Arlington County Sheriff’s Office , nationally recognized for Excellence and awarded re-accreditation by the American Correctional Association Commission (ACA), is now accepting applications for testing for Deputy Sheriff positions. In order to participate in testing, candidates will need to apply through this system (click on the word APPLY at the right margin of this job announcement to enter the application system). Applications will be reviewed daily and those who meet the selection criteria will receive email notifications inviting them to one of the testing sessions. A valid email address is required in order to receive correspondence regarding testing and the hiring process.
Employees in these positions work in all areas of the Sheriff’s Office and may be assigned to any unit with daily interaction with inmates. New employees are initially assigned to our state of the art direct supervision Detention Facility. Deputies may rotate to other areas based on the needs of the Sheriff’s Office. The majority of positions are assigned to the detention facility so the ability to transfer to other areas is minimal. Most employees work 12-hour fixed shifts (including days, nights, weekends and holidays) and 15 days per month. Deputies earn full salary and benefits while training at the Academy. The Detention Facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association (achieved by less than 4% of jails nationwide).
Specific duties include:
- Supervising and monitoring the daily activities of inmates to include security within housing units, inmate visits, booking/processing, program activities, food service, recreation and general work assignments;
- Managing inmate behavior and using appropriate force as necessary;
- Supervising inmates assigned to Inmate Work Programs;
- Receiving and screening the public seeking admittance to the facility; and
- Processing inmates’ personal property and money.
Other duties and assignments include:
Court Security – secure courtrooms; monitor courts in session; escort prisoners to and from courts and the Detention Facility; perform security checks within the Courthouse; respond to security check problems and Courthouse incidents.
Warrant Process – serve legal papers; execute criminal warrants issued by the Court; take individuals into custody; and schedule and execute Court ordered evictions.
Transportation – transport inmates and other individuals in custody to/from other correctional facilities, hearings, medical facilities, doctor’s appointments.
All assignments include writing reports and documenting incidents. The nature of the work necessitates an element of danger and requires physical exertion and the ability to make decisions under stress. Work is performed according to departmental policies and procedures and involves the potential for personal danger. The employee must be able to communicate effectively, solve problems, write concise reports, maintain good physical conditioning, and be able to act quickly and calmly as part of a team under potentially stressful conditions.
Selection Criteria
Minimum:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent;
- At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment or within 6 months of the 21st-birthday on the date of application;
- Excellent physical condition;
- U.S. citizen at the time of application;
- Bondable for handling Commonwealth funds;
- Possession of a valid driver’s license from the applicant’s place of residence;
- Available for emergency calls and standby duty, overtime, and details outside the facility; and
- Willing to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and fixed 12-hour shifts.
Special Requirements
Employees must successfully complete the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJTA) within the first 12 months of employment. Successful completion includes passing all phases of academic, physical (e.g. running, defensive tactics), driving and firearms training. In-service training and firearms qualifications are job requirements throughout employment.
The Sheriff’s Office incurs considerable financial investment in training a Deputy Sheriff. In return, the Sheriff’s Office requires a 24-month commitment from its employees. This 24-month commitment begins after an employee has successfully completed the NVCJTA. If the employee terminates employment within one (1) year after the completion of the NVCJTA, unless such termination is the result of circumstances beyond one’s control, the total cost of this training shall be due and payable to Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. If the employee terminates employment after one (1) year and before two (2) years after completion of the NVCJTA, a prorated amount of the training costs will be due and payable to the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office.
All new uniformed (sworn) Sheriff’s Office employees must be non-smokers and are required to sign an agreement that they will not smoke on or off the job during their tenure of employment.
All new uniformed (sworn) Sheriff’s Office employees may not have any tattoos visible (on head, neck or hands etc.) when wearing the long-sleeved shirt uniform.
Basic computer/data entry skills are required for the purposes of report writing and other documentation.
Most employees work 12-hour fixed shifts (including days, nights, weekends and holidays) and 15 days per month.
Additional Information
Please complete each section of the application. A resume may be attached, however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required for this position. Please do not give “see resume” as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Process
Pre-registration is required and applications will only be accepted online.
