Detention trainee applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, or be expected to graduate or receive a GED within the next 90 days.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
Applicants must possess, or be able to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
Applicants must complete a background investigation, polygraph examination, medical examination with an attestation of physical readiness, and psychological examination before hiring.
Detention trainees must participate in a 12-week paid detention academy after hire and successfully complete physical readiness assessments to graduate and remain employed.
Lateral applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years old.
Lateral applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
Lateral applicants must have completed at least an eight-week in-person Arizona detention or corrections academy, or Correctional Officer Training Academy, and have prior detention or corrections officer experience within the last three years for an Arizona state, city, county or town agency, or a private prison or detention center.
Applicants with at least an eight-week in-person detention or corrections academy completed outside Arizona may be considered, subject to evaluation of prior training and experience for lateral eligibility.
Lateral applicants must have completed 40 hours of defensive tactics training, hold OC spray certification, and have two consecutive years of detention or corrections experience.
Lateral applicants must possess, or be able to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
Lateral applicants must complete a physical readiness assessment, written examination, orientation, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological examination, and medical examination before hiring.
Applicants must be able to communicate effectively in English, including understanding English vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Applicants must be skilled in using standard office equipment.
Applicants must be able to read, learn, understand, apply, and follow rules, regulations, instructions, jail practices, and procedures.
Applicants must be able to direct prisoners clearly and concisely in an authoritative manner.
Applicants must be able to maintain accurate records and prepare clear, concise routine verbal and written reports.
Applicants must distinguish among simultaneously sounding audio alarms, including radio duress activations, public-address systems, ringing phones, and perimeter alarms.
Applicants must distinguish colors and shapes to identify inventory items and establish and maintain successful working relationships.
Applicants must be able to work any shift because detention facilities operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Applicants must be able to perform physical tasks including sprinting, jumping, vaulting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, moving around obstacles, and pursuing, extracting, and using force.
Applicants must be able to lift heavy or awkward objects weighing 50 pounds or more, carry heavy objects 10 to 60 feet, and carry 20-to-50-pound equipment on stairs; drag people or objects weighing up to 175 pounds for 20 to 30 feet; push objects or people weighing up to 200 pounds for 10 to 25 feet; pull objects or people weighing up to 150 pounds for 10 to 25 feet; and pull themselves over a six-foot obstacle.
Applicants must perform bending, twisting, crouching, climbing, and use-of-force activities, including self-defense, control holds, strikes, intermediate impact weapons, and forced entry by pushing and pulling.
Applicants must be able to run sprints of 100 feet or more, run for sustained periods up to five minutes, run up and down stairs, run over uneven terrain, and avoid obstacles.
Applicants must be able to work indoors and outdoors, in confined areas and on stairs or ladders, and in environments involving extreme temperatures, chemicals, fumes, smoke, dust, wet areas, heights, noise, varying light, and contagious diseases.
Applicants must lift 50 pounds from floor to waist, waist to shoulder, and shoulder to overhead; carry up to 50 pounds over varying distances; and push or pull up to 200 pounds over varying distances.
Applicants must work in emergency and traumatic situations, dangerous environments, under time pressure and frequent interruptions, with changing or complicated tasks and high workloads, while maintaining accuracy, vigilance, concentration, and decision-making.
Applicants must work in close proximity to others, handle public contact, overtime and rotating shifts, and possible isolated conditions or reassignment to different locations.
Lateral applicants are preferred to have a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training standards.
Detention trainee applicants are preferred to have three years of work experience, prior law enforcement experience, and/or prior military experience.
Applicants are preferred to have, or be able to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training standards.
Responsibilities
Conduct security walks and head counts, including prolonged standing, stair climbing, and walking.
Search facilities and inmate cells, including reaching all areas and climbing ladders and stairs to access overhead spaces, attics, rooftops, and other locations.
Search inmates and visitors for weapons and contraband, including physical searches of clothing and bending or squatting to search legs, socks, and shoes.
Conduct frisk and strip searches of inmates by visually observing unclothed inmates for weapons and contraband.
