State of Maryland

A Correctional Officer Captain is one of three levels of managerial work involving the custody, security and control of adult inmates confined in a correctional facility. Employees in this classification manage the work of correctional officers through the supervision of Correctional Officer Lieutenants.

Employees in this classification receive managerial supervision from a Correctional Officer Major or other 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 institutional 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. Correctional Security Chief, Correctional Officer Major and Correctional Officer Captain are differentiated from Correctional Officer Lieutenant in that they have managerial responsibility effected through subordinate managers or supervisors. 

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 Captain is differentiated from Correctional Officer Lieutenant in that Correctional Officer Captain has managerial responsibility for a major security area with an authorized staff of Correctional Officer Sergeants so large as to require one or more Correctional Officer Lieutenants to effectively manage the staff while Correctional Officer Lieutenant is responsible for supervision of lower-level Correctional Officers. Correctional Officer Captain is differentiated from Correctional Officer Major in that Correctional Officer Major is responsible for an entire security shift with an authorized correctional staff so large as to require one or more Correctional Officer Captains to effectively manage the staff.

Manages the work of Correctional Officers through the supervision of Correctional Officer Lieutenants;

Briefs subordinate supervisory staff on changes in institutional or Division of Correction policies, activities and incidents from prior shifts, and staffing and personnel changes;

Makes regular inspections of the institution to ensure that security is properly maintained and policies and regulations are enforced;

Identifies and records officer training needs and advises superiors of additional training requirements;

Calls in additional officers to cover staff shortages;

Reviews reprimands and incident reports filed by Correctional Officer Lieutenants;

Assists in developing master staffing schedules to ensure proper coverage and to provide for leave;

Coordinates inmate and cell searches, suppression of riots and searches for escapees among assigned staff;

Conducts internal investigations of more serious inmate complaints and violations;

Coordinates security coverage with other captains and supervisors and managers of other institutional programs;

Recommends changes to post orders and policies to improve working conditions and security;

Prepares reports concerning inmate complaints and infractions, equipment and supply requirements and staffing needs;

Attends in-service training;

May be designated as a member on accident review boards, promotional review boards and other institutional committees and work groups;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles of management;

Knowledge of the principles of training and staff development;

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 manage staff through subordinate supervisors;

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

Ability to make decisions under stressful conditions;

Ability to prepare comprehensive staff reports;

Ability to recognize ineffective procedures and practices and develop alternative solutions;

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

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 supervising the work of Correctional Officers in the custody and security of adult inmates.

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 Correctional Officer Lieutenant.

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 Lieutenant 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 State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, Annotated Code of Maryland, 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.