Correctional Officer - I

For answers to frequently asked questions specific to recruitments for the Sheriff's Office click here.

Under general supervision, maintain security and ensure inmate welfare in a County jail; oversee jail activities and facilities during an assigned shift; perform related work as assigned.

This is the entry level class in the Correctional Officer series.  This class is distinguished from the journey by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

• Maintain centralized jail security and ensure inmate welfare in accordance with laws, regulations and institutional philosophy.
• Obtain necessary information and book inmates, complete necessary forms, take photographs and fingerprints, and perform other processing activities such as preparing reports and maintaining files.
• Search, examine, instruct, and log inmates; inventory and secure property and valuables.
• Interview inmates; classify them and assign them to the appropriate detention area and activities.
• Supervise and monitor inmates and inmate trustees assisting with housekeeping, meal preparation and distribution, laundry, and similar activities.
• Supervise inmate exercise, recreation, visiting, and similar privileges.
• Assist medical staff in the distribution of medications; screen and refer requests for medical attention; administer emergency first aid as required.
• Escort inmates within the jail areas; provide security for medical staff as required.
• Inspect facilities and report the need for maintenance or unusual situations; request and/or issue clothing and supplies.
• Prepare reports and other written materials; maintain accurate records, logs, and files.
• Testify in court as subpoenaed.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: No direct experience is required. Experience involving either the control and custody of incarcerated individuals or in a law enforcement support setting are desirable.

Training: Completion of twelfth grade or G.E.D., College level coursework in law enforcement or a related field is preferred.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid driver's license. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Must complete both the Corrections Standards Authority Corrections Officer core course (or Correctional Officer Basic Academy supplemental core course for those who have completed the POST Basic Academy) and the course work required by California State Penal Code Section 832 within one year of employment.

Knowledge of:

• Techniques for dealing with individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds in hostile and/or confrontational situations.
• Basic first aid practices and procedures.
• Basic office administrative practices, including filing.
• Computer systems operations and applications.
• Principles and practices of self-defense and work safety.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; analyze work papers and reports; remember accounts given by witnesses; observe individuals, behaviors, situations, and activities; identify situations of potential altercation; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; interpret, apply, and explain operational procedures and applicable laws, codes, rules, and regulations; maintain awareness of safety at all times. 
• On a continuous basis, walk or stand during shift; bend, twist, squat, stoop, and kneel during booking process or while working with inmates; climb stairs while observing inmates; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation. Speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; continuously wear utility belt, vest, and/or other equipment of up to 15 pounds; and intermittently sit at a desk or counter; lift very heavy weight.
• Understand and carry out verbal and written directions.
• Read and understand the Sheriff's Office policies, rules, instructions, laws, ordinances, and general literature pertaining to corrections activities.
• Meet and maintain physical and psychological standards and pass a detailed background investigation.
• Maintain facility security and inmate welfare in varied circumstances.
• Oversee and direct the work of inmates in structured situations.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports and other written materials.
• Respond calmly, quickly, and decisively to emergency and/or stressful situations; use defensive tactics when necessary.
• Demonstrate keen powers of observation and memory, observe accurately, and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places. 
• Maintain accurate records, logs, and files.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and interpret written material.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Work evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts.
• Be sensitive to various cultural and ethnic groups present in the detention facility.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner. 

Written Examination (100%)

The written examination will consist of the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Selection Exam for Local Corrections. To locate the Candidate Orientation Booklet for this exam, which includes example questions, please click here.

Note: Applicants who have already taken the BSCC Selection Exam for Local Corrections within twelve (12) months of their scheduled testing date may attach their official score report notice (including agency name, exam name, exam date, and exam scores) to their application materials to forward their scores to Placer County.

Examinations will be scheduled throughout the year as applications are received. Qualified applicants will be notified of their scheduled testing date via email.

The written examination has been tentatively scheduled for the week of March 9, 2026

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.