Inmate Release Specialist

Posting Date

11/13/26

Application Deadline

11/16/26

Pay Range

MIN - MID - MAX
$20.25 - $26.38 - $32.50

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Sheriff

About the Position

Are you looking for a position that will take advantage of your attention to detail and knack for precision?

The SIMS Inmate Release Specialist provides highly responsible and specialized legal, clerical, and customer service support. The position includes varying shifts, extended sitting, direct interaction with customers addressing their needs and enhancing the customer experience, inputting data into the software database with meticulous accuracy and quality review.

Under general supervision, this position performs work related to an inmate’s progress through the judicial system while in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). The tasks are in the areas of judicial documents, court appearance scheduling, bonds and fines, inmate release processes, and other areas. This involves reviewing and interpreting a variety of legal documents of moderate complexity, liaising with various courts, other MCSO staff, law enforcement and other agencies.  The SIMS specialist responds to inquiries from the public and bonding companies regarding inmates in person, over the phone, and through email.

If you are looking for a career that offers stability, growth, and camaraderie, apply today!

About the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office:

Do you possess integrity, strong interpersonal skills, and do you have a desire to serve your community?  We are seeking passionate individuals to join our team with a variety of openings for Civilian, Detention and Sworn personnel.  The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) invites you to become part of Arizona's leading law enforcement agency where we come together as a team to support and provide public safety. 

Position Qualifications

We recognize your time is valuable, so please apply if you meet the following required qualifications:

Education

• High school diploma or GED.

Experience

• Two (2) years of general clerical/administrative experience.

Combined education and experience qualifications

• Other combinations of post-secondary education and experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year for year basis.

Other requirements

• Within six (6) months of employment or assignment you must train, functionally test and affirm the proficiency of terminal operations to assure compliance with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) CJIS policy and regulations, and successfully retest annually.
• In order to be considered for employment with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, successful candidates must not have a revoked or suspended driver’s license.
• Training that may be provided on-the-job: Safety; Payroll; PREA.
• Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all candidates pass a background review.

Our Preferred Candidate has

• Advanced knowledge of legal processes or court records.
• Associate degree in administration, criminal justice administration, or legal assistant.
• Clerical or administrative experience in a criminal justice setting.
• Experience in law enforcement or detention setting.

Compensation is more than a salary with MCSO:

• Growth and stability since 1871
• Choice of three medical plans – starting as low as $70/month
• Holidays – 10/year + 1 personal day
• Enrollment in Arizona State Retirement System
• Paid sick and parental leaves (birth/adoption)
• 30% discount at Kindercare childcare facilities in the Valley.
• 50% discount at MCKids Club childcare located next to our headquarters. 
• MCSO Mentoring program to provide personal and professional growth opportunities for all employees
• Access to free County gyms
• Learn more at Benefits Overview 

Essential Job Tasks

(This is not an all-inclusive list of all job duties that may be required; employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned.)

• Exercises independent judgment within legal guidelines; learns and understands principles and practices of the legal system including federal, state and municipal courts; reads and comprehends statutes, rules, regulations, and policy.
• Retrieves data for all detainees to interpret and determine proper hold and/or release conditions using various databases (e.g., Sheriff’s Office database (SHIELD), Maricopa County Attorney’s System (KARPEL), and Superior Court database (iCIS)).
• Processes daily judicial court documents received for all in-custody defendants seen in all courts within Maricopa County; updates judicial data in SHIELD; ensures appearance/transport to court proceedings and accurate and efficient release processes.
• Researches Superior Court systems (iCIS) for all in-custody defendants; interprets and applies judicial orders of confinement and conditions of release.
• Receives and processes information, warrants, and documents from other criminal justice and law enforcement offices relating to the judicial status and custody of inmates.
• Researches issues and communicates with other agencies via telephone and email.
• Processes cash bonds, fines, surety bonds, and child support payments.
• Responds to the public and other agency inquiries regarding inmates promptly and courteously.
• Provides customer service to the public via telephone and in person at the Bonds & Fines public counter.
• Updates and processes daily judicial court documents received for all in-custody defendants seen in all courts within Maricopa County.
• Initiates and processes all releases from MCSO jails with high degree of accuracy and accountability.
• Liaises with Courts, Correctional Health, and the Department of Corrections (DOC) for all inmates sentenced to prison to organize the transfer from MCSO custody to Arizona Department of Corrections custody.
• Monitors the status of Fugitives of Justice and Interstate Compact Offenders and processes warrants and other legal documents pertaining to these inmates.
• Receives and sends teletype messages.
• Maintains judicial files for all detainees.
• Consolidates and prepares files for long term storage upon release of inmates.
• Maintains and monitors office equipment and supplies.
• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.

Working Conditions

Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer. 

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 occurs primarily indoors in an office environment and may occasionally require travel to a jail facility.  The Sheriff’s Office is a 24/7 operation and this position requires the ability to work alternative shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Work environment

• Indoors in a lower-level office environment.
• Rarely outdoors or in temperatures above 90 degrees.
• Conditions frequently include confined area, high noise level, bright lighting.
• Conditions may rarely include chemicals/fumes, smoke/dust, wet/damp area, stairs or ladders, dim lighting, exposure to contagious diseases.

Physical environment

• Sitting, standing, walking
• Speaking, hearing, seeing, reading
• Distinguishing colors
• Bending, kneeling, reaching, twisting
• Lifting floor to waist twenty (20) pounds
• Carrying a weight of twenty (20) pounds for a distance of 20 feet
• Pushing/pulling a weight of twenty (20) pounds for a distance of 10 feet
   

Social environment

• High volume of work
• Handling multiple or complicated tasks, frequently changing tasks
• Need for accuracy and detailed work
• Decision making, concentration/vigilance
• Teamwork
• Conditions frequently include interruptions, time pressures, unscheduled tasks, isolation, working in close physical proximity with others, public contact
• Occasional overtime opportunities
• Conditions may rarely include emergencies, traumatic subject matter.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Modern office procedures, data processing applications, and record keeping principals.
• Basic mathematical skills and cash handling.
• Basic to intermediate level grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Skill in

• Keyboarding, using a computer and related software applications. 
• Using standard office equipment including printer, copier, scanner, fax machine, and adding machine.
• Applying attention to detail and accuracy in performance of job duties.

Ability to

• Learn, interpret, and explain statutes, rules, and policies.
• Prioritize work and perform multiple tasks.
• Maintain confidentiality, exercise judgment and accuracy in supplying information.
• Receive and follow work directions and procedures.
• Communicate effectively and apply interpersonal skills when interacting with coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
• Convey verbal and written information as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Establish and maintain successful professional relationships.
• Provide exemplary customer service.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

The hiring authority will select the successful candidate based on departmental needs.
 
All offers of employment made to new hires and rehires at Maricopa County are contingent upon successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment thorough background investigation.  A background investigation is conducted on a current employee who changes to a Safety Sensitive Position or one having the potential for serious adverse impact on the integrity or efficiency of the County.  These requirements do not pertain to employees of elected officials who undergo background investigation processes administered through their respective offices.

Typically, successful candidates are hired at a salary rate, up to midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience, internal equity and budgetary allowances.

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [email protected] to initiate the interactive process.

Apply Now!