Sheriff's Office Detention Assistant

• Delivering commissary items to incarcerated persons
• Utilizing computer systems for tasks such as sending email communications and maintaining inventory
• Writing and submitting incident reports
• Placing, receiving, and closing out inventory orders
• Laundering, folding, arranging, and storing facility issued clothing and bedding
• Driving Sheriff's Office vehicles between facilities to transport supplies/equipment
• Providing receiving and exchanging services related to: incarcerated persons' personal bulk property and clothing, facility issued clothing, and court appearance clothing
• Releasing personal property to designated persons
• Communicating with vendors, the public, and staff
• Leading and supervising work crews of incarcerated persons for some assignments

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: storekeeping, warehousing, retail sales, ordering/receiving, inventory, distribution, laundry operations
• Supervisory or lead worker experience
• Some experience working in detention or institutional environments is highly desirable, but not required
• Basic computer and writing skills and familiarity with Microsoft Outlook and Word programs
• Problem solving skills and adaptability as needs change
• The ability to build positive work relationships and communicate effectively
• Patience, positivity, and empathy
• A mindset geared toward safety and security

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to excellent benefits* including:

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.

Experience: Any combination of experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, one year of experience in one, or a combination, of the following areas: storekeeping, warehousing or retail sales which included ordering, receiving, inventory, distribution and recordkeeping; transportation and delivery services; or laundry operations would provide such an opportunity. Ability to operate a personal computer and a variety of software is highly desirable.

Education: The ability to read and write English and make mathematical calculations at a level for successful job performance.

Driver's License: Possession of a valid California license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement requires possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Background Requirement: Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo an in-depth background investigation, including a criminal histories check, DMV, fingerprints, polygraph, a drug and alcohol usage questionnaire and a medical exam. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state, or in any federal jurisdiction, or of any offense in any other state, or in any jurisdiction which would have been a felony if committed in California, or are under formal probation may be subject to disqualification for this class.

Knowledge of: English grammar, spelling and punctuation and arithmetic; procedures and techniques of requisitioning, receiving, inventorying, stocking, issuing and delivering supplies and materials; the use of electronic information equipment; procedures, chemicals and equipment necessary to operate a high-volume laundry; safety practices and procedures related to commissary, laundry, delivery and related services; security practices within adult detention facilities.

Ability to: Effectively read and understand written and oral instructions and communicate effectively with persons of all ages and backgrounds; establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, supervisors, staff, inmates, and service providers; supervise adult inmates; learn and apply departmental policies and procedures; acquire a working knowledge of the materials, supplies, services and equipment handled by the department; follow oral and written instructions and make effective decisions on routine procedural matters; perform routine arithmetic calculations; use electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department; enter data accurately; exercise judgment and discretion in analyzing and resolving problems; maintain accurate work records manually and on a computer; lift, push, bend, stoop, reach and remain standing for extended periods to perform a variety of manual activities; drive a County vehicle, such as a van or truck; while in uniform work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays in a maximum security setting with a no-hostage policy; pass a background investigation.

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate's personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant's name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

Being part of the Sheriff's Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, and understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc. This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc. Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months. Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered. You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.

You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

Please read the Sheriff's Office Pre-Employment Drug Use Guidelines (Download PDF reader) for further information.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: AK

HR Technician: VH