Detention Officer

Detention Officer

The Detention Officer is responsible for the first-line supervision of criminal offenders in the detention center. This involves a wide array of complex tasks related to most aspects of facility security and inmate custody. This position is highly demanding because facility security, staff and inmate safety and care are directly dependent on the officers skills in behavior management, leadership, crisis intervention, mediation, demonstration of fairness in all dealings with inmates, observation, time and task management, service referrals, and documentation. The Detention Officer is called upon to demonstrate each of these skills in work with inmates. The quality of the officers work is the foundation for effective detention operations. Inmates include males and females, both pre-adjudication and sentenced. Crimes range from misdemeanor offenders, to violent felons awaiting transfer to federal courts / prisons. In many instances, United States Attorneys defer federal prosecution to tribal authorities and what would be considered a felony in most other jurisdictions are adjudicated and persons are incarcerated in Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal jails.

Incumbent enforces standards, rules and regulations provided by the Sisseton Wahpeton Detention Center Policy and Procedures and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribes Constitution of By-Laws in governing the operations of the detention center, and confinement, safety, health, and protection of criminal offenders.

Incumbent provides for facility safety and security by providing defined inmate supervision, searches, transportation, classification, and counts, along with maintaining fire safety, key control, perimeter security, and compliance with inmate rules.

Incumbent provides for the admission of criminal offenders, assigned or ordered to the facility. These activities entail fingerprinting, recording personal data, and storing personal belongings.

Incumbents may provide preliminary interviews for physical / mental health and classification assessments.

Upon admission, provides criminal offenders with an orientation into the facilitys philosophy and rules.

Incumbent provides, coordinates, and supervises inmate services, activities, and programs, established by local policy, Sisseton Wahpeton Detention Center Policy and Procedures and the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribal Constitution and By-Laws (i.e., access to medical care, courts, mail, recreation, work programs, religious, food, laundry, and counseling services).

Incumbent supervises inmate movement, maintains discipline, and prevents the introduction of contraband into the facility. Instructs inmates in housekeeping, sanitation, and in the proper use of care of tools and equipment used in performing unskilled or semi-skilled work inside or outside of the facility.

Incumbent provides orientation on facility rules and procedures to volunteers and employees providing services to the inmate population.