Explore Your Passion

One Agency, Many Paths
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) — the highest and most comprehensive law enforcement agency in Hamilton County — is hiring individuals with integrity, courage, and compassion to join us in serving and bringing peace of mind to communities. Not only will you make a broad impact, but you’ll find more diverse job opportunities within HCSO than anywhere else …and be empowered to find your perfect fit.

One Agency, Many Paths

ONE AGENCY, MANY PATHS: 
JAIL SERVICES  |  SUPPORT
  ENFORCEMENT  |  SPECIAL DEPUTIES

Jail Services

All Hamilton County Deputies begin their careers in the Jail Services Division, obtaining 360 hours of paid training within their first year of assignment. Upon successful completion of the training and other departmental requirements, officers will complete their probationary period. 

Corrections Officers play a critical role in the custody, security, and treatment of inmates or detainees while learning and developing the interpersonal skills required to perform a range of corrections officer assignments. Working in the jail provides valuable experience, knowledge, and communication to prepare Deputies to move into various roles within the Sheriff’s Office.

Our employment process is rigorous, and we only select those few who are passionate about engaging with their community and serving those around them. Due to the significance of the sworn position, applicants must always be truthful in their application responses and during the entire certification/hiring process. Failure to be truthful during the certification/employment process may disqualify an applicant. Truthfulness and candor in this application process are important requirements for becoming a Correctional Officer.

Corrections Academy

Corrections Officers are hired into our 10-week, paid Corrections Academy, where they learn Teamwork, Inmate communication/de-escalation tactics, Teamwork, physical conditioning, defensive tactics, first aid, and laws/regulations. Students must meet the testing, attendance, and physical conditioning requirements to complete the Academy successfully. Recruits learn a sense of community and Accountability the HCSO way:

Minimum Requirements:

  • Candidate must have a High School Diplo9ma or GED equivalence
  • Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and a clean driving history
  • Candidate must be able to pass a drug screening, medical examination by a licensed physician, and a CVSA (lie detector)
  • Candidate must be 18 years of age prior to the hire date
  • Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or Naturalization Certified
  • Candidate must have a clean criminal record, including no felony convictions
  • Candidate must not have had a DUI conviction within the past five years and no more than two in a lifetime
  • Candidate must have an Honorable Military Discharge, if applicable

Applicants may be disqualified from consideration for certification/employment as a Correctional Officer if it is determined that the applicant:

  • Was untruthful, deliberately omitted, concealed, or falsified relevant facts during the certification/employment consideration process;
  • Been convicted of a felony;
  • Committed serious employment-related crimes;
  • Sold illegal drugs;
  • Used illegal drugs within a specific period of time; OR
  • Acquired extensive debt or evidence of extreme financial negligence


Schedule:

Corrections Officers work 12-hour shifts: 7 am – 7 pm or 7 pm to 7 am. There is occasionally mandatory overtime in 4-hour increments. There is also a mandatory shift that is worked once every 30 days.

Please note:  If you apply for a corrections officer position, most communication(s) from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be via email. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure your email address is current in your online profile and that you check your email, including “Spam” and “Junk” folders, to ensure you do not miss any notifications. In addition to checking your personal email account, you may also check for notifications by logging in to the online application system and utilizing your login and password. 

Support Services

Our support employees are a significant asset to our organization.  Positions in this area offer a way to give to your community and work in the law enforcement field.   Support employees do not have arrest powers or carry firearms.

Our Support Services Employees contribute to HCSO’s mission in a number of ways, such as these:

Human Resources

Our HR Team performs human resource management functions, such as finding, hiring, training, and supporting new employees. As a result, they are responsible for such important tasks as reviewing resumes, keeping track of employee information, and ensuring HCSO complies with labor laws and employment standards.  HR keeps track of documents, including employee records related to attendance, vacations, medical leave, and other employee data. This helps demonstrate that the organization complies with labor regulations and collective bargaining agreements about working hours and conditions. One of the most important roles of HR,  is to ensure that employees receive the correct salary and benefits based on their employment status, hours worked, and pay rates.  HR also provides objective guidance to managers and employees on people-related matters. This work is done through a combination of day-to-day support for employees, project work, and long-term strategic planning.

Bureau of Records

Identification Unit

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Identification Unit is a team of highly skilled professionals adept at utilizing advanced biometric data, including DNA, Facial Recognition, Fingerprints, and secure law enforcement databases to establish and verify identities. Our Identification Technicians meticulously examine and cross-reference this data against a comprehensive range of law enforcement databases to ensure accurate identification. Once logged and categorized, our systems perform detailed biometric comparisons with data from unsolved crime scenes.  The results are promptly reported to the respective investigating agency, expediting their investigation. Additionally, our unit dutifully forwards arrest-related information and critical biometric data onto the State of Ohio, playing a pivotal role in enhancing law enforcement efforts and bolstering public safety.