Continuously monitor inmates and detention-facility areas, including viewing monitors while seated and moving or turning as needed.
Provide inmate services, including recreation, meals, visitation, and clothing exchanges.
Operate buttons, touch-screen control monitors, switches, and knobs to control doors, sliders, and communication systems while maintaining emotional control under stress.
Pursue fleeing inmates on foot and monitor and control inmate movement, including escorting inmates within or outside the jail.
Use physical force to breach barriers to enter facilities or seize or rescue inmates.
Subdue or restrain resisting inmates using defensive tactics or approved non-lethal weapons, and lift inmates following restraint.
Respond to emergencies by restraining combative inmates, carrying inmates during medical crises, evacuating areas, and responding to fires with emergency equipment; remove people from danger, including dragging unconscious victims.
Perform basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Gather investigative information by interviewing victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants and obtaining their statements.
Prepare electronic operations journal entries and legible written reports using standard grammar, punctuation, symbols, and basic mathematical functions.
Inspect and inventory security equipment through testing and physical handling.
Operate telephones, electronic equipment, fingerprint equipment, automated data processing time recorders and clocks, cameras, video-recording devices, scanners, copiers, and fax machines; perform computer and data entry.
Communicate over radio channels, initiate and respond to radio communications, and communicate verbally with inmates and the public to manage conflict and maintain order, including in noisy areas.
Exercise independent judgment within legal guidelines by reading and understanding rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to determine appropriate responses involving the public.
Use approved non-lethal weapons, including pepper spray and conducted electrical weapons, to subdue resisting inmates.
Manually unlock and open metal gates to allow vehicles to enter jail grounds.
Perform perimeter checks by vehicle and/or on foot.
Provide courtroom security and document judicial information, including bond, sentence, and release information.
Inventory inmate belongings for transport to other facilities, including clothing and personal property.
Ensure arrest- and release-related legal documentation is complete and provided to appropriate departments, divisions, units, and outside agencies.
Use a computerized cash-accounting system to maintain accurate accounts of inmate funds and open or close accounts as required.
Be present at the work site at the dates and times assigned by the supervisor.
Desired Qualifications
Currently possess, or be able to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training standards.
Detention trainee applicants are preferred to have three years of work experience, prior law enforcement experience, and/or prior military experience.
Posting Date
10/22/26
Application Deadline
11/29/26
Pay Range
Min - Mid - Max $27.00 - $31.63 - $37.50
New Sign-On Incentive of $7,500
Note: The pay range listed above reflects the FULL pay range for the position. Successful applicants will typically be compensated at a rate of $27.00/hr. Placement at a higher starting salary rate within the range may be considered depending on prior comparable, directly related law enforcement or corrections experience. This position is non-exempt under the FLSA.
Job Type
Classified
Department
Sheriff
About the Position
Trainees will earn $56,160.00 plus sign-on incentive in their first full year of employment!
Laterals may earn up to $72,000+ in their first full year of employment, DOE
Pre-Employment assessments:
***Applicants will be required to attend the Physical/Written assessment and Orientation. Testing dates will be sent via email.
An invitation to the physical/written assessment/orientation and instructions will be sent to the e-mail address provided on your application approximately 5 days prior to the scheduled assessment/orientation. Please make sure to keep a close watch on your email inbox and spam/junk folder.
Physical Readiness Assessment (PRA) Applicants must successfully demonstrate physical readiness by completing a series of assessments which consists of the following:
1. Agility Run – 27.1 seconds – Measures agility and coordination
2. Push-Ups – 5 with no time limit – Measures upper body dynamic strength
4. 1.5 Mile Run - 26 minutes, 10 seconds – Measures aerobic power & vascular endurance
Detention Deputy: Are you passionate about serving and protecting your community? Now is your chance to join the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) as a Detention Deputy! In this role, high importance is placed on ensuring public safety is provided and maintained by an individual who takes pride in their work and considers the impact of their actions on an individual, team and organizational level.
We are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal and customer service skills, the ability to effectively resolve conflict, and a desire for enhancing public safety. Ideal candidates will have a keen sense of emotional intelligence and be motivated by serving others and their community. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you...your adventure with MCSO awaits!
