How to hire a detention deputy

How to hire a detention deputy, step by step

Here's a step-by-step detention deputy hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a detention deputy job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new detention deputy
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the detention deputy you need to hire. Certain detention deputy roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect detention deputy also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents detention deputy salaries for various positions.

   Type of Detention Deputy	Description	Hourly rate
   Detention Deputy	Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in jail or prison. Bailiffs are law enforcement officers who maintain safety and order in courtrooms.	$16-31
   Custodial Officer	A custodial officer is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of facilities or buildings. They clean areas daily, conduct regular maintenance inspections, replace fixtures, perform basic repairs, rearrange furniture as necessary, and prepare facilities for public or private use... Show more	$14-27
   Corporal	A police corporal is a person who leads a team or squad depending on how many corporals are there in a platoon. Police corporals supervise the performance of the police personnel assigned under their command... Show more	$14-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Transport Inmates
   • Booking
   • CPR
   • Emergency Situations
   • Patrol
   • Detention Facility
   • Criminal Justice
   • Security Checks
   • Intake Process
   • Safety Regulations
   • Care Custody
   • Direct Supervision
   • Master Control
   • Security Purposes

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train in grind control and self-defense techniques, CPR, ethics and security management.
   • Oversee all aspects of booking inmates into the jail, including property inventory, pat-down, fingerprinting, and processing daily.
   • Obtain necessary information and booking of prisoners.
   • Patrol assign areas for evidence of unauthorize activities, infractions of rules, unsatisfactory attitudes or unsatisfactory adjustment of inmates.
   • Serve as loader of special ammunition weapon; prepare ammunition while exercising safety precautions.

   More detention deputy duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your detention deputy job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A detention deputy salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a detention deputy in Texas may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level detention deputy usually earns less than a senior-level detention deputy. Additionally, a detention deputy with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average detention deputy salary

   $47,384yearly

   $22.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level detention deputy salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

   Average detention deputy salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Hawaii	$64,335	$31
   2	Colorado	$51,391	$25
   3	Minnesota	$46,879	$23
   4	Wyoming	$42,187	$20
   5	Indiana	$39,266	$19
   6	Florida	$38,749	$19

   Average detention deputy salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Wellpath	$76,220	$36.64	4
   2	Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept	$59,278	$28.50	3
   3	Franklin County	$57,056	$27.43	9
   4	Albany County	$54,748	$26.32
   5	Eagle County	$54,628	$26.26
   6	Pasco	$51,761	$24.89
   7	Anoka County	$49,831	$23.96	1
   8	Marion County Sheriff's Office	$48,728	$23.43
   9	Polk County Sheriff's Office	$48,681	$23.40	5
   10	Weld County Government	$47,432	$22.80	3
   11	Ada County	$47,029	$22.61	4
   12	Olmstead Falls Ohio	$36,924	$17.75

4. Writing a detention deputy job description

   A detention deputy job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a detention deputy job description:

   Detention deputy job description example

   We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education should apply.Our hiring managers begin reviewing applications after the Job Posting End Date (see below) and will begin contacting applicants soon after that date. Thank you for your patience as we give each application the time and attention that it deserves.
   Job
   Title: Detention
   Deputy - Transportation
   
   Department: Sheriff
   
   Hiring
   Range: $19.04 - $22.86
   
   Posted Internally and Externally
   
   Job Posting End Date: October 24, 2022
   
   This Deputy position reports to the BC Detention Facility and is responsible for transporting detainees as needed. Purpose of the position:
   An employee in this position is responsible for performing a variety of duties pertaining to the safety and security of inmates in the custody of the County Detention Facility.
   
   Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):
   High School diploma or equivalent. Must be 21 years of age.
   
   Additional Training and Experience: NC BLET and one-year of Deputy experience on a patrol road squad.
   
   License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:
   Certification as a Detention Officer by the North Carolina Sheriff's Training and Standards Commission must be completed within one year of hire. Possession of a valid driver's license.
   
   Essential Functions of the position:
   Admits inmates to the County Detention Facility; searches and processes inmates; secures personal belongings of inmates for safekeeping and advises inmates of all facility rules and regulations. Conducts supervision rounds and inspects their cells and common areas to ensure cleanliness and sanitation; supervises inmates engaged in daily cleaning of the housing unit and other activities such as meal service.Arranges for inmates to have weekly visits with family and friends; documents inmate movement as well as conducting searches of inmates and property for contraband; checks incoming and outgoing mail for contraband. Supervises inmates during the administering of medicines and sick call by medical staff; notifies medical of emergencies and oversees the general welfare of inmates. Patrols entire detention facility conducting intermittent supervision rounds to prevent escapes and maintain order. Maintains various forms and completes computer entries to update and document the inmates file while in custody.Performs other related duties as assigned.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
   Knowledge of practices and procedures involved in inmate management. Knowledge of local laws, ordinances and the North Carolina General Statutes pertaining to the commitment and confinement of inmates. Ability to maintain discipline and order of inmates. Ability to maintain accurate records. Ability to maintain courteous and tactful relationships with families of inmates, attorneys, ministers and other persons concerned with the welfare of individual inmates. Ability to take prompt and effective action during detention facility emergencies.
   
   In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.
   
   Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.
   
   It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition, Buncombe County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.
   
   Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right detention deputy for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your detention deputy job on Zippia to find and recruit detention deputy candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with detention deputy candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new detention deputy

   Once you've found the detention deputy candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new detention deputy first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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