Detention Service Aide


Job Details

Why choose HCSO? We have a history of stability and excellence. We continue to maintain and cultivate the highest level of standards and professionalism. We are unlike any other. Join the HCSO family!

Compensation Range
$17.35-$28.50

Starting Salary Range
17.35-22.925

Job Description Summary
Perform a variety of detention support duties in a detention facility or court complex setting that do not require the direct involvement of a certified deputy. Specific duties are determined by assignment, and work is performed around inmates. Work shifts may include days, nights, or non-standard hours/days (e.g., holidays, weekends).

Job Description
Duties & Responsibilities

Note: Depending on assigned responsibilities, employees may perform some or all of the duties below.

  • Provide miscellaneous support services throughout the assigned facility or unit.
  • Process updates and file official records of the unit to which assigned.
  • Operate and monitor electronic security systems to facilitate the movement of personnel within a secured facility; summon assistance via radio if necessary.
  • Verify inmate or applicant status, location, or criminal history using a computer terminal.
  • Greet the public, respond to telephone inquiries and/or route calls to proper station, register visitors, and/or accept packages and other paperwork.
  • Prepare and maintain tool inventories and property control logs.
  • Maintain statistical logs and incident reports to document daily activity of the facility assigned; may also maintain classified data.
  • Oversee the activities of inmates performing various work assignments inside and outside the facility.
  • Process arrestee personal property, search arrestee purses/bags, accept arrestee non-counterfeit currency, enter arrestee property inventory data into the system, facilitate arrestee clothing exchange, and maintain a secure area for inmate property.
  • Obtain DNA samples from arrestees via cotton swab and enter information into a database.
  • Assist with scheduling and coordinating inmate medical appointments by notifying pod officers, signing inmates in and out, tracking all appointments, creating reports, and interacting with medical providers.
  • Check in visitors for scheduled video visits by monitoring visits via camera and enforcing visitation rules, navigating software system to help visitors who are dealing with software and hardware issues during visits, and maintaining the cleanliness of the area.
  • Maintain the general inmate library book supply, contacting various community groups and libraries for book donations, reviewing all books for appropriateness and possible contraband, organizing the books according to genre, stocking mobile book carts and delivering them to pods in the facilities and periodically changing them out, and answering inmate requests.
  • Supervise an inmate work crew laundering inmate uniforms and linen using commercial laundry equipment while processing, filling, and delivering orders; conducting inventory; interacting with pod deputies; completing paperwork; and maintaining cleanliness of work area.
  • Process inmate mail and staff inter-office mail throughout the facilities including sorting, locating, and delivering inmate mail to the pods; processing indigent mail; pick up, sorting, and distributing inter-office mail to offices throughout the department; entering information into a database; weighing and applying appropriate postage; verifying inmate legal mail; making copies of documents; and writing reports.
  • Coordinate trips for inmate pick up from other counties and outside medical appointments ensuring court paperwork is complete and accurate; coordinate and track both routine and special maintenance on a fleet of over 50 vehicles ensuring to perform monthly equipment inspections and inventory; and/or maintain radio contact with transport officers, coordinate special transports, process daily paperwork, and submit daily reports.
  • Perform other related duties as required.


Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Working knowledge of office policies and procedures.
  • Working knowledge of county and state ordinances, laws, and regulations pertaining to the area of assignment.
  • Working knowledge of record keeping and general office procedures.
  • Some knowledge of the criminal justice system.
  • Ability to prepare and maintain logs, files, and reports.
  • Ability to properly answer and route telephone calls.
  • Ability to deal with the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
  • Ability to use a computer and related software.
  • Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
  • Ability to work effectively with others.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.


Working Conditions
  • Working within and around a detention facility/inmates or a court complex.
  • A combination of remaining in a stationary position at a keyboard or workstation/traversing distances to perform work.
  • May visit various work sites within a Sheriff's Office-issued vehicle (e.g., car, full-size van, full-size pickup truck) to perform essential duties.
  • May work day or night shifts and non-standard hours/days including weekends and holidays.
  • May work outdoors in a subtropical climate in potential adverse weather conditions.
  • May ascend/descend a ladder to perform assigned duties.
  • May engage in heavy physical exertion (e.g., lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials weighing up to 40 pounds).
  • Required to wear a Sheriff's Office provided uniform.


Minimum Education & Experience
  • A high school diploma or possession of a GED certificate.


Additional Job Requirements
  • Attendance at the specified Sheriff's Office work location is required.
  • Depending on assignment, employees may be required to possess a valid Florida Driver License at time of employment. Driving history will be thoroughly reviewed and may be grounds for disqualification.
  • No visible tattoos on face, head, and neck. Tattoos determined to take away from the professional appearance of the Sheriff's Office must be covered with an appropriate white, black, or neutral covering.
  • No illegal drug sale within lifetime.
  • No illegal drug use within the past 36 months. No marijuana use within the last 12 months.
  • No felony convictions within lifetime.
  • No misdemeanor convictions involving perjury, false statement, or domestic violence within lifetime.
  • No dishonorable discharge from any branch of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Coast Guard, National Guard, or Reserve Forces.
  • Successful completion of a background investigation including criminal, reference, employment, and neighborhood checks; polygraph; medical evaluation; and drug screening.


The duties and responsibilities on this job description represent the essential functions that an employee must be able to satisfactorily perform with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations shall be made upon request to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue agency hardship. The Sheriff's Office retains the right to change or assign other duties to this job as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Detail oriented.
  • Customer service skills.
  • Must be able to multi-task.


The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe that diversity and inclusion among our applicants and employees is critical to our success as a community partner. We seek to offer employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical/mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, and military/veteran status.





 Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

 06/01/2024

 Tampa,FL