correctional officer

administrative specialist

deputy sheriff

assistant

examiner

Maricopa County Sheriffs Office

Working for the Sheriff's Office will definitely allow you to pay your bills (as long as you're a sensible person that hasn't developed serious spending problems) and if you take it seriously, you should also develop near-superhuman intuition when interacting with people.

The training and advancement options are there if you present yourself as a Professional and have a strong enough backbone to bother your supervisors until they agree to give you more opportunities. The culture is a bit rough around the edges -- which is to be expected from any career where you are reminded everyday of all that is wrong with people and the world.

The two halves of the Agency, Sworn and Detention, still can't stand one another. If you're working Detention and try to hop over to the other side, do not be surprised if you feel some level of animosity; it's an old rivalry that the Brass has been trying to iron out for years.

This shouldn't be a surprise to you if you're looking to work in the jails: expect to encounter sights, sounds, smells, and situations that may very well rock you to your core. You will see and hear things that the general public is somewhat oblivious to. Being around bad men and women for 40+ hours a week takes its toll on everyone and you will notice changes in your personality between 6 months to 2 years after you start. Some of these changes will be for the good and many for the worst. Have someone who cares for you (that is outside of Law Enforcement) keep their eye on you. Do not think that you're too tough for this line of work to alter you -- it happens to everyone.

Benefits are very good and pay is very competitive on the the Detention side. Regardless, if you work here, expect to hear an endless wave of complaints and grievances from everyone; it's just part of the MCSO culture. Complaining is basically a hobby for many officers.

Expect to see a relatively high level of nepotism and favoritism from supervisors and admin. Know that if you choose to work here that you may be passed over for assignments, training, pay increases, and advancement because one of your coworkers is a part of the "in crowd".

Work-life balance is dependent on assignment and schedule although it tends to be atrocious for most Detention staff. Expect to work five 8 hour shifts on any rotation that the Agency so chooses. Five days a week in jail isn't a great long-term schedule for mental health and is not a standard schedule for the majority of Correctional jobs in this country. The aforementioned mental health issues that this job can cause also tends to damage interpersonal relationships. If this happens to you, talk to a trained mental health professional.

The Professional Standards Bureau (MCSO's version of Internal Affairs) has an obscene number of Deputies and Officers under investigation for incredibly frivolous complaints. If this happens to you (and it probably will!), expect to be under an investigation for one to three years. Even if your investigation is cleared you can expect this to impact your future career in Law Enforcement. While you are under investigation many other agencies will not hire you (although some do know about MCSO's absurd disciplinary process and will give you the benefit of the doubt).  

Overall, you should expect to have your worldview completely altered if you choose to work here. You will meet some of the best and worst people that God ever put on this green earth. You will stare real danger in the face and you will learn more about yourself from that than many learn about themselves in a lifetime. That being said, this line of work is necessary to society -- someone will always have to do it. If you think that's you, be aware that this job will change who you are.

Working here was only a pleasant experience for those who had "connections." If you aren't either related or in some type of relationship (friendship or other) with someone of authority, then you'd better be prepared to be constantly stepped on. They make sure to remind you frequently that you are nothing but a number and are very replaceable, which is funny because their staff retention is atrocious and they are constantly short-staffed. And don't you dare need accommodation of any sort at any time, even if you've been working there for a while. They will remind you, again, that you are only a number and that you agreed to do whatever they tell you, whenever they tell you, however they tell you with no questions asked when you accepted the job. Nevermind the fact that life happens and sometimes adjustments are necessary. That's not their problem! I understand that it's a job and they are not required to do much of anything outside of what they are regulated to do. But it absolutely kills morale and makes for a depressing work experience when you are basically forced to choose between the job and other (sometimes more pressing) matters. Anyway, my time with the company ended a while ago. But from what I am hearing from people who are still there or left a while ago like me, not much has changed. So if you have the connections on the inside or have absolutely NO life outside of work, then go for it! Otherwise, beware...

