Interested in starting a career in Corrections?
If so, join our detention team as a Correctional Deputy with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office!
No Experience Required and Multiple Positions Available.
Starting salary up to $49.40/hour ($103,103/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
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Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
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Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Correctional Deputy II (salary up to $129,464 annually)
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Premium Pay for specialty assignments, ranging from 2.5% to 10.0%
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Differential Pay for evening and night shifts
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Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals and 12 paid holidays per year
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County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
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Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
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Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
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Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
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Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
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Additional Benefits - Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
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Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
Start Your Corrections Law Enforcement Career as a Correctional Deputy I
The Sheriff's Office New Generation/Direct Supervision Detention Facility has evolved from an era of linear incarceration to incorporating advanced technologies and officer skills development. As a result, the Sheriff's Office is eager to recruit and develop professional correctional staff who have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to exercise a solid management-style approach to working with incarcerated persons.
The most successful and qualified Correctional Deputy I candidates are those who demonstrate excellent communication skills and can maintain patience and professionalism in maintaining the custody of incarcerated persons.
As a Correctional Deputy I, you will receive thorough training, close oversight, and the mentorship of experienced Correctional Deputies. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office training program provides exposure to a variety of correctional functions, including:
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Booking of incarcerated persons
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General population security
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Protective custody
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Medical withdrawal and mental health
To excel in these training areas, you must have the ability to exercise quick and sound judgment, patience, and be able to work effectively in sometimes stressful situations.
The challenges you face as a Correctional Deputy will reward you with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. The supervision of incarcerated persons is a 24/7 responsibility. Work shifts are 12 hours, include weekends and holidays, and new Correctional Deputies must have the flexibility to work all shifts (days, swings, graves). Overtime is a requirement for Correctional Deputies. With experience and seniority, opportunities to select different work shifts and/or specialty assignments become available. There are a variety of specialty assignments available, which are assigned on a "most qualified" basis, and may be entitled to premium pay.
About the Sheriff's Office
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office employs over 650 staff to protect and secure the half-million residents within the 1,768 square miles of Sonoma County. The Detention Division's staff of over 300 are committed to serving the County of Sonoma and the State of California by providing a secure, safe, and humane environment for both employees and incarcerated persons. With more than 15 different highly trained and specialized units, you can be confident that a career with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office will keep you learning and growing.
We Want to Hear from You!
Would you like to learn more about joining the Sheriff's Office? Visit our Personnel Bureau website or contact us and speak to the Sheriff's recruiting team at (707) 565-2779
or email
[email protected].
Effective 5/22/23, individuals who possess United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident, OR have the legal authorization to work in the United States under federal law, will be considered to meet the citizenship minimum standards for this position.
This recruitment is being conducted to fill multiple Correctional Deputy I positions in the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
- Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association Memorandum Of Understanding (SCLEA MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory.
The date of the written examination is:
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Experience: None.
Education: Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable General Education Development Certificate.
Additional Requirements: In accordance with California Government Code, Section 1029-1031, and the California Corrections Standards Authority, Title 15, Section 131, Minimum Standards for Selection, each employee shall meet the following minimum standards: Must be at least 18 years of age at time of appointment; United States citizenship or status as a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship (if a permanent resident alien has not obtained citizenship within three years after application for employment or is denied citizenship, he/she will be disqualified for peace officer status); have no prior felony conviction nor be under current formal probation supervision; and achieved a passing score on the California Corrections Standards Authority Adult Corrections Officer written exam, or equivalent, prior to appointment.
Candidates certified for employment must be willing to undergo and successfully complete an in-depth background investigation, including a psychological evaluation, finger printing, criminal history check, polygraph, and a medical examination.
Candidates must be willing to work in uniform and willing to work all shifts, including day, evenings, nights, weekdays, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
The positions advertised on this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Some knowledge of: modern methods and techniques of dealing with individuals in criminal confinement; criminal attitudes and behavior patterns, and the social factors underlying criminal behavior; behavior of people in a custody setting.
Ability to: effectively control, direct and instruct inmates individually and in groups; interpret and enforce institutional rules, regulations and other policies with firmness, tact and impartiality; make simple arithmetic calculations; read, speak and write English effectively, and interpret written material; accurately follow oral and written directions; read and speak Spanish may be required for certain assignments; use electronic information equipment and specific systems utilized within the department; enter data accurately; use word processing software to prepare clear and concise reports; promote acceptable attitudes and behavior of inmates while in confinement; work with and around a wide variety of people; and make quick, effective and reasonable decisions in emergencies, and take appropriate action to include physically restraining violent inmates; work in uniform; work all shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekdays, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
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You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
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You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
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Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
The supplemental questionnaire is a critical component of your employment application. Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examinations:
1. An
Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities, which relate to this position, to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position.
2. The
POST Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) multiple-choice, written examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to further evaluate each candidate's qualifications as they relate to the position. The written examination will measure the core knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position, such as:
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Spelling
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Vocabulary
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Clarity
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Reading Comprehension
Applicants must attain a minimum passing score of at least 70% on the written examination to be placed on the employment list. The minimum passing score may be an adjusted score based on such factors as the difficulty of the examination for this group of candidates, natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates, number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, and past practice.
To aid you in preparing for the written examination, please review the CA POST Applicant Preparation Guide and FAQs.
Written examinations are conducted in-person. The date of the written examination is:
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Qualified candidates will be emailed an invitation to the exam session. (Date of exam may change)
If you took the CA POST PELLET B within the past 30 calendar days from the date of our exam, you may submit your T-score instead of re-taking the test. Per POST's FAQs, if you retest within 30 days, your test results will be invalidated. You must wait at least 30 calendar days before retaking the test. The County of Sonoma will not accept the Board of State and Community Corrections’ (BSCC) “Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer Classifications for Local Corrections” in place of the CA POST PELLET B.
Additionally, you may submit your T-score instead of retaking the exam if you have taken the CA POST PELLET B no more than twelve (12) months before the date of the exam session you are invited to attend. If you wish to use a previously obtained score, please email a PDF to [email protected] or mail a copy of your "T-score letter" to:
County of Sonoma Human Resources Department
Attention: Vanessa Hernandez
575 Administration Drive 116B
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
The T-score letter must be submitted before the recruitment closes. Additionally, the T-score letter must be on the testing agency's letterhead and include the:
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Name of the agency that administered the exam
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Name of the exam
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Date the exam was taken
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T-score
Should you have any questions, please direct them to Vanessa Hernandez at 707-565-1751 or
[email protected].
Additional Information
Being part of the Sheriff's Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, and understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc. This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc. Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months. Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered. You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.
You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
Please read the Sheriff's Office Pre-Employment Drug Use Guidelines (Download PDF reader) for further information.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: AK
HR Technician: VH