Central Warrant
Processing Unit

This unit is responsible for the processing of official court documents and ensuring their necessary entry into detailed and confidential computer databases only accessible by law enforcement.  These documents include Criminal Warrants, Orders of Protection, Missing Persons, Stolen Vehicles, and numerous others.  They work closely with all Hamilton County courts and law enforcement agencies, primarily the Sheriff’s Patrol Section and the Cincinnati Police Department.  These Process Officers maintain these law enforcement databases with the utmost attention to detail to ensure the safety of the general public as well as the safety of all law enforcement.

Records

The primary role of the Records Section is processing thousands of background checks completed each year.  These background checks are completed for numerous law enforcement agencies, military agencies, the general public, and many others.  Additionally, they enter arrest records and traffic tickets into local law enforcement databases for both the Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Highway Patrol. 

Statistics

This section processes thousands of Criminal and Traffic Expungements, as well as Sealed Court Orders each year.  These responsibilities include ensuring the removal of all data related to those court orders and the corresponding arrests.  This data needs to be removed from multiple levels of a person’s criminal history thus making it a very methodical process.  They are also partially responsible for all statistics related to functions conducted on a daily basis by the Sheriff’s Patrol Section.  Additionally, they assist and work closely with the Records Section.   

Carry Concealed Licensing

This unit processes Concealed Carry License applications from the general public, law enforcement personnel and active/retired veterans.  They perform computerized criminal history background checks through all required law enforcement databases.  They strictly follow guidelines set forth by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office when approving or denying applications.  Additionally, they follow similar guidelines when suspending or revoking license holders previously issued permits.  This unit also frequently communicates with and assists other law enforcement agencies with all things related to licensing.  

Jail Services Support Staff


Intake

The Intake Department is the cornerstone of Corrections.  This area ensures the inmate or detainee is legally admitted to the jail. They make sure that the arresting, transporting, or committing officer is identified by name and department and has the proper paperwork to commit the inmate to jail.  The Data Entry Operator in Intake is responsible for booking and identification records to be entered into the criminal databases for the criminal justice system.  Making sure that every inmate booked into the jail on a new arrest is entered into the Clerk’s management system to get placed on the court docket for their initial court appearance.  They also are the last area that runs the inmates through criminal databases before they are released.

Property

The Property Department is responsible for all of the personal property that is collected and accepted from individuals who are arrested and legally admitted. Account Clerk’s in this area are responsible for taking all of the property and inventory and entering it into the criminal justice system.  This includes the money taken from the inmate at the time of arrest.  They also are responsible for releasing this property once the inmate is scheduled to be released.

Classifications

Classifications are one of the most important tools in the jail.   The Classification personnel interview and assess each incoming inmate during the admissions process, classifying approximately 1000 new inmates a month. The Classification personnel determine the security level of each inmate using a system that involves a series of related decisions. The process of classification involves determining inmate’s risks and needs and assigning them to different locations and correct security levels throughout the jail.  Initial classification decisions determine the inmate’s housing locations and programs are consistent with those needs. Classification personnel determine the eligibility for inmates to attend certain drug treatment facilities and Inmate Work Programs while incarcerated.

Social Services

Social Service Personnel provide crisis intervention and counseling to inmates and families when required (e.g., death notifications, fatal illness, etc.).  The Social Service Specialist acts as the liaison between inmates, institutions, families, service agencies, attorneys, etc.  They assess inmates’ needs to identify appropriate programs/ services (e.g., substance abuse, child abuse, medical problems, housing, etc.); and assist inmates in requests/ referrals to outside placement programs. The Social Service Specialist responds to inmate requests for problem references (e.g., incarcerations, stress, frustrations, fear, etc.); identifies inmates with special needs (e.g., deaf, mute, non-English speaking, illiterates, etc.); contacts appropriate agencies to protect the rights of inmates; performs release/post-release planning; refers inmates for in-house programs and counseling (e.g., AA, Chaplain, education classes, etc.).

Jail Records

Jail Records is considered the heart of the justice center. Thousands of inmates are arrested and admitted into the Jail each year.   The Jail Records specialists are responsible for keeping accurate and detailed information up to date on the current inmates while they are incarcerated.  They update their bond amounts, court dates, and sentences.  The latter is the most complex and detail-oriented.  The Jail Records Specialist makes sure that the sentence is calculated correctly and all past time incarceration is credited. 

This area is in constant contact with the courts to make sure that we are following what the Judge ordered.  They also contact jail records to calculate jail credit for them. Jail Records Specialist handles all of the extraditions for those inmates that are wanted by outside jurisdictions. The specialist will have the inmate sign the extradition waiver, schedule them for the extradition hearings, and make arrangements with the agency for pick up. 

