Corrections Officer

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services in Belcourt, North Dakota, Fort Totten, North Dakota, Fort Yates, North Dakota, Lower Brule, South Dakota, Wagner, South Dakota, and Winnebago, Nebraska (South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska Indian Reservation).

Readvertised to solicit additional applicants.

Note: Salary Table 2024 - RUS (LEO) Effective January 2024

Duties listed are at the full performance level at the GS-08. If selected at the lower level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to develop in the position.

• The position is demanding because the safety and security of the facility, staff and offender (including the offender care and control) are directly dependent on the officer's skills in the following areas: 1) booking and release procedures; 2) inmate behavior management; 3) leadership; 4) crisis prevention and intervention; 5) inmate health care and medication; 6) demonstration or fairness in all dealings with offenders through policy and procedures; 7) observation and supervision of inmates; 8) service referrals for programs and services; 9) documentation, logs and reports on inmate incident and management; and, 10) Transportation of inmates to court, medical, and other facilities.

• Enforces standard rules and regulations provided in Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 69 Bureau of Indian Affairs Manual (BIAM), Department of the Interior (DOI), Departmental Manual (OM) 446, governing the operations of the detention facilities and programs, and the confinement, safety, health, and protection of criminal offenders.

• Provides preliminary Interviews for physical and mental health with classification assessments.

• Upon admission provides criminal offenders with an orientation into the facility's rules and operating procedures through the Inmate Handbook.

• Coordinates, and supervises offender services, activities, and programs, (i.e., access to medical care, courts, mail, recreating, library, work programs, religious, food, laundry, and counseling services).

• Observe and supervise offender movement, conduct welfare checks and physical counts of inmates, maintains discipline and prevents the introduction of contraband in the facility and completes proper documentation.

• Instructs offenders in housekeeping, sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in performing unskilled or semi-skilled work Inside or outside of the facility.

• Manages inmate behavior of offenders in need of supervision. This includes utilizing effective verbal interpersonal communication skills and proper documentation. Will make proper referrals to appropriate resources.

• Transports to court, medical and other facilities. Provides close supervision of the offender throughout the transport.

• Implements all safety aspects of facility emergency management plans to include fire and emergency evacuations.

• Provides for vehicle safety and security by providing defined offender supervision, searches, transportation, classification, and counts, along with maintaining fire safety, key control, perimeter security, and compliance with offender rules.

• Ensures that offenders are released from the facility according to established regulations and operational descriptions.

• Completes facility observation on maintenance that is needed by reporting and documenting to the supervisor that a repair is needed.

As a corrections officer, accepts custody of Indian Country offenders from various law enforcement entities ensuring that document packages include valid criminal charges or proper release documents. While in custody of the program, officer is responsible for safeguarding of the offender and their personal belongings. If determined necessary, will escort the offender to appointments such as with the doctor, dentist, or medical clinics; or to Tribal, county, state and Federal detention institutions or other facilities when the need arises.

The Office of Justice Services, Field Operations of District I include the following Agency:

• Standing Rock Agency, Fort Yates, ND
• Turtle Mountain Agency, Belcourt, ND
• Lower Brule Agency, SD
• Fort Totten Agency, Fort Totten ND
• Winnebago Agency, Winnebago, NE
• Yankton Agency, Wagner, SD

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards ).

Minimum Qualification GL-05:

To qualify at the GL-05 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. General Work Experience: Three years of general work experience.

OR

B. Education: Successful completion of a full 4 year course of study (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, at an accredited college or university.

OR

C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-06:

To qualify at the GL-06 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower level assisting with the supervision and care of criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility. Experience at this level may include assisting with or performing tasks such as control room, booking, intake, inmate transport, maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates, in accordance with policies and procedures.

OR

B. Education: Successful completion of nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate study from an accredited school with major study in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Social Science, or other field of study related to the position.

OR

C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-07:

To qualify at the GL-07 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. Experience: One year specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GL-06 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility; maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates; and experience with Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Management Plans. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; performing inmate transport; and providing guidance to lower level correctional officers, in accordance with policies, procedures, and detention standards.

OR

B. Education: Successful completion of one full academic year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate education from an accredited school with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other fields related to the position.

OR

C. Combination: A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-08:

To qualify for the GL-08, you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GL-07 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders in the operation of a correctional and/or detention facility and serving as a work leader over lower-level correctional officers. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; distributing and balancing the workload among team members; providing training to lower-level correctional officers; and meeting or exceeding the detention standards by adhering to policies and procedures. Experience may have been gained in work such as serving as a correctional/police officer, mental health counselor in a residential facility, or detention officer/jailor.

Physical Demands

The duties of a correctional officer, on any shift involves unusual mental and nervous pressure. It requires arduous physical exertion including prolonged walking, standing, and sitting while transporting, lifting of moderately heavy to light objects, restraining of offenders in emergencies and participating in escape and walk-away hunts. Incumbent must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of the position and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others.

Work Environment

Work performed by this position requires frequent and direct contact with individuals or groups of individuals in confinement who are suspected or convicted of Tribal and/or Federal offenses. Daily stress, exposure to disease, and exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as direct physical attack are an inherent part of this position. Incumbent must be able to go anywhere they are detailed for temporary duty on short notice and may be required to remain away from their regular duty station for extended periods of time to meet the needs of the BIA.

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE LIMIT: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran.

If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

If you have an approved age waiver, please submit that with your application. NOTE: If you have previous law enforcement (LE) Federal experience, you must enter the number of MONTHS when you respond to the questionnaire.

For example, if you have 5 years of Federal LE experience, you must enter 60 months, 4 years would be 48 months, etc. Otherwise, the system may screen you out.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: The duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, and exposure to inclement weather.

Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform duties satisfactorily.

Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.