The Grays Harbor County Civil Service Commission is establishing a 2026 eligibility list for entry-level Corrections Deputy for the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office. The salary range for Corrections Deputy is $6,527 to $7,557 per month plus benefits. Testing will include physical ability, written, background, and oral exams. See the full 2026 schedule of quarterly exams at this link, which includes all closing dates and exam dates. Applicants must be 21 years of age by date of hire. Names will be added to the established eligibility list on a quarterly basis; eligible names may remain on the list for six months. All filled positions require successful completion of a 12-month probationary period. Please read this entire notice to clearly understand the application, testing, and screening process. Please retain a copy of this notice to refer to for times and locations throughout the exam process.
DEFINITION: A commissioned law enforcement officer whose primary duties are the care and custody of inmates in the Grays Harbor County Jail.
BASIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of federal, state and local laws. Knowledge of department mission, goals, policies and procedures. Knowledge of related criminal justice and social service systems and their function. Skill in observation and retention of details. Skill in the use of firearms. Ability to relate effectively to others in tense and/or hostile situations. Ability to perform effectively under extreme stress. Ability to communicate in a clear, accurate, comprehensive and concise manner in both verbal and written form. Maintain high standard of physical condition. Must have skills in data entry using a keyboard at 20 wpm and possess the ability to perform basic computer functions. Regular attendance of job assignment.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND ATTITUDES: The Corrections Deputy performs duties commensurate with professional ethics and attitudes demanded by the police code of ethics, departmental goals and community needs.
MENTAL DEMANDS: The Corrections Deputy position requires a mature and stable personality who must be able to work under stressful conditions. A Corrections Deputy must be able to make decisions and take affirmative action in dangerous and unpredictable situations. A Corrections Deputy must make decisions based on knowledge and experience rather than emotional impact.
A Corrections Deputy must be duty responsive 24 hours a day. Corrections Deputy must be able to assimilate large amounts of complicated information and put this into a clear and concise written form.
WORKING CONDITIONS: A majority of working time is spent indoors; however, transports or escorts may require Corrections Deputy to be subjected to extreme temperatures and inclement weather.
Corrections Deputy must occasionally engage in physical confrontations, and/or lift and carry people and objects, requiring good physical condition.
Limited Corrections Deputy assignments may occur in Identification, Civil, Records, or other parts of the Department. The Corrections Deputy may also be required to serve civil processes.
ACCOUNTABILITY: A Corrections Deputy is required to make independent decisions without supervision subject to departmental review. A Corrections Deputy’s actions may be subject to community and department criticism. A Corrections Deputy may also be subject to department discipline and/or lawsuit.
ROUTINE DUTIES: Beresponsible for enforcing Policies and Procedures of the Corrections Facility, prevent escapes, maintain order and discipline among inmates, escort inmates to and from cells to courts and other related appointments, and provide supervision and security while maintaining custody of those detained. Must be aware of potential security problem areas including court, escorts/transports, and criminals known to be violent or escape risk. Must be observant and have the ability to distinguish suspicious and irregular activities. Collect information on inmate activity through in-service training and shift briefing. Conduct preliminary inquiry regarding possible jail rules or law violations, obtaining and verifying factual information from examination of inmates, jail equipment, and premises. Investigate and/or handle inmate complaints, excessive noise, mentally ill persons; provide first-aid for injuries, illness, drug overdose, or attempted suicide victims.
Work also includes operation and inspection of security devices, reporting of jail rules violations, supervision of inmate visitations, maintaining jail records by reports, booking information, and filing of pertinent court orders and related paperwork. Receive assignments and instructions from a superior officer with work reviewed in the form of evaluations, reports, personal inspection, and conferences.
Control inmates by personal contact and patrolling cell areas, courtrooms and jail corridors, and other work assigned areas. Use restraining devices and techniques in control and escort of inmates.
Make inmate head counts; check living areas for sanitary conditions, fire and safety hazards; and inspect for contraband.
Operate electric jail control panel for control of jail gates, meet with the public on such matters as jail visiting hours, receiving bail or fine money, control admission of professional visitors, attorneys, and bondsmen.
Must have skills in entering data into a computer at 20 wpm; must possess the ability to learn basic computer functions including data entry in the records management system and word processing functions in the form or report writing.
ASSIST/COOPERATE WITH PATROL/CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION:Corrections Deputies must have the ability and knowledge to recognize a crime scene, and to take those initial steps required to preserve evidence if necessary. Corrections Deputies may be called upon to assist investigating officers in the identification of witnesses and suspects.
REPORT WRITING: Know and use the proper style or mode for reporting and communicating information. Provide complete reports of actions, specifying all details that aid in reconstruction of the incident and prosecution.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Corrections Deputies are called upon to receive inquiries, complaints, and requests for general information relative to the Corrections Division.
TRAINING: Must attend, complete, and pass the Washington State Corrections Officer Academy as certified by the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and those standards set by the Governor’s Commission on training standards as per RCW 43.101.220. Ongoing annual training requirements will be met in compliance with department policy.
Obtain basic first-aid and CPR qualifications, and maintain qualification or certification card.
Perform other duties and tasks as assigned and necessary.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Be at least 21 years of age by date of hire. Have no record of felony conviction, no record of gross misdemeanor/misdemeanor conviction for crime involving controlled substances or physical harm; be free from any physical condition which might adversely affect performance of duty as a Corrections Deputy; must be free from any psychological condition which might adversely affect performance of duty as a Corrections Deputy based on an evaluation by a clinical psychologist. Must be a high school graduate or have passed the General Education Development test. Must be examined by a licensed physician to verify that applicant is physically sound and free from any physical defect which might adversely affect performance as a Corrections Deputy. Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license.
Application Process: To apply for the Corrections Deputy civil service exams, applicants are encouraged to use https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/graysharbor. All applications must be submitted by the closing dates provided in the 2026 exam schedule linked above. Late applications will be moved forward to the next quarter’s testing, and the applicant will be notified of such. You may also apply using a Word link on the GHC Civil Service webpage, https://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/government/civil_service_commission/index.php. These applications must be mailed or emailed to Chief Examiner Ballou at the above address, postmarked or received by the designated closing dates.
Examination Process: Successful candidates must pass four exams. Photo ID is required for admittance. Use the link given above to see each quarter’s testing dates.
Test 1: Physical Ability Test (PAT)
Test 2: Written Exam
Test 3: Pre-Eligibility Background Exam (PEBE)
Test 4: Oral Board (OB) Interview
Scoring: Those who pass the civil service exams described above will receive a letter informing them of all scores, final score, andrank on the Corrections Deputy Eligibility List. Veteran’s points will have been added to passingfinal scores, if qualified. Veterans must have had an honorable discharge and must not yet have been employed by the state of Washington or any of its political subdivisions (e.g., counties, public utilities, schools) or municipal corporations. Veterans must submit a copy of their DD214 or NGB 22.
Selection Procedure: Eligible candidates will be ranked on the Corrections Deputy Eligibility List in descending order by final score. Those named as eligible will remain on the list for six months unless hired or removed for cause. It is the responsibility of those on the eligibility list to inform Chief Examiner Ballou of any change to their contact information during the life of the list. Failure to do so is cause for removal from the list.
In order to fill Corrections Deputy vacancies, the Chief Examiner will submit the top five or more names on the eligibility list to the Sheriff for consideration. During this portion of the hiring process, candidates will be subject to a complete background check (including criminal history) and will undergo polygraph, psychological, and physical examinations. As subsequent openings occur, additional names will be forwarded to the Sheriff.
Grays Harbor County is an equal opportunity employer.