State of Maryland

A Correctional Officer Lieutenant is the supervisory level of work involving the custody, security and control of adult inmates confined in a correctional facility. Employees in this classification supervise Correctional Officer Sergeants and lower-level Correctional Officers.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Correctional Officer Captain or other designated manager. Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts. Employees are subject to call in during emergencies and staffing shortages. Work is performed primarily in a correctional facility and employees are continually exposed to inmates who may be abusive and hostile. When performing outside security rounds, employees are exposed to all types of weather conditions. Employees are required to physically subdue and restrain inmates during fights, riots and escape attempts and must wear protective clothing such as gloves, helmets and riot vests when the need arises.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

Correctional Officer Lieutenant is differentiated from Correctional Officer Sergeant in that the Correctional Officer Lieutenant has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Correctional Officers while the Correctional Officer Sergeant performs advanced duties or leads the work of lower-level Correctional Officers.  Correctional Officer Lieutenant is differentiated from Correctional Officer Captain in that the Correctional Officer Captain exercises managerial responsibility over Correctional Officers through the supervision of Correctional Officer Lieutenants.

Supervises subordinate Correctional Officer Sergeants and lower-level Correctional Officers;

Schedules daily post assignments;

Makes frequent rounds to ensure that posts are properly manned and proper security maintained;

Informs sergeants and officers of changes in regulations, institutional directives and inmate activities;

Counsels officers on violation of rules and regulations and when necessary, initiates disciplinary action;

Reviews requests for leave and recommends approval or disapproval;

Reviews incident reports filed by officers;

Conducts initial investigations of complaints regarding violations of rules by officers or inmates;

Ensures that officers receive proper on-the-job training and identifies performance problems that could be alleviated by additional training;

Supervises officers in the search of inmates and physical surroundings for unauthorized items, the suppression of disturbances and the search for escapees;

Prepares written reports of incident investigations, officer performance, training needs and supply requirements;

Recommends changes in post orders to enhance security;

May serve as a member of the inmate classification committee and attend hearings and conferences;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of supervision;

Knowledge of the principles of inmate classification;

Knowledge of the security, custody and control of inmates;

Knowledge of correctional systems and standards;

Knowledge of inmate behavior;

Knowledge of basic first aid;

Knowledge of the use and care of firearms;

Skill in the use and care of firearms;

Ability to supervise;

Ability to read and explain detailed procedures contained in correctional regulations, institutional directives, and post orders;

Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and respond in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures;

Ability to observe and remember incidents and to recall details such as identity of persons, location of items, conversations and sequence of events and actions taken during the incident;

Ability to work in an institutional setting where personal physical attack by convicted felons is a constant possibility and where the use of physical force to restrain inmates is a required part of the job;

Ability to write concise, accurate reports of events and incidents;

Ability to effectively communicate with inmates, other correctional officers and with other institutional staff.

Education:   High School diploma or high school equivalency certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Correctional Training Commission regulation.

Experience: Two years of experience leading the work of Correctional Officers in the custody and security of adult inmates or in performing advanced work as a Correctional K-9 Officer or Correctional Internal Security Officer.

Notes:

1. The above educational requirement is set by the Correctional Training Commission in accordance with Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209.

2. Candidates may substitute additional education at an accredited college or university may be substituted at the rate of sixty credit hours for one year of the required experience provided that a minimum of 15 credit hours are in the field of criminal justice or related social sciences.

3. Candidates may substitute equivalent State experience in other classifications within the correctional field which involve daily contact with and custody of inmates for the required experience. Qualifying experience must be in a classification where the salary is comparable to that of Correctional Officer Sergeant.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience in correctional classifications or correctional specialty codes in the criminal justice field of work equivalent to a Correctional Officer Sergeant on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to operate large vans for transportation of inmates. Employees assigned these duties will be required to acquire a Class C Maryland driver's license.

1. Employees who have not already done so must meet the selection standards required and successfully complete the training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission for a correctional officer during their probationary period, (Correctional Services Article, Section 8-209). Selection standards for correctional officer training are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 12, Subtitle 10, Chapter 01 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status
Must be at least 21 years of age
A completed background investigation
Oral interview
Physical examination.

2. Employees in this classification hired or reinstated on or after July 1, 2016 shall successfully complete the Entrance Level Firearms Training prescribed by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission (Code of Maryland 12.10.04.04 and 12.10.04.05) and demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis. 

3. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, must provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.  

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.