After completion of the application, candidates will receive an automated email response confirming submission. Within 5-7 business days applicants will be notified, via email, regarding the results of their exam and the remaining steps of the hiring process.

Please feel free to contact any member of the Human Resources Recruitment Team with questions regarding this posting:

Sherry Christman, Human Resources Analyst @ or

Autumn Raniere, Recruitment & Data Entry Specialist @ or

Equal Employment Opportunities - It is the policy of Northampton County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state, federal, or local law.

Job Description

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Corrections Officer is responsible for maintaining order and securing inmates in the county jail.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to a Corrections Supervisor - Sergeant and Corrections Supervisor - Lieutenant, and/or other higher level supervisory officer as designated.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
When necessary, it is required that Corrections Officers be able to work in excess of eight (8) hours at one time and without restrictions and be able to perform the duties and responsibilities at 100% of capacity in order to be fit for duty.

Processes incoming inmates.

Conducts searches within the facility and searches inmates‘ cells in accordance with established policies, regulations, and/or procedures.

Transports inmates as necessary.

Monitors inmate activities, including both supervision and interaction with inmates.

Coordinates daily activities of inmates.

Makes required rounds to check safety and welfare of inmates.

Processes paperwork, completing required reports and forms on a daily basis, such as incidents of misbehavior or violation of rules.

Interacts with the public via telephone or face to face and coordinates activities with outside agencies and internal county personnel.

Enters information into the jail‘s computer system.

Reviews and interprets Court orders, remands and releases.

Observes inmates to detect violations of jail regulations or any unusual physical appearance or behavior of inmates.

Physically restrains inmates when necessary to prevent injuries to staff and other inmates and to maintain security.

Uses weapons, handcuffs, and minimum amount of physical force to maintain discipline and order among inmates in situations which necessitate.

Learns names and identification numbers and recognizes faces of problem inmates by observing and receiving information from other officers so that such persons can be closely observed; briefs officers on incoming shift as to unusual activities and inmate status.

On reporting to work, attends shift briefings and reads bulletins issued by the department or institution to keep abreast of changes in policies/regulations; receives work assignments.

Directs inmates in housekeeping duties in the cell block area such as sweeping/mopping of floors, making beds, and dusting/vacuuming to maintain sanitary conditions.

*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Completion of a high school, or general equivalency, diploma; AND

Corrections Officers are required to possess a valid driver‘s license and maintain a clean driving record; AND

Preferred age requirement is twenty-one (21) years of age. We will consider applicants between eighteen (18) and twenty (20) years of age based on maturity and documented work experience, education and/or military experience.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION - a post offer medical examination, including a urine drug screen, is a requirement for employment. Any medical or physical condition or defect which would cause the officer to be a hazard to himself, herself or others, or become aggravated as a result of the performance of these duties, will be cause for the offer to be rescinded.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION - A post-offer psychological examination must be completed prior to hire. Failure to demonstrate sufficient capacity to perform duties of this position may be cause for the offer to be rescinded.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION - A post-offer criminal history check, child abuse clearance, credit check, and motor vehicle driving record check will be completed for all Corrections Officers candidates. Failure to successfully pass the background investigation will be cause for the offer to be rescinded.

Additionally, criminal history, child abuse clearance, and credit check will be completed for the purpose of compliance every five (5) years. Motor vehicle driving record checks will be completed on an annual basis.

ACADEMY TRAINING - All Corrections Officer candidates shall be required to successfully complete a training program within the time period prescribed by law and successfully complete a one (1) year probationary period.

FIREARM CERTIFICATION - A Corrections Officer‘s assignment requires carrying a firearm, and the officer must qualify upon hire as well as requalify annually to maintain his or her firearm certification.

OLEORESIN CAPSICUM (OC SPRAY) - A Corrections Officer‘s assignment requires carrying an OC spray, also known as pepper spray, and the officer must qualify upon hire as well as requalify annually to maintain certification.

ALL STAFF MUST CLEAR THE X-RAY MACHINE UPON ENTRANCE TO THE FACILITY AND ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH AT ANY TIME.

ALL MANDATORY TRAINING AS OUTLINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED AS AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF THE JOB.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of procedures to perform inmate and institutional searches.

Knowledge of rules and regulations of the jail, as well as local, state and federal laws.

Knowledge of first aid treatment.

Knowledge of recreational activities utilized in an institutional setting.

Ability to cope with crisis situations.

Ability to react to emergency situations and use physical force necessary to defend oneself and others.

Ability to follow orders explicitly.

Ability to write concise/accurate reports/correspondence.

Ability to empathize with persons of different backgrounds.

Ability to communicate with inmates, co-workers and the public both verbally and in writing.

Ability to perform simple mathematic calculations, i.e. calendar dates for entry/release, count money and maintenance of inmate inventory.

Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems and/or equipment used by the agency, office, or related units.

Ability to operate and drive a motor vehicle.

Ability to qualify and use firearms properly.

Ability to use fingerprint machine, handcuffs and shackles/body belt.

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and other specialized software), calculator, two-way radio, cell phone, fax machine, copy machine, communications equipment, fingerprint machine, firearms, OC spray, control panel for doors/keys, electronic charge devices (e.g. X26-Taser), handcuffs, shackles/body belt, and first aid equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. The employee must be able to lift, pull, bend, or physically restrain a combative or injured inmate weighing 165 pounds or more. The employee is regularly required to carry supplies weighing up to 30 pounds while climbing or descending stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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 functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. May be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and/or blood/body fluids.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
DESIGNATION: CAREER SERVICE
PAY GRADE: PR-1
UNION STATUS: AFSCME PRISON 2549

Updated June 2023

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