PRIMARY PURPOSE:
To provide a safe and secure environment while managing the daily care, custody, and control of the inmates under correctional supervision.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Examples of essential functions listed in this class specification are representative but not necessarily exhaustive or descriptive of any one position in the classification. Management is not precluded from assigning other related functions not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with a qualified disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
1. Support and uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of the Merrimack County Department of Corrections.
2. Maintains order and discipline in assigned area by observing inmates in housing areas, showers, recreation sites, medical/psychiatric areas, visitor reception areas, and any other specified areas.
3. Processes incoming inmates, completes intake paperwork, issues clothing and toilet articles, takes fingerprints and identification photos, and advises inmates on correctional facility rules and regulations.
4. Maintains Control Room logs.
5. Answers the phone and receives visitors.
6. Inspects cells, dayrooms, kitchen, dining room, visiting room, and other areas for security breaches.
7. Exercises immediate custody of individual inmates when moving between various activities or as assigned.
8. Counts inmates and secures order in the corrections facility during an assigned shift.
9. Performs constant surveillance in observing inmates and inmate activities; corrects, records, and reports improper inmate behavior.
10. Supervises inmate programs as requested.
11. Applies institutional rules fairly and impartially to inmates exhibiting improper behavior or possession of illegal property.
12. Respond to any Code announced by Central Control expediently and safely.
13. Regular attendance is required.
COMPETENCIES:
1. Ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of correctional facility policies and procedures.
2. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with administrative staff, lieutenants, sergeants, corrections personnel, inmates, their families and the general public.
3. Ability to act quickly and effectively in emergencies and to be attentive to details.
4. Ability to prepare written materials and to analyze data.
5. Ability to perform repetitive or routine duties working from detailed instructions and under standard procedures. Involves the exercise of judgment in the analysis of facts or conditions regarding individual problems or transactions to determine what actions should be taken, within the limits of standard practice.
6. Ability to command respectful compliance.
7. Requires skill in applying instructions to accomplish different job functions or operating machines for a variety of different purposes.
8. Requires understanding and using business or trades vocabulary or basic arithmetic to perform standard operating procedures.
9. Requires responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing department objectives by facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other county or state agencies.
10. Requires explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of alternative or appropriate courses of action. Requires interviewing or eliciting information from county employees or members of the general public.
11. Requires a combination of job functions using minimal judgment to perform a variety of job tasks according to clearly prescribed standard practices and procedures.
12. Requires making a limited number of choices in selecting among alternative courses of action under supervisory guidance and in performing job functions according to a variety of prescribed policies and procedures.
REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
EDUCATION: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
EXPERIENCE: Prior Correctional experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills and abilities with or without reasonable accommodation as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
CERTIFICATION: Prior Correctional experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills and abilities with or without reasonable accommodation as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILATY QUALIFICATIONS: Certified Correctional Officer by the New Hampshire Association of Counties. NH Driver’s License or ability to obtain one.
OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Transports inmates outside the facilities as directed.
2. Performs other similar or related duties as required and directed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Supervises inmate activity and programs throughout the facility.
TRAVEL: Throughout Merrimack County and New Hampshire as needed.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Requires performing regular job assignments in an extremely disagreeable or dangerous working environment with continuous exposure to an uncontrollable number of hazardous elements, including occupational accidents, injuries, or diseases which result in total disability or death.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires medium work, including continuous strenuous activities such as frequent reaching, bending, or lifting as well as performing work activities which require fine manual dexterity or coordination in operating machines or equipment.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move individuals or objects.
Ability to pass the physical and mental tests required for participation in Group II Retirement.
Ability to move about on foot for prolonged periods of time to accomplish tasks.
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.
Balancing-Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.
Stooping-Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.
Kneeling-Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
Crouching-Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
Reaching-Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
Standing-Particularly for sustained periods of time.
Walking-Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one worksite to another.
Pulling-Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul of tug objects in a sustained motion.
Lifting-Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.
Fingering-Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hands as in handling.
Grasping-Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
Feeling-Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature of texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
Talking-Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
Hearing-Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communications and to make the discriminations in sound.
Requires visual acuity to perform an activity where seeing job is at or within arm’s reach; performs skilled trades task of a non-repetitive nature with ability to distinguish color codes.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
EXPECTED WORK HOURS: This position is full-time, non-exempt. Hours of work include a rotating shift work with weekends and holidays.
Mandatory assignment of overtime work shall be required as needed.
EEO STATEMENT: The County of Merrimack provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, or national origin. In addition to federal law requirements, the County of Merrimack complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which it has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.