Detention Officer Pool 2026

Rockingham County is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with federal and state statutes regarding discrimination in employment. 

Performs intermediate protective service work processing inmates, maintaining jail security, transporting inmates to court, medical and related facilities.  Prepares reports and maintains files and records.  Performs related work as apparent or assigned.  Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Detention Sergeant.

Benefits:

• Paid Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• Onsite wellness/medical clinic
• Onsite fitness center
• Retirement
• Flexible Spending
• Paid Vacation, Sick & Holidays
• Bereavement
• Community Service Leave
• Weekends Off (varies by position)
• Flexible Work Schedules & Telework Options (varies by position)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401-K & 457 Plans with county match up to 1% of base salary

Examples of Duties

Ensures the safety and security of inmates within the County jail, patrols jail area periodically to ensure security maintains order.  Conducts head counts, resolves conflicts, performs cell searches, and removes dangerous and unruly inmates as necessary. Supervises inmates during meals, personal hygiene, and related activities for conformance to institutional rules, regulations, and procedures. Escorts and transports inmates to court and other required appointments.  Delivers food to inmates, removes trays and food carts.  Distributes medication to inmates as prescribed or directed.  Contacts nurse in medical emergencies.

Receives and processes inmates into custody of institution.  Searches prisoners.  Takes charge of personal property.  Provides opportunities for inmates to call attorney’s and/or relatives.  Advises inmates on institutional rules and regulations.

Operates electronic door system and control panel.  Maintains key and radio control.

Records visits.  Ensures the safety and security of visitors, inspects items brought into the jail, and checks incoming and outgoing mail.  Receives, receipts, and accounts for funds deposited into inmate accounts.  Prepares and maintains logs, reports, and records.  Organizes files, answers telephone, contacts other agencies when needed, and responds to General public inquiries.

SUPERVISION:
Supervision Received: Works under moderate supervision of the Detention Sergeant.  

Supervision Given: 
Position has no supervisory responsibilities.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACT:
Interpersonal contact with internal co-workers, elected officials, management, etc.
Interpersonal contact with external such as attorney’s, law enforcement, and the General public.

RECRUITMENT STANDARDS (Core Competencies): 
Supervision skills.
Problem solving.
Communicating effectively with others.
Knowing how to listen actively.
Demonstrating responsibility, flexibility, and empathy in the course of the duties.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
General knowledge of County and Department policies and procedures.
General knowledge of the security, rules, regulations, and procedures of the institution.
General knowledge of the practices of modern penology as related to the supervision and care of persons under institutionalized restraint.
General knowledge of the use of standard office equipment and associated software.
General knowledge of preparing reports and other types of correspondence.
Ability to enforce institutional rules firmly and fairly; ability to detect potential behavior problems of inmates.
Ability to detect the early symptoms of common health problems.
Ability to carry out oral and written directions accurately.
Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility.
Ability to supervise the activities of large groups of inmates.
Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, inmates, and the General public.

Physical Activities, Visual Acuity, and Working Conditions for this Position.
Climbing- Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion
Balancing- Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium
Stooping- Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles
Kneeling- Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees
Crouching- Bending the body downward and forward by bending legs and spine
Crawling- Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
Reaching- Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
Standing- Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time
Walking - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another
Pushing- Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward
Pulling- Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion
Lifting- Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles
Fingering- Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling
Grasping- Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm
Feeling- Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips
Talking- Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly
Hearing- Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communications, and making fine discriminations in sound
Repetitive Motions- Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers

Physical Requirements of This Position:
Heavy Work- Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects  

Visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:
Employee is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned (i.e., custodial, food services, general labor, etc.) or to make general observations of facilities or structures (i.e., security guard, inspection, etc.)
The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:
Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes
Employee is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather
Employee is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside
Employee is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity
Employee is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity
Employee is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause Employee to shout to be heard above the ambient noise level
Employee is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body
Employee is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals
Employee is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation
Employee is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
Employee is required to wear a respirator
Employee frequently is in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, manholes, small, enclosed rooms, small sewage and water line pipes and other areas, which could cause claustrophobia
Employee is required to function in narrow aisles or passageways
Employee is exposed to infectious diseases
Employee is required to function around prisoners or institutional patients

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:  
High school diploma or GED or equivalent combination of education and experience.

License or Certification Requirements:
NC BLET and Detention Officer Certification or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment.
Valid NC Driver's License.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. If you have student loans and you are selected for full-time employment with Rockingham County, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan after you have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full-time by certain public service employers.  Click on the link below to see whether you might qualify.

https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service