SIMS Inmate Release Specialist Lead

Posting Date

08/05/26

Application Deadline

08/09/26

Pay Range

Min - Mid - Max
$21.75 - $29.13 - $36.50

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Sheriff

About the Position

Are you looking for a position that will take advantage of your attention to detail and knack for precision? Your skills may be an excellent resource for the Justice Systems Clerk Lead role.

The SIMS Inmate Release Specialist Lead provides highly responsible and specialized legal, clerical, and customer service support.

The position includes varying shifts, extended sitting, direct interaction with customers to address their needs, enhancing the customer experience, inputting data into the software database with meticulous accuracy and quality review of one’s work and the work of others.

The SIMS Inmate Release Specialist - Lead ensures the efficiency of the shift operations and provides quality control of the work related to an inmate’s progress through the judicial system while in the custody of MCSO. This requires reviewing and processing a variety of legal documents of moderate complexity; liaising with various courts, law enforcement, and other agencies; as well as responding to inquiries from the public, bonding companies, and MCSO staff. The Lead Specialist provides training to SIMS staff and reports directly to SIMS Supervisors.

This position exercises considerable care and judgment in the release of information in accordance with state law, court decision or order, and MCSO Office Policy.

If you are looking for a career that offers stability, growth, and camaraderie, apply today!

About the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office:

Do you possess integrity, strong interpersonal skills, and do you have a desire to serve your community?  We are seeking passionate individuals to join our team with a variety of openings for Civilian, Detention and Sworn personnel.  The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) invites you to become part of Arizona's leading law enforcement agency where we come together as a team to support and provide public safety. 

Position Qualifications

We recognize your time is valuable, so please apply if you meet the following required qualifications:

Education

• High school diploma or GED

Experience

• Three (3) years of progressively responsible legal, court or justice system support related experience

Combined education and experience qualifications

• Other combinations of education or experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year-for-year basis

Other requirements

• Must possess a valid Arizona driver’s license or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire.
• Training that may be provided on the job: Safety; Payroll; PREA.
• Prior to hiring, the Sheriff's Office requires that all candidates pass a background review.

Our Preferred Candidate has

• Clerical or administrative experience in a criminal justice setting.
• Advanced knowledge of legal processes or court records.

• Associate degree in administration, criminal justice administration, or legal assistant.
• Experience in law enforcement or detention setting.

Compensation is more than a salary with MCSO:

• Growth and stability since 1871
• Choice of three medical plans – starting as low as $70/month
• Holidays – 10/year + 1 personal day
• Enrollment in Arizona State Retirement System
• Paid sick and parental leaves (birth/adoption)
• 30% discount at Kindercare childcare facilities in the Valley.
• 50% discount at MCKids Club childcare located next to our headquarters. 
• MCSO Mentoring program to provide personal and professional growth opportunities for all employees
• Access to free County gyms
• Learn more at Benefits Overview 

Essential Job Tasks

(This is not an all-inclusive list of all job duties that may be required; employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned.)