Oh, and there are no pay raises unless you promote. They have a plan laid out for pay that is supposed to correlate to years of service. But apparently, this only benefits you when you are transferring in laterally from another agency. I know officers who have been with the Office for over a decade, but they're only receiving pay at the five-year level. Meanwhile, officers with less experience are getting paid more simply because they transferred over with the experience from elsewhere. Once you're in, they couldn't care less about you.

Demonstrates knowledge and compliance including but not limited to, the proper use of medical/clinic equipment such as: Blood Glucose checks, EKG, Pulse Oximeter, Centrifuge and Vital sign monitoring devices; Takes patient vital signs. Performs wound care treatments as ordered by provider.  Perform vein-puncture and collect specimens; Completes treatment and procedures as directed by a licensed nurse in compliance with CHT training. Complete required elements of the receiving screening process, including identification of abnormal findings exhibited by patient initiating a nurse triage process. Conducts initial screening tests and obtains specimens as directed. Performs assists or supervises patients in their personal hygiene or activities of daily living needs. Provides health care, which is appropriate to diagnosis, age and development of the patient as ordered. Prepares patients for medical examinations. Conduct segregation checks and Level 3 suicide watches in the in-patient care areas. Exhibits a professional image in both appearance and behavior and maintains professional boundaries with patients. Ability to transcribe doctors orders accurately and verifies medication timely, maintain an organized work environment. Prioritize work; multitask; handle multiple phone lines; answer calls in a professional manner, scheduling appointments in the computer, filing loose paperwork, and accurately alphabetizing documents and records, completes and processes all required documentation, legibly, timely and with accuracy. Provides and maintains patient confidentiality.

Typical days are simple, easy production. You learn things at the ability you are able to understand them. Management is a dam joke, always changing things but don't have a clue about a typical functioning day. Too busy micro-managing all the minor irrelevant issues, never get an kind of congratulatory work ethic. Always do your best but get treated worse than the inmates themselves. Morale is grotesque, there isn't any, unless its spread amongst the Officers and their peers themselves. Commanding staff ( Administration) is its own separate entity, they basically disavow any incorrect orders and look to place blame, never responsible for any mistakes. If they are they look for a scape goat or make your life a living heck. They say that the employees are given like 3 pot-luck employee appreciations a year, I have worked here 3 years and have only seen one! Administration has had over 3 in a single day, its a shame. Advancement/ Promotion only happens if your are really good at being on your knees! Promotions are not handed out, by your knowledge or work merit, but by how much rear end you can kiss, and how brown you can make your nose. It really is a shame! Most enjoyable part of this job, is the new family/ camaraderie you receive amongst line staff ( Officers, Sergeants).

What is the best part of working at the company?
Your shift co-workers. If you have responsible co-workers that will work, the work will not be as bad. This unfortunately is not always the case. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There is never enough time to do your tasks if you are a Detention Officer. You have to do a security check every 25 minutes. It doesn't matter what you are doing, you have to stop and do that check. Even when feeding and you are already interacting with the inmates, you have to stop and walk.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Most employees call in sick quite a bit since shifts are always short. Staffing is almost ALWAYS below what is needed to safely and securely run the facility. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Come on shift, get a briefing and go to your assigned area. You will immediately do a headcount. Next, as you are walking you will get bombarded with questions and problems from inmates. Next you will start pill call, but have to stop to do that 25 minute check. Then start again, then stop to do that check. Next chow will come. You will start feeding and low and behold you will have to stop feeding to do that check. When you are done, mental health shows up and will need to see multiple inmates. You might have a few visits so you will need to stop what you are doing to take the visitors. You will probably need a check in there as well.  You will probably have to respond to an overdose, hanging/suicide attempt or inmate fight at some point during the shift, but make sure you can go get that 25 minute walk in.