To be part of our team as a Detention Deputy, you must:
Be an effective communicator, even in the most challenging of situations.
Care about the safety and well-being of others, both within and outside a jail setting.
Respect all individuals regardless of background or socio-economic status.
Embrace the concepts of integrity, accountability and transparency as core values.
Collaborate with team members, supervisors and managers to forward the mission and vision of MCSO.
Compensation is more than a salary with MCSO. Your perks at work include:
Paid training.
A stable environment.
Great benefits.
Flexibility and generous leave.
An opportunity to serve your community as part of a diverse and talented workforce.
Lateral Opportunities Available If you have successfully completed an Arizona detention or corrections academy, or Correctional Officer Training Academy (COTA) and have current or prior experience (within the last 3 years) working as a detention or corrections officer for the State of Arizona, or an Arizona county, city or town, or private prison/detention center, WE WANT YOU!
Candidates who have completed a detention/corrections academy outside the state of Arizona may also be considered. An evaluation of prior training and experience will determine if out of state candidates are eligible for the lateral position.
Concerned about completing a new academy? We value your prior experience and academy completion; therefore, successful lateral candidates will participate in an accelerated 5-week training/orientation program!
Detention Trainee Qualifications
Minimum education and/or experience:
High school diploma or GED, or are expected to graduate/receive GED within the next 90 days.
Must be eighteen (18) years of age.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or be eligible to work in the U.S.
Specialized training, certifications, and/or other special requirements:
Applicants must possess, or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all applicants complete the following: background investigation; polygraph exam; medical exam with attestation of physical readiness and psychological exam.
Training to be provided on-the-job: FEMA NIMS – IS100 AND 700, safety, payroll and PREA.
Additionally, post hire participation in a 12-week paid detention academy is required and which includes successfully demonstrating physical readiness by completing a series of assessments with the requisite results in order to graduate the academy and remain employed. A seven-battery assessment became effective November 1, 2015.
Preferred education and/or experience: Three (3) years of work experience, prior law enforcement experience, and/or prior military experience preferred.
Preferred training, certifications and/or other special requirements: Currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to standards set by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST).
Detention Lateral Qualifications
Minimum education and/or experience:
High School diploma or GED. Must be eighteen (18) years of age.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or be eligible to work in the U.S.
Must have successfully completed at least a 8 week in person Arizona detention or corrections academy, or Correctional Officer Training Academy (COTA) and have prior experience (within the last 3 years) working as a detention or corrections officer for the State of Arizona, an Arizona city, county or town, or a private prison/detention center.
Candidates who have completed at least 8 week in person detention/corrections academy outside the state of Arizona may also be considered. An evaluation of prior training and experience will determine if out of state candidates are eligible for the lateral position.
Completed 40 hours of Defensive Tactics Training.
OC spray certification.
2 consecutive years of Detention or Corrections Experience.
If you have successfully completed an Arizona detention or corrections academy with prior experience and continued serving in a law enforcement capacity with another agency, you may be eligible for a Lateral position. Eligibility will be determined through the pre-employment process and is solely at the discretion of Command staff.
Specialized training, certifications, and/or other special requirements:
Applicants must possess, or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license.
Training with the exception of Arizona driver's license to be provided on-the-job: FEMA NIMS – IS100 AND 700, OSHA training, payroll training and PREA training.
Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all applicants complete the following: physical readiness assessment (PRA), a written examination, orientation, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological exam and medical exam.
Preferred training, certifications and/or other special requirements: Currently possess, or have the ability to obtain, a commercial driver's license and/or weapons certification equivalent to standards set by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST).
Detention Trainee / Lateral
Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Knowledge of:
Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling, rules of composition and grammar.
Skill in:
Using standard office equipment.
Ability to:
Read, learn, understand, apply and follow rules, regulations, instructions, jail practices and procedures.
Direct the activities of prisoners by speaking clearly and concisely in an authoritative manner.
Maintain accurate records and make routine verbal and written reports using concise and clear communication.
