PORT ORCHARD — The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office recruiting female officers to begin, or continue, a career in the field of corrections in the Kitsap County Jail.

The application process for this recruiting drive is open until March 11. Testing for this position is tentatively set for the week of April 1.

This career opportunity is for full-time officers, 40 hours per week, with an entry-level rate of pay set at $20.86 per hour as a corrections officer 1, increasing to $27.96 per hour as a corrections officer 2 (per collective bargaining agreement). Commissioned female corrections officers are encouraged to apply as lateral applicants.

“The path to earning a commission as a Kitsap County Sheriff’s corrections officer is not easy, and it’s not for just anyone, but it is attainable for those with the personal drive to pass a multi-phased testing process and complete required entry-level training,” said Sheriff Steve Boyer. “I would encourage interested women to consider applying. It’s a very dynamic environment.”

The primary mission of corrections personnel is to supervise jail inmates and deliver services in a secure environment for officers, staff, inmates, professional personnel and the community.

This is accomplished by maintaining custody and control, and properly caring for all inmates, assisting the judicial system and providing inmates with access to programs which facilitate their opportunities to re-enter society.

The Kitsap County Jail is the regional confinement facility serving the criminal justice community within the greater Kitsap peninsula area. The jail houses both pre-trial and sentenced prisoners for county, cities and tribal communities in the region. The jail currently operates at a 421 bed capacity with the capability to increase to 535 beds when funding and staffing requirements are optimal. The jail is a full-service facility, operating 24 hours per day, every day.

The sheriff’s corrections division utilizes the National Institute of Corrections inmate behavioral management program model to ensure the security of inmates, staff and the facility by maintaining close observation and supervision of the inmate population. For full details on the position classification, benefits offered and application process, visit the county’s employment website.

An informational resource to learn more about what a career in corrections entails, please see the Discover Corrections website at www.discovercorrections.com.