Champaign County Sheriff's Office looking to correct a hiring issue
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — If you're looking to break into the criminal justice field — there's new opportunities right here in Champaign County. The Sheriff's Office is making a push to hire about a dozen people in their corrections department to fill an increased need.
Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said they need more people to effectively open the renovated Champaign County jail. Inmates who are currently in other counties will be moving back in soon. Which means more correctional officers and behind the scenes personnel will be needed.
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'I am completely full when it comes to deputies. Right now, it's corrections that has really kind of suffered,' Heuerman said.
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office is hiring. The department is posting on Facebook to try and attract new applicants for two positions: Correctional Officers and Master Control Officers.
'We have about five positions of a correctional officer. And what that means is working either for second or third shift in the Champaign County jail,' Heuerman said.
Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said the control officers are more behind the scenes.
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'They don't have face to face contact with inmates,' Heuerman said.
People in the control position can validate warrants to an officer in the field and control the doors of the jail. Heuerman said this can be a part-time roll.
'If somebody is looking for, you know, this a couple of times a week or a couple shifts a week, that this may be a really good opportunity for them to get into the criminal justice field and kind of see how they like it,' Heuerman said.
The Sheriff said there's a reason for the timing of these ads.
'We have consistently been down correctional officers,' Heuerman said. 'We have gotten up a little bit. And then some people are leaving. Why it's such an immediate thing now is because we're about to open the full facility.'
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He's talking about the Champaign County Jail. Heuerman said they're looking to reopen fully in the beginning of April — and that takes more people. If the positions are all filled he thinks it will create a safer environment for both inmates and officers.
'If somebody is looking for stable employment, that that pays well, that has benefits, then I really hope they take a look at the sheriff's office and see what kind of opportunities we can provide for them,' Heuerman said.
To find out more about applying to work for the sheriff's office, click here.
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