How to hire a detention enforcement officer

How to hire a detention enforcement officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step detention enforcement officer 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 enforcement officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new detention enforcement officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your detention enforcement officer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a detention enforcement officer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A detention enforcement officer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, detention enforcement officers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents detention enforcement officer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Detention Enforcement Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Detention Enforcement Officer	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.	$16-30
   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
   Corrections Deputy	A corrections deputy assists senior officers in overseeing the daily activities in jail or prisons and keeps order by enforcing strict rules and regulations. They must observe the inmates' behavior and progress in different programs, monitor any suspicious behavior, conduct routine inspections on cells, and coordinate with co-workers to maintain security... Show more	$15-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Care Custody
   • INS
   • Patrol
   • Conveyance
   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • NCIC
   • Direct Supervision

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage booking area and process all non-English speaking detainees; streamline process and reduce confrontational situations through effective communication and leadership.
   • Manage booking area and process all non-English speaking detainees; streamline process and reduce confrontational situations through effective communication and leadership.
   • Perform basic first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation which involves kneeling and bending.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your detention enforcement officer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A detention enforcement officer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, detention enforcement officers' average salary in missouri is 63% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level detention enforcement officers 46% less than senior-level detention enforcement officers.
   • Certifications. A detention enforcement officer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a detention enforcement officer's salary.

   Average detention enforcement officer salary

   $46,625yearly

   $22.42 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level detention enforcement officer salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a detention enforcement officer job description

   A job description for a detention enforcement officer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a detention enforcement officer job description:

   Detention enforcement officer job description example

   6pm-6am

   Rotating schedule

   Week 1 Monday Tuesday, Friday

   Week 2 Wednesday , Saturday, Sunday

   [Armed Detention officer Job Responsibilities]

   • Maintain security of prisoners in the courtroom
   • Escort prisoners to and from the holding cells to the courtrooms utilizing handcuffs, shackles, and other restraints.
   • Escort prisoner in medical facilities if admitted.
   • Transport prisoners from correctional institutes to courthouse & medical facilities.
   • Completes reports by recording observations, information, occurrences, and surveillance activities.

   [Work Hours and Benefits]

   This position is considered a per-diem position and hours will vary week to week.

   [Armed Detention Officer Qualifications and Skills]

   • Must be able to stand for up to 6 hours
   • Strong verbal and written communication skills
   • Can always stay alert

   [Education and Experience Requirements]

   • High School Diploma or equivalent required
   • Minimum of 3 years of detention officer, law enforcement, or military police experience.
   • State Unrestricted Carry Permit
   • State Armed Security License

   Please apply to the posting and our USI Recruitment Team will reach out to set up a virtual interview.

   
   
   

   We service our clients best when we serve our employees first

   United Security Inc. is one of the fastest growing security services companies in the USA. For over 30 years we work with clients from Boston to Miami and as far west as Iowa. The last 5 years our revenue has grown by 140%! As a result of our incredible success, we are looking for talent to continue accelerating our growth. If you appreciate having a team to support and challenge you to achieve your goals, come build your career at United Security!

   
   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find detention enforcement officers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any detention enforcement officers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level detention enforcement officers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with detention enforcement officer 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 enforcement officer

   Once you've found the detention enforcement officer 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 enforcement officer 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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