The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office offers an exceptionally competitive entry-level salary and benefits package. As a Civilian Specialist career progresses, longevity pay raises accrue and opportunities for advancement become available. Please take a moment to review the benefits outlined below.

Salary

The current salary for a Civilian Specialist is:

• Hourly/Annual - $22.73 / $47,278 (minimum)
• Hourly/Annual - $30.75 / $63,960 (maximum)

Health Care

As a member of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, you have the option of participating in one of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans, as well as the dental and vision plans. Along with these plans, there is the option of life insurance and county provided short-term disability insurance.

Retirement

From your first day of employment, you will be participating in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement system (KPERS). Your contribution amount in the system is 6% of your gross pay. You can find additional information at www.kpers.org.

Deferred Compensation Plans

Deferred Compensation, 457(b) is a voluntary retirement plan that offers a tax deferred option to fund your retirement. The plan consists of several different investment options. Along with this deferred compensation plan, Johnson County will set up a secondary deferred compensation plan, 401(a), where a matching contribution will be made.

Vacation and Holiday Leave

As members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, vacation leave is earned at the rate of 4 hours per pay period, (24 pay periods). The rate earned increases with longevity, earning 7.25 hours per pay period (24 pay periods) starting year 20. You also receive Holiday Pay for working on holidays designated by Johnson County.

Sick Leave

You earn sick leave at the rate of 4 hours per pay period (24 pay periods). Your unused sick leave will accrue and at your retirement, a percentage of the unused sick leave will be paid to you, up to, but not exceeding the cap set by the county.

Education Assistance

To assist you in continuing your formal education, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office offers Education Assistance, with reimbursement for courses in a degree program that are from an accredited college.

Relocation Reimbursement

Johnson County will pay for moving expenses that are necessary and reasonable for bringing new employees to the Sheriff's Office. Moving expenses will be reimbursed up to $2500.00 for those who currrently reside more than 150 miles from Johnson County. 

For additional information, please check out the Johnson County 2023 Benefit Guidebook.

Prospective Civilian Specialist applicants must meet all of the minimum requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age at time of appointment.
• High School diploma or G.E.D. Certificate.
• Honorable Discharge from Military (if applicable).
• United States Citizen or legally allowed to work in the Unites States.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable record.
• May not have any felony convictions, or other restrictions per KSA 74-5605 or its equivalent under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

To begin the application process for a Civilian Specialist position, navigate to the Johnson County Human Resources website, www.jocogov.org. Click on the “Careers” tab at the top of the page which will take you to the “Career Opportunities” page, click the link titled “County Jobs Open to the Public”. You can scroll or use the job search tabs at the top of the “Jobs Open to the Public” page to find the listing for “Civilian Specialist” and click the link to start the process (Note: There will be several steps and pages in the initial application. If you need a step by step tutorial please click HERE.)

After completing the initial application process the system will generate an e-mail to the e-mail address you provided giving you further instructions. If you do not receive an e-mail, please check your “Spam” folder. You will be receiving multiple e-mails from Johnson County, KS ([email protected]) over the next couple weeks so it would benefit you to set your e-mail server to accept e-mails from this address.

You will receive additional e-mails with instructions on how to continue on in the process if you have met all the minimum qualifications.

If you have not heard from our Personnel Division within 7 - 10 business days after submitting your application, please contact us at 913-715-5526.

Employment Application

• Within five business days after completing the initial application process through the Johnson County Human Resources website, you will be sent an e-mail from Guardian Alliance with a link to the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). This PHQ must be completed in detail and submitted electronically. The PHQ is a comprehensive document covering all aspects of an applicant’s background. 

Personal Panel Interview

• A standardized panel interview will be conducted to assess the applicant’s personality, character, work habits, motivation, qualifications and various other matters relevant to the position.

Polygraph

• Applicants will be interviewed by a Sheriff’s Office polygraph examiner. The polygraph examination will explore information provided on the application and information relating to the personal interview.

Background Investigation

• An in-depth background investigation will be conducted. During this phase, referenced and non-referenced individuals will be contacted regarding your employment history, associations to include family, friends, and neighbors. Your work history, driving record, financial record, as well as any civil or criminal history will also be reviewed. Our efforts are designed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the applicant to ensure only those candidates who have demonstrated the highest values are selected. Candidates must exemplify the highest moral and ethical standards.