NOTE: This position is listed as open until December 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Applications are received and reviewed on a first-come first-served basis and this position may close immediately upon receiving a sufficient amount of applications and/or when the testing sessions become full. Therefore, we encourage applicants to submit applications as soon as possible.
After you have submitted your online application, it will be screened based on the minimum requirements in this announcement. If you successfully meet the selection criteria you will receive specific instructions by electronic mail about self-scheduling yourself for an upcoming written examination. Written examinations are scheduled approximately once per month, typically on a Saturday morning. Please be sure that you provide a valid e-mail address on your application in order to receive this important information. Please note: Applicants who do not pass the written test are eligible to re-apply and may re-test after a six-month waiting period.
Character/Background Investigation & Polygraph – Applicants who pass the written test will be responsible for downloading a character/background questionnaire to complete which must be returned within a specified time period.
The background investigation will be conducted by the Sheriff’s Office, after a conditional offer of employment has been made, to include a polygraph examination administered by a licensed/certified polygraph examiner. Incomplete and/or inaccurate information on the background form may be cause for rejection. Candidates who do not successfully complete the background investigation are not normally allowed to re-apply. Background investigations require a good driving record and a clean criminal history. Candidates are unlikely to receive favorable consideration if they have engaged in activities that would support a felony conviction, have misdemeanor convictions for crimes relating to theft, domestic violence, or assault, have recent convictions for D.U.I. or D.W.I. or reckless driving, or multiple convictions for speeding or other moving violations. During the polygraph, applicants will be questioned in the following relevant areas: accuracy of information provided on applications and related documents; honesty, integrity and reliability of the applicant; criminal and traffic history, either previously detected or undetected; and involvement with illicit drugs. All questions will be discussed with the applicant by the polygraph examiner before the test starts and the applicant will be given the opportunity to clarify any potential problem areas.
After a conditional offer of employment has been made, the following may be scheduled:
– Photos, fingerprints – conducted by the Sheriff’s Office
– Psychological Evaluation – conducted by a licensed psychologist
– Medical Examination
– Drug Test
Each candidate must pass each component of the examination process before continuing to the next step. It takes approximately 10-16 weeks to complete the process. After successfully completing all steps, the candidate is placed on an unranked eligible list from which all Deputy Sheriff vacancies are filled for the duration of the eligible list.
New employees are initially appointed as Deputy Sheriff (Grade S2) at $25.72 per hour. With satisfactory performance, employees are considered for periodic increases. The probationary period for this position is one year after successful graduation from the Academy. During probation the employee must pass all requirements of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (24 week Academy) to receive certifications as a Jailer and Court Security/Civil Process Server and in law enforcement.
The County offers a sign-on bonus for those candidates who successfully complete a Spanish oral proficiency exam. This examination is scheduled during the hiring process and the bonus will be paid soon after hire. After graduation from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, Deputy Sheriffs who have passed the Spanish oral proficiency examination will receive language pay for all hours worked and for paid leave hours.
Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled.
Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.
Permanent, Full-Time Appointments
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:
Paid Leave : Vacation leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven paid holidays each year.
Health and Dental Insurance : Three group health insurance plans are offered – a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs.
Life Insurance : A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee’s age and smoker/non-smoker status.
Retirement : The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement: a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan.
For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan. The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay.
Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits.
Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:
Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.
Limited Term Appointments:
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.
Temporary Regular Appointments:
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.
01
Do you have a High School Diploma, GED or equivalent?
02
Are you at least 21 years of age or within 6 months of your 21st birthday on the date of application?
03
As required by federal law, are you a U.S. Citizen either by birth or naturalization?
04
Do you possess a valid driver’s license?
05
Are you available for emergency calls and standby duty, overtime, and details outside the facility?
06
Are you willing to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and fixed 12-hour shifts?
07
Are you willing to undergo a pre-hire background investigation?
08
Are you willing to undergo a pre-hire polygraph examination?
09
I have read the entire job announcement and understand that, upon notification by email, I will need to self-schedule online for a specific testing session. Information on how to self-schedule will be provided to me at the email address that I listed on this application.
Required Question
