Jail Intake Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $320,923.20 - $348,150.40 Annually
Location : Santa Ana, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 4550HP-0726-042 (O)
Department: Health Care Agency
Division/Service Area: Correctional Health Services
Opening Date: 07/02/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
CAREER DESCRIPTION
PSYCHIATRIST - CHS
Correctional Health Services
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
Premium Pay
In addition to the hourly salary, eligible applicants may receive premium pay for the items listed below:

• Bilingual pay: Qualified employees who meet the criteria found (page16) shall receive an additional seventy $0.70 cents per hour for all hours paid.
• Night Shift Differential pay: Employees assigned to a night shift shall be paid a night shift differential for each hour worked on the assigned night shift. Pay rate is determined by assigned shift hours found here (page13).
• Jail Supplement pay: An employee in this classification who is permanently assigned to the Central Jail/Intake/Release Center (including Correctional Medical Services), Theo Lacy Branch Jail or James Musick Facility shall receive an additional $1.50 per hour for all paid hours.
• Board Certification pay: Employees assigned on a regular, full-time basis in this classification, who are Board Certified, shall receive, in addition to his or her salary, the equivalent of $800 monthly. Employees who are both Board Certified and certified in a Board Certified and certified in a subspecialty, with the certifications related to his/her assignment, shall receive the equivalent of one thousand dollars (1,000) monthly.
• Licensure Differential pay: Employees in this classification whose license is used to authorize the performance of duties and/or whose oversight is required for the performance of duties of a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant shall receive a licensure differential $1.60 for each hour such licensure is required.

Other Additional Premium Pays
This recruitment is open to the public and will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days. This recruitment will be open on a continuous basis and will close at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the County's needs are met. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
This list will be used to fill current and future Psychiatrist positions within the Health Care Agency, Correctional Health Services. This eligible list may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The County of OrangeHealth Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family, and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas-Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, and Specialized Medical Services -is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
CORRECTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Correctional Health Services (CHS) is comprised of two (2) separate entities. One is for adult inmates, and the other is for juveniles. The Adult CHS (ACHS) program provides medical, dental, nursing, infection control, health education and pharmaceutical services at a community standard of care and provides mental health services including 24-hour emergency triage and crisis intervention, suicide prevention, treatment beds, individual and group therapy, substance use counseling, medication assessment and discharge planning to all adult inmates in the County's five (5) correctional facilities. The Juvenile Health Services (JHS) program has two (2) clinics -Juvenile Hall Health Clinic and Orangewood Family Health Clinic.
THEOPPORTUNITY
ACHS is seeking compassionate Psychiatrists to provide psychiatric medical and mental health services to mentally ill inmates. Responsibilities of the position will include but are not limited to:

• Conducting psychiatric evaluations on inmates referred for examination and treatment
• Administering crisis management of violent and suicidal inmates
• Ordering and interpreting laboratory and other medical diagnostic tests
• Prescribing medication and monitoring for side effects and medication efficacy
• Producing clear and concise health records, reports and correspondence, including the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems
• Providing oversight, consultation, training, and directing the work of Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, and other personnel assigned to work in a specialty area
• Collaborating with other members of the healthcare team to improve patient care

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have experience working in a correctional type of setting and possess a valid Board Certification issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following core competencies:
Technical Knowledge | Technical Experience

• Perform prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of seriously mentally ill (SMI) patients

• Clear patients from acute mental crisis (e.g. schizophrenia, affective disorder, anxiety disorder, substance use disorder, childhood mental disorder, and depression)
• Provide care during psychiatric emergencies, including life-support measures and stabilization of mentally ill patients
• Respond and manage patients experiencing mood swings, anxiety, anger, substance use, and other major mental illnesses
• Treat patients with substance use disorders and drug withdrawal by recognizing all the following withdrawal symptoms: Emotional, Physical, Dangerous, Post-Acute
• Implement psychiatric treatment guidelines to meet state and federal mandates
• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the predictors of physical aggression in psychiatric patients
• Familiarity with local, State and Federal standards related to providing mental health and medical care in a correctional setting

Communication | Collaboration

• Prepare clear and concise medical and mental health records and reports
• Work collaboratively with law enforcement personnel within the facility, police agencies from the community, patient's families, court personnel, community hospital staff, other County agencies, and hospitals
• Maintain a positive attitude and effectively manage dealing with difficult patients, and occasionally with patients' loved ones

Safety

• Make sound judgments, actions or decisions to prevent injury/loss of life, financial loss, and address public relations issues
• Stay alert and mindful of personal safety and security while giving care to mentally ill patients
• Expertise in estimating patient's dangerousness (e.g. suicidal, harmful to others)

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) license for Controlled Substances Level II
• Candidates must NOT have felony convictions or be on any form of probation
• Candidates are required to pass a comprehensive background investigation prior to a formal offer and acceptance of employment and maintain background investigation to the satisfaction of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. Completing a Personal History Form, interviewing with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit problems, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.))
• The Correctional facilities area 24-hour, 7 day a week operation, incumbents must be able to work on weekends, evenings, night shifts and holiday

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here for the minimum qualifications for Psychiatrist.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Please click here for the physical, mental and environmental conditions for the Psychiatrist.
Additional Information: Will be required to work in a locked facility with adult inmates and/or ICE detainees, and/or youth who are in protective custody/incarcerated youth, who have multiple and complex health, social and psycho-social needs; may work with inmates, ICE detainees, or youth who have communicable diseases and/or behavioral health issues; may be assigned to evening or night shift, assigned to work every other weekend, and to work holidays as needed as the institutions are a 24 hour, 7 day a week facilities and coverage is essential. The environment can also be noisy and at times chaotic, will be exposed to profanity and/or anti-social behavior. There is no hostage policy for the Orange County Jail. May be required to be on call.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all applications to identify qualified applicants. After screening, only those applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be referred to the next step in the selection procedures. Candidates will receive notification via e-mail of further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants with the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click to review the policy.
Eligible List | Score Groups:
Once all assessments have been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Emailis the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com. "If your email address should change, please update your profile at
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Click for additional Frequently Asked Questions. For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Claudia Curiel at (714) 834-2335 or
EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.
Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
01
Do you possess a valid Physician's and Surgeon's Certificate issued by the Medical Board of California?

• Yes
• No

02
If yes, please provide the number and expiration date. If none, please write N/A.
03
Do you possess a valid DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) license for Controlled Substances Level II?

• Yes
• No

04
Please provide your DEA license number for verification. If none, please write N/A.
05
Which of the following options applies to you?

• I have an American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification.
• I have completed a psychiatric residency, or I am within nine (9) months of my anticipated graduation date.
• None of the above

06
Please provide your American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certificate number and expiration. If none, please write N/A.
07
If you have not yet graduated from a psychiatric residency program, what is your expected date of graduation? If you do not have a graduation date set, please write N/A. If you have already graduated, please write Graduated.**PLEASE NOTE: If you are graduating from an approved residency program within nine (9) months, an official letter of anticipated graduation from the Residency Director is required to be attached to this application to be considered. Completion of residency is required at the time of appointment.
08
What is your experience in correctional psychiatry? If you do not have any experience, write N/A.
09
Describe your experience in an acute psychiatric setting. In your response, please describe your experience in clearing patients from acute mental crisis. If you do not have any experience, write N/A.
10
Describe your experience treating patients with addiction and drug withdrawal. If you do not have any experience, write N/A.
11
Do you have experience navigatin