Distinguish between simultaneously sounding audio alarms for various devices, such as radio duress activations, PA systems, phone ringing, and perimeter alarm activations.
Distinguish color and shapes to identify items for inventory purposes.
Establish and maintain successful working relationships.
Working conditions: Job requires the ability to work any shift due to detention facilities operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Job requires ability to: perform sprints, jumping and vaulting tasks; perform lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling; move quickly around objects and obstacles in pursuit situations; and pursue, extract and use force in both short intense effort and sustained effort situations. Actual situations may require efforts beyond the following:
Perform lifting and carrying that may include lifting heavy and awkward objects weighing 50 lbs. or more; carrying heavy and awkward equipment and objects 10 to 60 ft.; and carrying equipment weighing 20 to 50 lbs. up and down stairs Perform dragging movements that may include extracting victims weighing up to 175 lbs. and dragging victims, objects or suspects weighing up to 175 lbs., 20 to 30 ft.
Perform pushing and pulling that may include pushing heavy objects or people weighing up to 200 lbs., 10 to 25 ft.; pulling heavy objects or people weighing up to 150 lbs., 10 to 25 ft.; and pulling self over 6 ft. obstacle.
Perform range of motion activities that may include bending to reach for objects; bending and twisting in use of force situations; crouching during movement of 10 to 15 ft.; and climbing ladders and fire escapes. Use force that may include self-defense situations for 45 to 60 seconds; control holds in self-defense situations for 30 to 60 seconds; strikes using hands, elbows, feet, and knees; use of intermediate impact weapons; and forced entry by pushing and pulling.
Perform foot pursuits that may include running sprints of 100 feet or more; running for sustained periods, usually 300 feet but up to 5 minutes; running up and down stairs, usually 2 flights but may be up to 4 flights; run over uneven terrain; and dodge around obstacles.
The following environments described are only representative of how the essential job tasks are currently performed or envisioned. As such, in order to accommodate a disability or limitation, the essential job tasks may be performed in ways other than described on these pages.
Work Environment:
Indoors and outdoors. May encounter temperatures above 90 degrees and below 40 degrees
Confined areas and use of stairs or ladders
Exposure to chemical and fumes, smoke and dust, wet and damp areas
Unprotected heights
Exposure to high noise, dim and bright lighting
May encounter exposure to contagious diseases
Physical Environment:
Sitting, standing and walking
Driving a vehicle
Speaking, hearing, seeing, and reading
Distinguishing colors
Bending, kneeling, and reaching
Twisting, climbing, crawling, crouching and balancing
Wearing protective gear
Precise dexterity
Physical restraining and running
Lifting floor to waist fifty (50) pounds
Lifting waist to shoulder of fifty (50) pounds
Lifting shoulder to overhead of fifty (50) pounds
Carrying a weight of up to fifty (50) pounds for a distance of various feet
Pushing/pulling a weight of up to 200 pounds for a distance of various feet
Social Environment:
Working in conditions involving emergencies and traumatic subject matters
Dangerous environment
Handling multiple or complicated tasks and frequently changing and unscheduled tasks
Working under time pressures with constant interruptions
High volume of work
High level of accuracy and attention to detail
Decision making
Concentration/vigilance
Working in a team environment in close proximity with others
May have to work in isolated conditions
Isolation
Public contact
Overtime/rotating shifts
Reassignment to different locations
ESSENTIAL JOB TASKS:
Conducts security walks and head counts which involves standing, stair climbing, and walking for long periods of time.
Performs facility and inmate cell searches which involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, lying down and crawling under bunks, lifting and climbing to reach all areas of the cell and facility including climbing ladders/stairs to reach overhead sky lights, attic crawl spaces, rooftops, etc.
Performs searches of inmates and visitors which includes touching and feeling clothing to detect weapons and contraband; also includes the ability to squat, stoop, stretch, bend to floor level to search pant legs, socks, and shoes.
Performs frisk and strip searches of inmates which includes visually observing unclothed inmates to detect weapons and contraband.
Conducts continual visual surveillance of inmates and various areas of detention facilities which involves prolonged sitting, twisting, and bending to view various monitors.