• Provides guidance to employees with new directives, policies, procedures, and goals.
• Answers staff questions and provides subject matter expertise to the Division.
• May Participate in hiring process and conducts interviews.
• Trains new staff and conducts remedial training as needed, maintains training records; assists staff in problem research and resolution.
• Interprets judicial documents, including computing sentences and interpreting court orders, and enters data into the Jail Management System (Shield).
• Prepares statistical data for reports, administrative enquiry reports, memos and other correspondence as requested.
• Responds to telephone inquiries from other law enforcement agencies and the general public; resolves customer comments/complaints.
• Oversees, processes, and schedules inmates to court and enters data in SHIELD.
• Comprehends and interprets state, county, Municipal laws, rules, regulations and MCSO policy.
• Monitors paperwork to ensure it is timely and accurate.
• Coordinates with other agencies or departments to resolve problems.
• Verifies end-of-shift/month/year cash count in Bonds and Fines, including safe and bank transfers.
• Prepares custody files for transport to warehouse.
• Problem Solving - researches issues and communicates with other agencies via telephone and email.
• Processes cash bonds, fines, surety bonds, and child support payments.
• Responds to the public and other agency inquiries regarding inmates promptly and courteously.
• Provides customer service to the public via telephone and in person at the Bonds & Fines public counter.
• Updates and processes daily judicial court documents received for all in-custody defendants seen in all courts within Maricopa County.
• Responsible for initiating and processing all releases from MCSO jails with high degree of accuracy and accountability. Responsible for the quality review of the work of others.
• Liaises with Courts, Correctional Health, and the Department of Corrections (DOC) for all inmates sentenced to prison to organize the transfer from MCSO custody to Arizona Department of Corrections custody.
• Monitors the status of Fugitives of Justice and Interstate Compact Offenders and processes warrants and other legal documents pertaining to these inmates.
• Receives and sends teletype messages.
• Maintains judicial files for all detainees.
• Files court documents, release files, and division paperwork.
• Consolidates and prepares files for long term storage upon release of inmate.
• Maintains and monitors office equipment and supplies.
• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Advises SIMS Division Command of concerns or work issues, evaluates procedures, and provides ideas for enhancements.
• Performs quality control check on all database updates entered upon receipt of court documents; upon adjudication of all charges, reviews, approves, and authorizes all releases processed by the Inmate Release Unit. Completes thorough quality review and approval of inmate release processed by division staff.
• Works duty posts as needed.
• Maintains good attendance to perform tasks as assigned and scheduled by supervisor.

Working Conditions

Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

The following environments described are only representative of how the essential job tasks are currently performed or envisioned. As such, in order to accommodate a disability or limitation, the essential job tasks may be performed in ways other than described on these pages.
                                   

Work occurs primarily indoors.  Tasks require sitting for long periods, managing time pressures and high work volumes with high degree of decision making, concentration, and accuracy. Position requires ethical conduct and a professional demeanor.

Work environment

• Indoors
• Frequently outdoors
• Conditions frequently include stairs or ladders.
• Conditions may rarely include exposure to contagious diseases.

 

Physical environment

• Sitting, standing, walking
• Driving a vehicle
• Speaking, hearing, seeing, reading
• Distinguishing colors
• Bending/kneeling, reaching, twisting
• Lifting floor to waist thirty-five (35) pounds
• Carrying a weight of thirty-five (35) pounds for a distance of 5 feet
• Pushing/pulling a weight of thirty-five (35) pounds for a distance of 50 feet

Social environment

• Interruptions
• High volume of work
• Accuracy
• Decision making
• Concentration/vigilance
• Teamwork
• Overtime/rotating shifts
• Conditions frequently include time pressures, handling multiple or complicated tasks, unscheduled tasks, frequently changing tasks, working in close physical proximity with others, public contact.
• Conditions may rarely include emergencies, dangerous environment, and isolation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• The justice system, federal, state and county laws, statues, regulations, codes and standards related to the area of responsibility.
• The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and basic skills in mathematics.
• Business writing practices, standard office practices and procedures, and data processing applications.

Skill in

• Typing minimum 35 wpm and using an alphanumeric device.
• Interpreting and explaining rules and regulations.
• Identifying complex problems and evaluating to develop options and implement solutions.
• Selecting and applying training/instructional methods and procedures that are situationally appropriate.

Ability to

• Exercise independent judgment with sound decision making.
• Work with the general public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Communicate successfully in oral and written format as appropriate for the audience.
• Provide work direction/guidance to other staff.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

The hiring authority will select the successful candidate based on departmental needs.
 
All offers of employment made to new hires and rehires at Maricopa County are contingent upon successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment thorough background investigation.  A background investigation is conducted on a current employee who changes to a Safety Sensitive Position or one having the potential for serious adverse impact on the integrity or efficiency of the County.  These requirements do not pertain to employees of elected officials who undergo background investigation processes administered through their respective offices.

Typically, successful candidates are hired at a salary rate, up to midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience, internal equity and budgetary allowances.

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

 

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [email protected] to initiate the interactive process.

 

Apply Now!