Physical/Drug Analysis

• As part of the conditional offer of employment, applicants must successfully pass a physical and drug screening test.

Psychological Interview and Test

• As part of the conditional offer of employment, the psychologist retained by the Sheriff’s Office will evaluate the results of the psychological tests will interview each applicant. The psychologist will evaluate each applicant’s interpersonal skills, personal traits and other factors that have a relationship to the successful performance of assigned duties. 

Sheriff’s Hiring Board

• Applicants will be interviewed by a Sheriff’s Hiring Board, who will make a recommendation concerning employment as a Civilian Specialist.

 

Civilian Specialist assignments are initially determined by Civilian Specialist Supervisors. Below are descriptions of current possible assignments.

Alarm Monitoring is the first point of contact for most phone calls coming into the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Detention Centers.  While in Alarm Monitoring, you will be responsible for providing public information to those calling about inmates within our custody.  You will also be maintaining the security of our facility and staff by monitoring the live video feeds of all areas within and around the jail. You will also be responsible for making announcements over the facility all-call system.

Booking is the first point of in-person contact for all incoming inmates.  While in the Booking Lounge, all inmates will be screened by medical and mental health staff.  Booking Lounge Civilian Specialists will be responsible for collecting all personal information from inmates and processing them into our system.  

Classifications – Classifications determines where an inmate will be housed while in custody.  The Classifications CS visits the inmates to conduct a classification interview to determine if there are any factors to be considered before they are housed in their appropriate housing units. They use a variety of data to determine a score, housing inmates in minimum, medium, maximum, or high maximum custodies. Classifications notifies both detention centers staff of all moves in housing within the jail based on all the classification guidelines.

Control Centers (2 & 3 Control – CBF; 6 & 7 Control – NCADC)– Control Center Civilian Specialists assist in monitoring all incoming and outgoing traffic within the modules on those floors.  You will be responsible for the monitoring of the visitations (contact and non- contact) as well as watching all activity of inmates who are outside of their cells at any given time. This includes reporting unsafe activity to the deputies working the modules you observe.  In addition to those tasks you will be responsible for logging incoming and outgoing activity, observing meal services and medication rounds, and maintaining the safety of the inmates while in outdoor recreation. At no time are inmates allowed in the Control Centers.

Court Services / Video Court – The Court Service CS schedules Court Services deputies to take inmates to and from court appearances. They review custody slips and court paperwork. They help facilitate transportation to and from other facilities. The Video Court CS assists with inmates appearing via video within the detention centers.

Lobby is responsible for all in-person contact with visitors and legal representatives.  Civilian Specialists assigned to Lobby will handle setting up all in-person contact visits, along with all virtual visits for inmates.  Lobby handles the security of the facility on the non-secure side by screening and identifying anyone who is entering and exiting the detention centers via the front lobby.

Mailroom involves handling the delivery of mail to inmates, as well as the Post Office on a day-to-day basis. While operating in the mailroom, you will communicate with the Programs Staff, providing pre-approved mail and package deliveries to inmates. You will open and inspect all non-privileged mail to ensure the items meet detention rules and regulations.  

Programs staff handles all programs and special situations that are available to inmates. Programs manages inmate requests for special diets, haircuts, religious requests, book exchanges, and board/card game requests, just to name a few responsibilities.  Programs staff works with approved volunteer staff to provide specific programs to the inmates. 

Property is responsible for the intake and release of all inmates’ belongings. Property will inventory new inmates’ belongings, log these items, and place them in a secure property room and have them labeled per person for easy access.  Property will add and remove items from an inmate’s property bag as necessary.  Property will also assist with any movement of inmates incoming and outgoing from the jails, to include releasing inmates from custody.

Records is the first stop and last stop for all paperwork for inmates.  Records is responsible for creating and maintaining an inmate’s digital file. They work closely with the Shift Commander. Their responsibilities include maintaining documentation of why the inmate is in custody. At the end of an inmate’s stay, Records will run an inmate’s information through databases to show he/she can be released with no further holds, warrants, or court-ordered stays.