Detention Officer Salary $25.38 - $41.97 Hourly
Location: Alamance County, NC
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 202500004
Department: Sheriffs Office
Opening Date: 01/12/2026
Closing Date: 4/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description Benefits Job Purpose Department: Sheriff's Office Job Status: Fulltime FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Reports To: Detention Platoon Lieutenant Grade/Level: 114 Amount of Travel Required: <20% Job Type: Regular Direct Reports: No Location: Alamance County Sheriff's Office, Graham, NC
JOB PURPOSE: The Alamance County Sheriff's Office is actively recruiting qualified candidates for the position of Detention Officer. This role involves performing a wide range of law enforcement duties related to the care, custody, and supervision of individuals housed in the Alamance County Detention Center. Detention Officers play a vital part in maintaining facility safety and security, preventing and detecting criminal activity, and upholding the criminal laws of North Carolina.
Responsibilities Successful candidates must demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to interact with the public and inmates with tact, courtesy, and firmness. The position involves exposure to the typical risks associated with law enforcement environments.
Work is performed under the general supervision of the Sheriff and designated supervisory staff. Performance is evaluated through daily reports, supervisory conferences, and the overall effectiveness of security practices and policy compliance within the detention center.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Responsibilities Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Accept custody of offenders from the arresting officers and booking offenders into the detention center by completing required forms and utilizing the jail management system. • Must have excellent computer skills and possess the ability to learn. • Obtain and maintains certifications applicable for the position. • Possess excellent report writing skills. • Verifying the identification of persons in custody and checking for outstanding warrants. • Escorting offenders throughout the detention center. • Use discretion effectively to determine a proper course of action consistent with the department's mission and values. • Reports to duty on time and has regular attendance. • Exercises rational judgement. • Maintains the confidence and trust of peers, superiors and the public. • Excellent communication skills and possess the ability to work well with others. • Answers phone calls, provides information to mail bondsmen, families, attorneys, court officials and other law enforcement personnel. • Possess the ability to adjust to a fast-paced environment. • Answer questions directed by the public in a courteous and professional manner. • Observe and monitor the status and behavior of offenders to gain compliance with prescribed operating and safety standards. • Detects hazardous or emergency situations in the detention facility and assist in handling combative, uncooperative, and argumentative offenders. • Carries out any or all other duties as directed by the Sheriff or his designee.
Minimum Qualifications • Must be at least 20 years of age. • Possess as High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED). • Possess a valid North Carolina drivers license. • Currently hold or the ability to obtain a detention officer certification in the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Sheriff's Education and Training Standards. • Must be able to successfully pass the following: Oral Interview, Background Check, Polygraph Examination, Medical, Exam, Psychological Exam, Drug Screening, and any other additional supplemental interviews with Detention Administration.
Preferred Qualifications • Associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a closely related field. • At least 3 years' experience working in a detention or correctional facility.
Computer Skills Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint Experience)
Skills & Abilities • Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions. • Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly. • Autonomy - Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. • Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others and respond to a diverse community. • Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely. • Ethical - Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards. • Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace. • Judgment - Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to interpreting policies and procedures. Use initiative and proper judgement when carrying out tasks and responsibilities. • Multitasking - Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. • Problem Solving/Decision Making - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems. Possess the ability to make decisions independently in accordance with established policies. • Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with elected officials, co-workers and the public. • Safety-Minded - Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities. • Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Must be able to work independently and organize work to meet deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.
Work Environment The Detention Officer Position will be located within the Detention Center at the Alamance County Sheriff's Office, Graham, NC. The position does require work within a team environment and interaction with detention administration, supervisors, other administrative support staff, court personnel, contract staff/vendors, and all members of the Alamance County Sheriff's Office.
Work Schedule: This is a FLSA non-exempt, detention position. A Detention Officer is subject to 12-hour shifts, including holidays and weekends, and is required to wear a uniform. The Alamance County Sheriffs Office has two permanent days shifts (6am-6pm) and two permanent night shifts (6pm-6am) within the detention center. Shift assignments will be determined by the Detention Administration. This position also includes an additional $4,000 dollar shift stipend for working the 12-hour shifts.
Health Insurance Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health (Cigna Insurance) benefits upon the 1st of the month following the 30-day waiting period. Changes to elections can then be made during the annual open enrollment period, usually in the fall, or within 30 days of a qualified life event (marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, change in childs dependent status, death of a spouse or other dependent and other change in employment status).
Alamance County Government currently offers three plans of medical/pharmacy benefit options including a COPAY Plan 70, COPAY Plan 80 and a QHDHP with HSA. Dental Benefit - Alamance County offers one dental insurance (Delta Dental) plan for FT employees. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.
Vision Insurance - A voluntary vision program (Superior Vision) is available to FT employees. The current PPO style plan allows employees to seek treatment and hardware from any vision care provider of their choice. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.
Voluntary Benefits Alamance County Government provides a variety of voluntary health related benefits (Voya) to allow employees to purchase protection from what life may bring. A sampling of voluntary benefits includes Flexible Spending Accounts with dependent care opportunities, Health Saving Account with an employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance and more.
Death Benefit Alamance County Government has elected to contribute towards a Death Benefit associated with the Retirement System for all employees that are contributing Retirement System members. Once an employee has met at least one (1) year as a contributing member to the retirement system, the employee will have a benefit payable to their beneficiary of no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000 based on the employees salary. Benefit is payable if the employee is actively working and has not reached 70 years of age.
Life Insurance Basic term life insurance is the amount of one times the annual salary (no greater than $70,000) is provided for all FT employees. Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deductions for employee and eligible dependents.
Retirement Benefits Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is a requirement for all full-time and regular part-time employees (working more than 1,000 hours annually). Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave the County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have at least five (5) years of service, you are considered 100% vested in NCLGERS. Alamance County will be contributing a percentage as required by NCLEGRS on your behalf as well.
Time Off Accruals Vacation Time - All Alamance County full time employees immediately earn a bank of vacation hours that can be used after 6 months of employment (exhausting their probationary period). Vacation time accrues based on the full-time hire date (most recent hire date is used in the case of rehires). Employees with a hire date before the 15th of the month will receive vacation credit for that month; otherwise, time will not be earned. Time will be contributed to the employees time off bank on the 15th of the month based on a monthly proration of the schedule below.
Years of Service Days of Vacation Annually 0-4 years of service 10 days equivalent