Correctional Officer Careers

• Must be at least 17 years 9 months of age at time of application
• United States citizenship or resident alien
• Possess High School Diploma or acceptable equivalent
• Valid Driver's License
• Pass physical agility test and written examination
  
  

  Physical Agility Test Videos:

  • Wall Climb
  • Trigger Pull
  • Sit-Ups
  • 300-Yard Shuttle Run and 1-Mile Timed Run
  • Push-Ups
  • Unconscious Victim Drag
• Appear before an Interview Board
• Pass polygraph examination and drug screening
• Pass psychological and physical examinations
• Pass visual acuity standard
• Pass extensive background investigation
• Capable of completing mandated corrections training academy
• Complete probationary period of one year

A Correctional Officer is responsible for providing the safe, secure and humane supervision and treatment of incarcerated individuals placed in the St. Mary’s County Detention Center; they must also treat visitors with politeness and respect. Correctional Officers are required to maintain a positive demeanor when confronted with stressful situations of scorn, ridicule, danger, and/or chaos.

• Enforce policies and procedures pertaining to incarcerated individuals, including supervision, incarcerated individual intake and discharge and related correctional administrative tasks;
• Maintain accurate official incarcerated individual counts;
• Inspect incarcerated individuals' quarters and enforce standards of cleanliness, safety, sanitation and fire prevention;
• Ensure security of the facility to prevent escape including screening visitors and inspecting packages and other items brought or sent to the detention center;
• Search incarcerated individuals and their property, living quarters and detention center facilities to detect pilferage and the possession of contraband;
• Supervise the distribution of meals to incarcerated individuals and ensure that all utensils are accounted for and returned to the kitchen;
• Maintains records and prepares written and oral reports as required;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Ability to gain thorough knowledge of St. Mary’s County Government policies and procedures;
• Ability to gain thorough knowledge of the Office of the Sheriff policies and procedures;
• Ability to gain thorough knowledge of modern correctional methods and objectives;
• Ability to use and care for security equipment, firearms and non-lethal weapons;
• Ability to effectively communicate with other staff and especially members of the public;
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with established federal, state and local laws;
• Ability to apply departmental policies to daily work problems;
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions;
• Ability to work independently on tasks and maintain records;
• Ability to plan, organize and execute complicated and continuing assignments accurately, with minimum instruction or review;
• Effective business English, grammar, legal terminology, and math skills.

High School Diploma or GED;

• Weight must be in proportion to height, body frame and age;
• Vision must be correctable to 20/20;
• Must successfully complete the entrance level program for Correctional Officers within one year of appointment;
• Must be able to work shift work including weekends and holidays.

Training academy Recruits will be subject to being taken down to the ground aggressively in the prone position and participate in playing the role of an officer and aggressor. Recruits will be exposed in the face with Oleoresin Capsicum/OC Spray.