Jail Records is responsible for scheduling, sentencing paperwork, and communication with the Bureau of Sentence computation to send inmates to the Ohio Department of Corrections to prepare them for intake. The Jail Records Specialist is responsible for running all releases through the criminal databases and coordinating with various outside departments such as United States Marshals, ATF, River City, Adult Parole, Adult Probation, EMD, Summit Behavioral, and all of the Municipalities of Hamilton County for release.

Enforcement

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office allows for hiring experienced police officer candidates from other law enforcement agencies. This is referred to as a lateral police patrol officer candidate. These candidates bring their experience and special training with them to better our department and how we serve our community.

Approved lateral hire candidates will still be integrated into the regular hiring process. The only difference will be their having to test through the National Testing Network (NTN). Their placement in the hiring process will be decided through an application, including their current, up-to-date Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certification, resume, and the candidate scoring well in a panel interview.

Requirements for Lateral Transfers for Employment Process with HCSO

  1. Applicant must hold a valid Ohio Peace Officer Training Certificate and be in good standing with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.
  2. Must have and show proof of a high school diploma or GED certificate.
  3. Be currently employed as a full-time law enforcement officer, as defined in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) section 2901.01(11), or was laid off from such a position within the year prior to application. The candidate must have a minimum of two (2) consecutive years of full-time law enforcement experience post-academy certification.
  4. Have two years of full-time law enforcement patrol experience.
    1. Duties Not Considered as Experience for the Purpose of a Lateral Hire Patrol Officer:
      1. Deputy/Officer employed in a jail/prison setting.
      2. A volunteer reserve or auxiliary police officer.
      3. Military police officer.
      4. A district attorney investigator.
      5. Employment on a part-time basis.
      6. Time spent in a police academy.
  5. At the time of appointment, possess a valid Ohio driver’s license.
  6. At the time of appointment, be a United States citizen with the ability to speak, read, and write the English language.
  7. Not have any felony convictions, disqualifying misdemeanor convictions, or have committed any prohibited acts (especially while employed as a law enforcement officer).
  8. Be in good health, be of good moral character, and not possess an adverse police or employment record.
  9. Possess physical strength and agility sufficient to handle aggressive situations and be able to work in adverse weather conditions.
  10. Be able to think and act quickly in emergency situations and possess good general intelligence and emotional stability.
  11. Not be prohibited by any court action and state or federal statute from carrying a firearm.

Disqualifying Lateral Hire Candidate Conduct

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office expects its employees to be people of integrity, good character, and high moral standards. Therefore, we are very selective with our police officer candidates. The following is a non-exhaustive list of past conduct that will eliminate a lateral hire candidate from consideration:

  • Failure to appear for any required step in the selection process or any acts of non-compliance.
  • Failure to pass a required examination or test, including any psychological or physical fitness test administered by HCSO.
  • Prior disqualification for any material reason from HCSO process within the past two years.
  • Falsification or intentional omission of any material fact(s) during the application process.
  • A finding of deliberate deception during any part of the hiring process.
  • Any attempt to manipulate the results of a truth verification examination.
  • Any admission or conviction of a crime of violence as defined by federal, state, or local law.
  • Any use or purchase of drugs of abuse (except prescribed medications) within three (3) years of application or while employed as a law enforcement officer.
  • Any use, purchase, or cultivation of marijuana while employed as a law enforcement officer.
  • The prior use of marijuana at a level that would indicate more than casual or experimental use.
  • The current use of alcohol at a level that would indicate abuse, dependency, or a level of inability to function without the use of alcohol for any period of time.
  • Illegal sale of or conviction for unlawful sales of, distribution, or manufacture of any controlled substance or contraband.
  • Admission or conviction of any felony-level offense committed as an adult or juvenile.
  • Any conviction of a M-1 or M-2 criminal misdemeanor as defined by the federal, state, or local law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred, as an adult in the past five years, more than one M-1 or M­2 conviction as an adult, or at any time while employed as a law enforcement officer.
  • Any pattern of theft offenses during the course of employment from an employer as an adult.
  • Having six (6) points or more on driving record within the past two (2) year period prior to time of application.
  • Having a conviction of OVI within the past six (6) years prior to application, or at any time while employed as a law enforcement officer, or having been convicted of multiple OVI violations.
  • Having been placed under a 12-point suspension within the past six (6) year period prior to the time of application.
  • Any conviction of vehicular homicide.
  • Having received a Dishonorable Discharge or Other Than Honorable Discharge from military service.
  • Filing fraudulent claims for insurance, welfare, unemployment compensation, or other public assistance programs.
  • Having a continuing history of financial or credit problems to include; garnishments and bankruptcy.
  • An employment history includes a pattern of any of the following: termination, resignation in lieu of discharge, excessive absence/tardiness, inability to get along with others, or any adverse disciplinary actions.
  • Any conviction for a violation of a protection or restraining order.
  • Any instances where the candidate would be legally prohibited from possessing a firearm
  • Verified or admitted physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of one’s spouse, ex-spouse, child, stepchild, parent, or any other relative or person with whom one had lived or has had a relationship with or a conviction of a crime of domestic violence involving the use of force or threatened use of a deadly weapon (permanent disqualifier).
  • Non-compliance with a court order or legal contract to provide for family/dependents, child support, alimony,y, or other financial responsibility determined by the finding of any court of law.
  • A past history of association or involvement with any organized criminal organization or any documented or admitted history of racial, ethnic, or social intolerance.

Again, this is not an exhaustive list of all of the instances that could disqualify a potential police officer candidate.

Special Deputies

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Special Deputies is a volunteer organization committed to supporting and operating the Sheriff’s Office. The Special Deputies are comprised of people interested in serving their community as law enforcement deputies. 

Special Deputies have the same arrest powers and uniforms as full-time officers and are Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certified.

Special Deputies provide security at various community events, concerts, sporting events, and school and private events and can be called out by the Sheriff for emergencies.

Applications for the Special Deputies are always being accepted. Our hiring process includes interviews and an extensive background check process.

HCSO Benefits

At HCSO, we believe that if we support your well-being, you can better contribute to our agency’s success and achieve your personal goals. That is why our Total Rewards package is focused on supporting our employees’ physical, mental, financial, and work-life well-being. 

We offer our employees the following benefits:

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • A robust health and wellness program that offers employees incentives and rewards for healthy behaviors
  • Flexible Spending Accounts that can be used for dependent day care, parking/mass transit, and other eligible expenses
  • Free Access to Marathon Health Network
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Critical Illness Insurance/Accident Insurance
  • Holidays/Vacation/Sick Leave, Personal Days
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Ohio Public Employees Retirement Systems (OPERS)
  • Deferred Compensation Plans
  • College Advantage Savings Plan
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (student loans)
  • Tuition Reimbursement


NOTE:
  Hamilton County Reserves the right to change any of the above benefits and their costs without prior notification. 

Jail Services

Corrections Officers play a critical role in the custody, security, and treatment of inmates or detainees while learning and developing the interpersonal skills required to perform a range of corrections officer assignments. Working in the jail provides valuable experience, knowledge, and communication to prepare Deputies to move into various roles within the Sheriff’s Office.

Our employment process is rigorous, and we only select those few who are passionate about engaging with their community and serving those around them. Due to the significance of the sworn position, applicants must always be truthful in their application responses and during the entire certification/hiring process. Failure to be truthful during the certification/employment process may disqualify an applicant. Truthfulness and candor in this application process are important requirements for becoming a Correctional Officer.

Corrections Academy

Corrections Officers are hired into our 10-week, paid Corrections Academy, where they learn Teamwork, Inmate communication/de-escalation tactics, Teamwork, physical conditioning, defensive tactics, first aid, and laws/regulations. Students must meet the testing, attendance, and physical conditioning requirements to complete the Academy successfully. Recruits learn a sense of community and Accountability the HCSO way:

Minimum Requirements:

  • Candidate must have a High School Diplo9ma or GED equivalence
  • Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and a clean driving history
  • Candidate must be able to pass a drug screening, medical examination by a licensed physician, and a CVSA (lie detector)
  • Candidate must be 18 years of age prior to the hire date
  • Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or Naturalization Certified
  • Candidate must have a clean criminal record, including no felony convictions
  • Candidate must not have had a DUI conviction within the past five years and no more than two in a lifetime
  • Candidate must have an Honorable Military Discharge, if applicable

Applicants may be disqualified from consideration for certification/employment as a Correctional Officer if it is determined that the applicant:

  • Was untruthful, deliberately omitted, concealed, or falsified relevant facts during the certification/employment consideration process;
  • Been convicted of a felony;
  • Committed serious employment-related crimes;
  • Sold illegal drugs;
  • Used illegal drugs within a specific period of time; OR
  • Acquired extensive debt or evidence of extreme financial negligence


Schedule:

Corrections Officers work 12-hour shifts: 7 am – 7 pm or 7 pm to 7 am. There is occasionally mandatory overtime in 4-hour increments. There is also a mandatory shift that is worked once every 30 days.

Please note:  If you apply for a corrections officer position, most communication(s) from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be via email. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure your email address is current in your online profile and that you check your email, including “Spam” and “Junk” folders, to ensure you do not miss any notifications. In addition to checking your personal email account, you may also check for notifications by logging in to the online application system and utilizing your login and password.