Provides inmate services such as recreation (spending several hours exposed to outdoor elements), serving meals, visitation, and clothing exchanges which involves lifting food trays, beverage containers, canteen bags, and bundles of laundry weighing up to 80 lbs. and requires bending, stooping, and kneeling.
Quickly selects and correctly operates appropriate buttons, touch screen control monitors, switches, and knobs used to control doors, sliders, and communication systems while maintaining emotional control under extreme stress.
Pursues fleeing inmates on foot which involves running, climbing, jumping, bending, stooping, and crawling over a prolonged distance.
Monitors and controls all activities regarding inmate movement which could include escorting/walking inmates for long distances to various locations within or outside of the jail facility.
Uses body force, ranging from mild to extreme, to gain entrance through barriers to gain entrance through barriers to seize or rescue inmates.
Subdues or restrains resisting inmates using hands and feet while employing defensive tactics or approved non-lethal weapons which may include kneeling, bending, or stooping as well as lifting the inmate following restraint.
Responds quickly to emergency situations that may include physically restraining combative inmates, lifting and carrying inmates during a medical crisis; escorting inmates up and down stairs to evacuate areas while wearing emergency equipment; or putting on air pack for a fire emergency to enter smoke-filled areas appropriately by stooping or crawling, select and open fire extinguishers/hoses and physically removing inmates from danger, which may include dragging unconscious victims (averaging 180 pounds).
Performs basic first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation which involves kneeling and bending.
Gathers information for investigations by interviewing and obtaining the statements of the victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants.
Appropriately utilizes technology to prepare electronic Operations Journal Entries (log book), or when necessary hand write information to produce legible reports, using standard grammar, punctuation, symbols, and simple mathematical functions.
Inspect and inventories security equipment through testing which includes pressing buttons, turning switches, and lifting/turning equipment.
Operates telephones, electronic equipment, fingerprint equipment, ADP time recorders/clocks, cameras, video recording devices, scanners, copiers, and fax machines which involve turning electronic knobs and typing for computer/data entry.
Communicates effectively over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications, often under adverse conditions.
Communicates verbally and effectively, in areas with the potential of high noise levels, by listening and providing information, direction and commands to inmates and/or the general public to manage interpersonal conflict and maintain order.
Exercises independent judgment within legal guidelines which involves reading and comprehending rules, regulations, policies and procedures for purpose of insuring appropriate officer behavior/response involving the general public.
Subdues resisting inmates using approved non-lethal weapons, i.e., pepper spray (chemical discharge containing Oleo resin capsicum), and conducted electrical weapon (short duration exposure containing 50,000 volts and up to .004 amps).
Manually unlocks and opens 8' X 12' metal gates to allow vehicles to enter the jail grounds.
Ability to work any shift due to detention facilities operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with regular days off generally being any two consecutive days during the week.
Performs perimeter checks in a vehicle and/or on foot.
Provides courtroom security and document judicial information, i.e. bond information, sentence, and release information.
Inventories inmate belongings such as clothing and personal property for transport to other facilities which involves standing for long periods of time, lifting, and climbing a ladder while carrying semi-heavy bags of clothing.
Ensures legal documentation pertinent to an arrest/release is complete and provided to the appropriate departments/divisions/units, i.e. court, court desk, facility which involves proofreading, standing for long periods of time and communication with outside agencies including police and probation departments.
Uses a computerized cash accounting system to maintain an accurate account of inmates' funds; may be required to open or close an account which involves sitting for extended periods of time and having the ability to use the computer and other electronic equipment.
Be present at work site to perform assigned tasks at the times and dates scheduled/assigned by the supervisor.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
The Maricopa County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates who are considered the most highly qualified. The hiring authority will consider candidates from a list provided by the Human Resources Department. Candidates referred for consideration by the department will be required to successfully complete a comprehensive background check, polygraph examination, psychological screening and medical screening with attestation of physical readiness. Upon successful completion of these requirements, all hired candidates are required to participate in and successfully complete a 12-week Detention Academy, which includes Physical Readiness Assessments, to continue employment as a Detention Deputy.
Minimum Education
Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.