Conducting security walks and headcounts.
    Performing inmate cell searches.
    Performing searches of inmates and visitors.
    Performing strip searches of inmates.
    Conducting continual visual surveillance of inmates and various areas of detention facilities.
    Providing inmate services, recreation, serving meals, visitation and clothing exchanges.
    Selecting and operating appropriate buttons, switches and knobs used to control doors, sliders, and communication systems.
    Monitoring and controlling all activities regarding inmate movement.
    Pursuing fleeing inmates on foot.
    Using body force to gain entrance through barriers to seize or rescue inmates.
    Subduing resisting inmates using approved non-lethal weapons i.e., pepper spray (chemical discharge containing Oleo Resin Capsicum), stun devices (short duration exposure containing 50,000 volts and .0004 amps).
    Performing basic first aid procedures and cardiopulmonary resuscitation as needed.
    Gathering information for investigations by interviewing and obtaining the statements of the victims, witnesses, suspects and confidential informants.
    Preparing logbook entries and writing reports.
    Taking inventory and inspecting security equipment.
    Operating telephones, electronic equipment, fingerprint equipment, cameras and fax machines.
    Communicating over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications.
    Managing interpersonal conflicts to maintain order.

My experience with MCSO has been a mix of emotions. Initially, I was eager to join the sheriff's department's food service, but I soon discovered that success often hinges more on connections than on skills. The new food service manager lacks the expertise to train staff effectively or create a structured training program, which hampers overall operations. The workplace culture feels more like a clique than a team, and if you're not careful, you might find yourself set up for failure while others smile in your face. This culture extends to the command staff, making whistleblowing or reporting misconduct a risky endeavor. While the pay and benefits are appealing, the lack of training and support from supervisors, combined with the pressure to perform, makes the experience less rewarding. My year there was a 5 out of 10; I met some great colleagues, but I also encountered individuals who seemed to do little more than occupy their time. Meanwhile, the administrative staff often enjoys a more relaxed environment, leaving those in the kitchen to handle long shifts without breaks. This disparity is frustrating but seems to be the norm.

- a typical day at work
You will be in a room by yourself, with 120 - 160 criminals walking freely around you. Your entire shift will be managing their living amenities and supervising their behavior. Expect fights, verbal harassment from the inmates, altered mental status individuals, defecation, and vomit. 

- what you learned
That kindness isn't free. It costs your sanity. 

- management
Executive ranked commanders are severely detached from the reality of what's happening on the ground level while pushing for their own political agenda / career achievement markers. MCSO needs to actively demote those in a command staff capacity that generate poor team morale, work ethic, and results. 

- workplace culture
Toxic

- the hardest part of the job
Tolerating your incompetent/lazy co-workers.

- the most enjoyable part of the job
Supervisors willing to work with your schedule on emergency/hardship basis. 

You are forced to place a percentage of your paycheck into an officer retirement fund. Your paycheck is taxed, part of what remains is placed into the fund. If one day you decide you need to take out some of YOUR money, you are charged a 10% penalty fee, and it is taxed again. When you go to file your income tax that year, guess what, it's taxed AGAIN!!! They don't match what you save until you have been there for 10 years!! Slavery at it's finest. 

On top of all that, management is horrible. A bunch of people who were bullied in school, so they become officers in an effort to assume a "position of power" and take it out on inmates and lower-ranking officers. Decisions are made for officers on the front lines, by people who never set foot in the jails. Therefore, they are often poor decisions with no context or proper perspective. Most treat inmates like slave dogs. Officers are not cared for and often thought of last when it comes to raises, bonuses, work environment and benefits. Please, apply somewhere else, for your own good.

While working for Maricopa County Sheriff's Office I held two different positions.  While working as an inmate classification counselor I ran back ground checks on current inmates using varying computer programs.  I also interviewed the inmates while using my interviewing techniques and then place them in the proper security level.  I created and maintained a professional relationship with coworkers, court personnel and corrections officers.  This was a fast paced an environment where I had to perform my duties quickly and efficiently.  

I also worked as a SIMS agent (sheriff information management services),  I was responsible to answer phone calls on a daily basis where I would help the public to find loved ones within the jail system.  I also worked in different court rooms inputting data using varying computer programs.  I was responsible for large sums of money while working in the bail window at the jail, where I had to receive count, log and deposit money.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Correctional officer 4 salaries reported	$29.63 per hour
Administrative specialist 4 salaries reported	$25.56 per hour
Deputy sheriff 6 salaries reported	$36.63 per hour
Assistant 7 salaries reported	$28.98 per hour
Examiner 4 salaries reported	$40.75 per hour

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