Employment
Current Openings
Applications for Deputy Sheriff are being accepted on a continual basis.
Applications for Sheriff's Aide, Jail Clerk, Classification and Hearing Specialist, and Social Worker are accepted on an as needed basis.
Position Descriptions
Click on the appropriate link to view a description of the different positions available with the Sheriff's Office:
For current Sheriff's Office openings, see the Dane County Employment Opportunities.
Applications
To apply for a position within the Sheriff's Office you will need to fill out the related application. To apply to be Deputy Sheriff you need to fill out a special Deputy Sheriff Application. To apply to be a Sheriff's Aide, Jail Clerk, Classification and Hearing Specialist, or Social Worker you will need to fill out a special application for a Non-Sworn position. These special applications are different from standard Dane County applications.
Click on the following links to download a PDF version of the appropriate application from the Dane County Website:
Employee Relations Division of Dane County
Room 418 City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Madison, WI 53709
DO NOT RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
Deputy Sheriff
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office in Madison, Wisconsin is actively recruiting and accepting applications for the position of Deputy Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office accepts applications year round and hires approximately 30 Deputy Sheriffs annually. Vacant positions currently exist and new positions are anticipated. We anticipate starting dates in early 2008. We are looking to reach interested individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Interested persons should obtain an employment application and job description from the Dane County website.
For an in depth description of the Hiring Process for Deputy Sheriff, click here.
Qualifications and Selection Process
Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, be 21 years old upon appointment, have two years of full-time school, work, and/or military experience, minimum of 2 - year college degree or 60 semester credits (may be achieved within 5 years of employment), no felony or violent misdemeanor criminal convictions, and be eligible for a Wisconsin driver’s license at time of employment.
Applicants must take a written examination. An application screening committee then reviews the top scoring applicants to select candidates for participation in an oral examination process. The highest - scoring candidates are then interviewed by a panel of Sheriff’s Office personnel for a final ranking. Most candidates will be required to travel to Madison, Wisconsin a minimum of three times to successfully complete the hiring process.
The State of Wisconsin will test active duty military personnel stationed out of state who are unable to test at a regularly scheduled exam center. The state will test only at approved U.S. Military installations, and only if the exam is administered by a Test Control Officer or equivalent person. A fee may be charged for this service.
Selected candidates participate in a psychological and medical assessment (including drug screening), and must successfully pass a thorough background investigation.
Salary and Benefits (2006 - 2009 Contract Wages)
Starting pay is $40,287 with additional annual pay step increases for the first six years. After six years, deputy sheriffs’ with a 2 year Associate Degree (or 60 college semester credits) earn $57,924, while deputies with a 4 year Bachelor Degree earn $60,946. Deputies are also paid a longevity bonus of 3 % above base salary after four years of service, with additional step increases up to 12 % above base salary at 21 years of service. Top pay is $67,293 for a deputy with a two year Associate Degree (or 60 credits) and $70,549 with a Bachelor Degree. Also, there are excellent promotional opportunities.
Benefits include a 37.5 hour work week, 12.5 paid holidays, 10 to 25 days paid vacation, paid sick leave, night shift differential pay, annual uniform allowance, plus time-and-one-half pay on holidays. Employees participate in group health, dental, life, and disability insurance. Deputies are also participants in the state of Wisconsin retirement system, consistently rated as one of the best public retirement plans in the nation.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Deputy Sheriff application process, you may call Deputy Rick Treadwell at (608) 284-6174 between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday or email him at the address below.
Dane County Sheriff’s Office
Training & Planning Bureau
Attn: Deputy Rick Treadwell
115 W. Doty Street
Madison, WI 53703
email to: Deputy Rick Treadwell
Sheriff's Aide
Definition
Under general supervision, to perform the technical tasks related to the administration of Sheriff's Office programs which include providing technical assistance to Deputy Sheriffs in the performance of their duties, and to do related work as required.
Examples of Duties
Fingerprints and photographs arrested persons during the booking process; controls public access to inmate visitation areas; controls public access to initial appearance courtroom; controls access to and movement within secure areas of the jail through remote operation of security systems; uses communication equipment to process requests for access, movement and emergency response within the jail; accepts, inventories, stores and releases inmate property; conducts interviews of inmates and arrested persons; accepts, inventories, stores and disburses Sheriffs Office supplies and equipment; completes relevant departmental reports and forms, or any other assigned duties.
Employment Standards
Education and Experience: High school graduation or its equivalency, and two years of either full-time work, college/vocational training or military experience.
Knowledge and Abilities: Ability to operate standard office machines, computer equipment and various software programs; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with inmates, staff and the public; ability to read and understand moderately complex instructions, such as guidelines, regulations, and policies; ability to apply written instructions such as guidelines, regulations, and policies to a variety of situations; ability to give verbal explanation of applicable guidelines, regulations and policies; ability to use simple arithmetic: add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers; ability to interpret requirements to the general public; ability to extract information through oral questioning; ability to recognize conflicting statements that indicate possible inmate rule violations.
Jail Clerk
Definition
Under direct supervision of the Administrative Services Supervisor, to perform a wide variety of responsible and complex clerical duties necessary to the incarceration and release of prisoners in the Sheriffs Department. This position will handle transactions with other employees or the public in matters requiring detailed knowledge of laws, rules, procedures, policies, precedents and activities; perform booking intake, bail/release, records update and other related duties as assigned.
