Job Description

Posting number: 2026-07056

Department: Dept. of Corrections

Division: Prisons - WSP

Job classification: EXEMPT BAND 2

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Corrections, Facility Management, Public Safety, Management

Summary

Correctional Captain | WSP

EMS Band 2

Location: Washington State Penitentiary | Walla Walla, WA

The Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is an adult correctional facility operating in support of the Washington State Department of Corrections mission and the goal to improve public safety. WSP is seeking a detail focused and proactive problem solver to join their team as a Correctional Captain! The Correctional Captain is tasked with the goal of providing leadership for all other uniformed staff regardless of where they are assigned and administering and coordinating security related activities at a correctional facility level.

The WSP is comprised of 3 Close Custody Units, 4 Special Housing Units, 2 Intensive Management Units, 2 Medium Units, 2 Minimum Housing Units and a Hospital. In all, WSP houses 2,100 male incarcerated individuals and employs approximately 1,100 staff.

Under the direction of the Associate Superintendent, your work will involve assuming responsibility for the interpretation of policy in the daily operations of a correctional facility with all levels of custody. You will be responsible for the administration of essential staff and support services in connection with the review of activity reports, personal conferences, and the successful operations of assigned activities.

Correctional Captains are tasked with ensuring first and second level supervisors' work is reviewed using conference and management analysis techniques. You will evaluate and make decisions concerning requests from the Lieutenant and Correctional Sergeants regarding operational areas of the institution, staff, and incarcerated individuals.

This position is required to administer and coordinate all security related activities of a principle organizational segment such as a Close Custody, Medium and Minimum-security correctional facility or serve in an administrative capacity. As an Incident Commander, you will coordinate operational procedures with the Shift Commander during all emergency responses.

We are searching for an adaptable and dependable team member who has excellent written and verbal communication skills to assume the critical role of Correctional Captain and ensure WSP is operating in support of the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the agency.

To be considered for this position, a completed application packet will include:

• A detailed resume
• A cover letter regarding your interest in this position with our agency
• Three professional references

**Note: This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that may occur.**

Examples of duties

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.

As a Correctional Captain, some of your duties will include:

• Supporting the principles of the Department’s Diversity Goals which are necessary to change the culture of the department.
• Directing the custody program at a Close custody, Medium and Maximum-security correctional facility.
• Planning, assigning, and directing shift responsibilities consistent with security and safety needs.
• Completing critical incident investigations for the Superintendent on situations affecting the safety or security of the facility, i.e. escapes, serious assaults, etc.
• Conducting audits and investigations, as required.
• Manage all aspects of security for the entire facility to include the perimeter, weapons storage and use, access/egress areas, air space, vehicle use, movement schedules of incarcerated individuals.
• Manage the following Special Teams, ensuring compliance with training and deployments: Emergency Response Team, Special Emergency Response Team, Inmate Recovery Team, and Sniper Team.
• Subject Matter Expert on all aspects of emergency response to include the ICS model of crisis management.
• Manage all aspects of roster management.
• Make recommendations to the Associate Superintendent and the Superintendent regarding the best use of Human Resources regarding roster management and shift operations.
• Make recommendations for additional staff when necessary.
• Act as one of nine (9) rotating Duty Officers, making major institutional decisions after normal working hours and on weekends. This would include initiation of Emergency Response, HQ notifications and follow-up reporting.
• Represent the Associate Superintendent and the institution at Department meetings.
• Perform the functions of the Associate Superintendent in their absence.
• Developing and mentoring staff by training, feedback and continuous dialogue.
• Completing performance evaluations on employees directly supervised and sign as reviewer on second level supervisor evaluation
• Participate as a member of the Institution Management Team, advising the Superintendent on all aspects of the institution, including budget, programming, personnel, treatment and classification issues.
• Developing Operational Memorandums governing custody and security related functions such as:
• Security inspections of the facility
• Post order requirements
• Staff accountability
• Emergency response plan
• Mutual aid agreements with other state and local agencies
• Assigned shift duties
• First response to emergencies

Qualifications

What we need (required qualifications):

• Six (6) years’ professional corrections/criminal justice experience with three (3) years’ progressive supervisory responsibilities and/or managerial responsibilities, including one (1) year supervising personnel in a criminal justice arena.
• Professional experience and application of administering the principles and practices of correctional administration and rehabilitation, attitudes, problems, and behavior of incarcerated individuals, work requirements of the facility, institution sanitation, health and safety standards, roster management, and recordkeeping.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS), the DOC Emergency Response Plan, personnel practices, policy directives, operational memorandums, RCWs, WACs, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Control and direct incarcerated individuals individually and in groups. Enforce regulations with firmness, tact and impartiality. Promote socially acceptable attitudes and behavior among incarcerated individuals.
• Think and act quickly in emergencies, Direct use of firearms, gas, restraints, and other weapons.
• Communicate effectively, including public speaking.
• Understanding of risk assessment, evidence-based practices, incarcerated individual classification, facility plans, disciplinary systems, incarcerated individual grievance procedures, incarcerated individual programs, and management of high security incarcerated individuals.

What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications):

• Associate’s degree in criminology or a closely allied field from an accredited college/university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or foreign equivalent.
• Professional experience managing a budget.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of DOC Strategic Plan, Prisons Division, security, safety policies and procedures, incarcerated individual classification, and incarcerated individual re-entry programs and concepts.
• Professional interpretation and application of DOC policies and applicable CBAs, Civil Service Rules, RCWs, WACs, and judicial procedures.
• Professional experience in the areas of Leadership, Public Relations, and Management principles.
• Ability to supervise and train Correctional Lieutenant(s), Correctional Sergeants, Correctional Officers, and support staff.

Supplemental information

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position.
• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
• **Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• Answers to supplemental questions must be verifiable with provided work history.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
• DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

What We Offer:

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!

PSERS: Many DOC jobs are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS). If someone moves from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they actually retire under two different systems/plans. For more information, please contact the Department of Retirement System at: 1-800-547-6657.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email Alicia Phillips at aphillips@doc1.wa.gov or call us at (509) 526-6313. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.