Associate Inmate Classification Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Number: 336
Salary: $26.58 - $39.88
Department: Sheriff's Office
Division: Classification
Location: 7375 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO, 80112
Job Type: Hourly Full-Time
Posting Date: 08/20/2026
Closing Date: 09/03/2026
ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE:
While the full salary range for the Classification Specialist position is $26.58 - $39.88 hourly / $55,286.40 - $82,950.40 annually, the anticipated hiring range is $26.58 - $33.22 hourly / $55,286.40 - $69,097.60 annually. Final salary is DOQ.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
Under the general supervision of the Classification Manager, this position determines custody level, program eligibility and housing assignments.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required:

• Interviews all incarcerated inmates after they have been processed into the Detention Facility to determine criminal sophistication, social background, substance abuse, need for intervention, suicide potential or referral to other agencies.
• Coordinates and recommends matters of intervention and safety /emergency issues to the Detention Staff and vendors.
• Acts as a resource for inmates, deputies and other personnel.
• Adheres to policies and procedures to ensure security within the Detention Facility.
• Place inmates on suicide watch when necessary
• Acquires and reviews all necessary. information/documentation on inmates, prior to interacting with them on an array of circumstances.
• Makes determination of inmate housing and Inmate Worker status based on assessments.
• Monitors and reconciles sentence time.
• Refers inmates to other community services or agencies for post-release assistance.
• Processing and distributing of applications for special programs such as Work Release and Inmate Worker.
• Provides diagnostic information or program recommendations to official agencies.
• Develops, conducts and coordinates educational classes and presentations.
• Operates computers and standard office equipment including commonly used computer software programs.
• Maintains regular and acceptable attendance at such level as determined at the Sheriff's Office discretion.
• Is available and willing to work such overtime per day or per week as the Sheriff's Office determines is necessary or desirable to meets its needs.
• Is available and willing to work such weekends and holidays as the Sheriff's Office determines are necessary or desirable to meet its needs.
• Performs duties onsite, except those job duties that are customarily or by nature performed offsite.
• Interacts effectively with others and exercises good judgment when dealing with people in sensitive situations.
• May be assigned other duties as necessary.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Meet and deal effectively with inmates of differing backgrounds and behavior patterns, in a detention environment.
• Capacity for developing and/or adapting to new ideas and changing conditions.
• Ability to apply sound reasoning and decision-making.
• Ability to operate computers and commonly used computer software programs, as well as any other standard office equipment as required by position.
• Ability to attend to details and subtle irregularities.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written English.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, detention staff, inmates, court officials, contractors and the general public.
• Ability to act and react to emergency and/or threatening situations in a manner consistent with the law, policies and procedures.
• Ability to be persuasive in influencing ideas and guiding activities of inmates to a positive end.
• Ability to lead, supervise and instruct inmates under adverse, often hostile conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
EXPERIENCE: One year of related work experience.
OR
Any education and experience that satisfy the requirements of the job as approved by the Sheriff.
CERTIFICATIONS/ LICENSES: None.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional experience in a detention environment is preferred.
• Supervision experience over others.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to work rotating shift schedules, hours and days, including holidays and
  weekends.
• Must possess CPR and First Aid certification within the initial status period.
• Must possess a valid Driver's License.
• Must be able to obtain CPR and First Aid certification within the initial status period.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position. They are included for informational purposes and are not all-inclusive.
Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exist more than 2/3 of the time.

• Spends 5% of the time sitting, 70% standing, 25% walking while on the job.
• Occasionally uses visual and fine/gross motor skills enabling the safe operation of a County vehicle during normal and adverse weather conditions.
• Occasionally uses visual capacity including depth perception and peripheral vision enabling completion of required office duties.
• Occasional use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery and writing utensils.
• Occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches and balances while supervising inmate activity.
• Occasionally lifts or carries up to 50 lbs. when moving supplies and equipment.
• Constantly involved in oral and auditory interaction, enabling interpersonal communication.

JOB-RELATED CONTACTS:
Requires contact with supervisors, staff, inmates, and the public.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed inside and outdoors with exposure to dust, grease, temperatures, chemicals, fumes, etc. Hazards present in this position are those inherent in occupational areas including minor maintenance, sanitation, and associated equipment operation. Work is performed in a security environment and procedures for assuring the safety of all personnel are paramount.
BIO-HAZARD NOTICE:
This position has been determined to be an EXTREME exposure risk to "biohazards" including, but not limited to, viruses, toxins, and blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HBV (hepatitis B virus), and air-borne transmissions of TB (tuberculosis). Members are advised that exposure to a "biohazard" may result in severe illness and/or death. Members are required by agency policy to use protective equipment and clothing. Inoculation may be required to prevent and/or treat exposures to "biohazards".
YOU MUST PROVIDE A CURRENT VALID EMAIL ADDRESS FOR APPLICATION STATUS NOTIFICATIONS (only one email address is accepted by the system).
BENEFITS:
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office employees are provided benefits to include, but not limited to, medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, retirement plan and paid time off. For a complete summary of benefits review them at: 2026 Benefits Summary.
401(a) DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN:
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office employees participate in a mandatory defined benefit program designed to help employees establish a source of income for retirement years. Through the Plan, eligible employees must set aside 9.00 percent, which is subject to change in the coming years, on a pretax basis of which the County matches at 9.75%. The County also contributes 6.2% to Social Security.
APPLICANT DISQUALIFICATION FACTORS:
Applicants are advised that areas for disqualification from further consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Illegal Drug Use - Marijuana use will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who have used any other illegal drug use within the past five (5) years will be disqualified.
• Any felony conviction
• Any conviction involving an act of Domestic Violence
• Driving Record - This includes receiving a DUI within the past five (5) years, having your driver's license suspended for any reason within the past five (5) years, and having five (5) or more tickets within the past five (5) years.
• Outside activities which may be deemed a conflict of interest
• Revelation or discovery of assaultive behavior
• Documented record of prior poor work performance
• Unsuccessful completion of any basic requirement
• Inability to perform the essential functions of the position
• Police history - type, frequency and nature of contact(s)
• Providing false or misleading information during the application/selection process

It is the policy of the Sheriff's Office to not discuss the reasons why applicants were not selected for hire. There is no flexibility to this policy. Applicants may be notified of their disqualification at any point in the selection process. If you receive such a notice, it simply means that you do not meet our standards at this time. Receiving this notice does not indicate that you are ineligible to apply with other agencies.
REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS:
The screening process for any position within the Sheriff's Office may include written test(s), an oral interview, skills test(s) and/or other selection methods designed to measure applicants' ability to perform the essential functions of the job they are seeking.
Additional required tests/examinations also include:

• Phase I Suitability Exam
• Polygraph Examination

Additional screening may include:

• Psychological Evaluation
• Medical Examination, including a drug screen
• Background Investigation - This will include, but is not limited to, contact with the applicant's former employers, associates, neighbors and other pertinent sources. Applicant's military history, school records, police records and driving record will also be investigated. All examinations are conducted by qualified/licensed individuals designated by the Sheriff's Office at the Sheriff's Office expense.

EXPECTED DURATION OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
Due to the nature of the application and selection process for the Sheriff's Office, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately six (6) to twelve (12) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.
WORK SCHEDULES:
Employees are required to work the time periods and/or shifts, rotational and/or stationary, and location assignment, consistent with the needs of the Sheriff's Office.
DUTY ASSIGNMENTS:
All applicants hired by the Sheriff serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff of Arapahoe County and may be assigned to any of the agencies bureaus, sections or units at the discretion of the Sheriff or his duly appointed representative. Employment is at the will and pleasure of the Sheriff, per Colorado State Statute: 30-10-506. Written policies and other manuals do not alter the at will status of employment.
COMMUNITY POLICING:The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is committed to the implementation of the community-policing concept. Community policing is an organizational strategy and philosophy which emphasizes problem solving partnerships between the Sheriff's Office, neighborhoods, and businesses working together to create a better quality of life within the community.
INITIAL STATUS PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT:
Successful applicants are subject to an initial status period of employment. This initial status period is twelve (12) months for all positions. The initial status period is regarded as part of the applicant's examination process and will be utilized for purposes of employee evaluation, training and adjustment to the demands of the profession. New employees, who fail to perform satisfactorily during the period, may be separated from the Sheriff's Office, depending on the circumstance of each case.
POLICY ON REAPPLICATION:
Applicants who failed a written test may reapply and retest no sooner than three (3) or six (6) months (position dependent) from the date they took the written test. Applicants who failed an interview may reapply and retest no sooner that six (6) months from the date they received notification of non-selection. All other applicants who are disqualified can reapply with the Sheriff's Office no sooner than one (1) year from the date of notification of non-selection.
This job announcement does not constitute a contract of employment. Should there be any discrepancy or error in this job announcement, the applicable policy or pay rate will apply. The Sheriff's Office retains the right to amend this job announcement at any time without notice.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Should you require an accommodation to apply for this position, please contact Human Resources.
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