Examples of Duties
Confirm completion and accuracy of booking sheet, warrants, teletypes, bail information, sentencing documents; maintain and accurately record information in computer system; review and interpret complex court orders and other paperwork affecting length of incarceration; compute sentence length, credit and release date; count and record large sums of money for prisoner cash accounts and bail; confirm outstanding warrants on prisoners and sureties and coordinate the arrest of individuals with valid warrants; coordinate, complete and explain paperwork with co-workers and prisoners to effect the prisoners' release from jail; control activities in cash drawer for prisoner accounts and bail; balance cash drawer at end of shift; verify, confirm and cancel requests for Dane County arrest warrants; respond to numerous requests from the public and other agencies via telephone, fax, electronic communication, and in person; audit files for accuracy of data entry, paperwork, sentencing and release information; monitor officer staging area for problems and request back-up assistance as needed; maintain the control panel to operate cameras and doors to maintain a safe and secure environment; and assist with training new staff members.
Employment Standards
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school and two years of general clerical experience, including one year at a senior level; or one year experience working in a law enforcement, court, district attorney, or corrections environment, or law office with substantial responsibility for identifying, processing, and preparing a wide variety of legal papers associated with court actions.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of various computer programs, including Windows, e-mail systems, word processing, spreadsheet and database programs; knowledge of modern office procedures and practices; effective oral and written communication skills; ability to perform numeric calculations; ability to interpret and apply policies, regulations and procedures; ability to handle overlapping multiple tasks; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, prisoners and co-workers in person and via telephone or electronic communications; ability to organize and prioritize tasks; ability to read and interpret complex court -orders and paperwork; ability to deal effectively with a heavy workload; ability to handle large sums of money for inmate cash and bail; ability to perform data entry with net keystrokes of 10,000/hour with a minimum of 95% accuracy; and ability to deal with difficult and angry people.
Special Requirement : Must be able to work a rotating six days on, two days off schedule and be able to work evenings, nights, and weekends as required by the schedule. Must be able to maintain safety and security associated with working in a correctional facility.
The incumbent will initially undergo an intensive training period which will give the individual the capability of performing the full range of duties at the objective level at the completion of the training.
Classification and Hearing Specialist
Definition
Under general supervision, to perform the process of classifying inmates, which includes assessment of security risks, housing cell assignments and program referrals; conducting administrative hearings; and to do related work as required.
Examples of Duties
INMATE CLASSIFICATION FUNCTIONS: Review inmate criminal histories; review inmate disciplinary histories; conduct inmate interviews; compile data from historical records and results of inmate interviews into a summary assessment form; recommend custody status based on the results of the assessment form; identify and make decisions and referrals based on special management concerns; identify and make decisions and referrals based on inmate program needs; update file and computer records; update housing unit records; coordinate inmate movement with sworn staff.
DISCIPLINARY HEARING FUNCTIONS: Review inmate disciplinary reports; review inmate disciplinary history; conduct follow-up investigations, as needed; prepare necessary forms (notice, waivers, rights, etc.); explain disciplinary process and rights to inmate involved; conduct informal hearings; arrange for formal hearings when required; make finding of inmate innocence or guilt; determine appropriate discipline to be imposed; update inmate file and computer records; update housing unit records; coordinate with Classification for reassessment / reclassification decisions.
Employment Standards
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with an emphasis in criminal justice or related field. One year professional experience involving a correctional or jail facility setting, including employment as a probation or parole agent is considered desirable. Successful applicants must be able to pass an extensive background investigation prior to employment.
Knowledge and Abilities: Ability to operate standard office equipment and computer software, including word processing programs; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with inmates, staff and the public; ability to read and understand moderately complex instructions, such as guidelines, regulations and policies; ability to apply written instructions such as guidelines, regulations and policies to a variety of situations; ability to give verbal explanation of applicable guidelines, regulations and policies; ability to use simple arithmetic; add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers; ability to translate requirements into language appropriate to laypersons; ability to extract information through oral questioning; ability to recognize conflicting statements that indicate possible inmate rule violations.
Social Worker (Sheriff's Office)
Definition
Under minimal supervision, provide educational/vocational assessments and placements of jail prisoners under Huber Law and probationer jail release provisions; perform pre-release and post-release referrals for human services; performs related duties as required.
Examples of Duties
Conducts new prisoner intake assessment through interviews to determine prisoner service needs, as well as their educational and employment status and needs; performs job development and placement services for Huber Law eligible prisoners as well as employment counseling including instruction on employment application completion and employment interviewing; completes work release agreements for prisoners and their employers; verifies and approves prisoner temporary releases from jail for job interviews, medical/dental appointments and releases for other purposes; provides post-release referral for economic support including general assistance; arranges emergency child care services; coordinates access to mental health, AODA, and educational tutoring services; administer GED pretests and tests; serve as a prisoner representative in jail disciplinary hearings; arranges law library access for prisoners; discusses inmate needs and goals with probation agents and human services agency representatives; provide student field placement supervision and evaluation.
Employment Standards
Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in social work from a program accredited or preaccredited by the Council on Social Work Education or a bachelors degree in a field other than social work and possession of any of the State of Wisconsin social worker certifications (temporary certification will be accepted). Prefer experience with the criminal justice system.
Knowledges, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of and skill in the application of Social Work ethics, theories and practices; ability to work effectively with a variety of persons and institutions including ethnic minorities; ability to express ideas clearly orally and in writing.
Special Requirements: Those having accredited or preaccredited social work degrees must have, as of date of hire, possession of any of the State of Wisconsin social worker certifications (those with temporary certification must obtain regular certification prior to the expiration of their temporary certification. Must have possession or eligibility for a Wisconsin drivers license and access to reliable personal motor vehicle transportation.
Dane County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer