WHAT IS A DETENTION OFFICER?
The detention officer, who works for the sheriff’s department, performs specialized law enforcement work in the care and security of inmates the county jail.
WHAT DOES AN OFFICER DO? An officer has the following duties:
Admits prisoners to the county jail and ensures inmates are properly booked and searched Patrols entire jail area to prevent escapes and maintain order Prepares and transports inmates to and from court, visitations or medical appointments
Inspects the cleaning of jail to meet requirements of state and local officials
Supervises inmate trustees performing various duties, such as serving meals to inmates
DETENTION OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS A detention officer must meet the following qualifications:
U.S. citizen
High School diploma or GED required
At least 18 years old Possession of a valid driver’s license Must attain certification by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as a jailer within one year of employment
SOURCES: COLLIN, DALLAS, DENTON AND TARRANT COUNTIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
That staffing level has created chal- lenges, she said. The issue is the jail is regulated by the Texas Commission on Jail Stan- dards, which comes with a required level of staffing per inmate, Brown said. If the staff does not reach that level, employees must work overtime to meet that state requirement. “We have to get creative,” she said. Tarrant County has experienced its own set of challenges because of staff- ing shortages. In August, Tarrant County sent 432 inmates from its county jail to a private jail near Lubbock because of a staffing shortage and planned maintenance this year, according to county Com- missioners Court agendas. Tarrant County commissioners approved an $18 million contract with Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility for The local sheriff’s departments have turned to recruiting, incentive pay and other perks to help fill in the staffing holes. “I regularly speak with other sher- iffs and their senior supervisors about recruiting, retention and morale in my role as the chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the National Sheriffs’ Association,” Skinner said. “Many counties use various incentives, including compensation, recruiting the inmate transfer. Staffing incentives
or retention pay, employment and retirement benefits, and training and educational benefits, to improve their situations.” Dallas County has been hosting recruiting fairs to bring people to the job. Brown also regularly visits with commissioners about the issue. In Denton County, the department created temporary part-time positions as a way to attract people such as retir- ees or people who do not want or need a full-time job, Eads said. The county commissioners also approved a pay raise during the fall for county employees, including those working in the jail. The starting salary increased two pay grades, which was about 15%, Eads said. It’s base pay is $47,988-$55,666 annually. County employees who also recruit people will receive $500 in incentive pay. Despite staffing shortages, Skinner said he still wants the right people for the job. “These professions take commit- ment and resolve,” he said. “We want the right people. We plan, train and budget for them. We are very selective about who we select, given the enor- mous responsibility that they are given in keeping our citizens and communi- ties safe.”
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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023
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