Jail service officer
Do you want to do your part to protect your community?
Become a Jail Service Officer (JSO) with the Santa Clara Police Department.
JSOs perform a variety of support functions at the Santa Clara Police Department.
Here are the top questions we get asked about the position:
What do JSOs do? JSO is a uniformed, non-sworn position within our agency. JSOs work in our Temporary Holding Facility (in layman’s terms that is our “jail”) at our police station. They also staff the temporary holding facility in Levi’s Stadium during concerts and game days.
What are the typical duties of a JSO? A typical duty of a JSO would be them processing an arrestee. When our officers bring an arrested person into our station, JSOs re-search the arrestee, photograph and fingerprint the arrestee, and then assist the officer with completing paperwork. They also process sex-registrants and people with warrants when those individuals come to the police station.
Do JSOs carry guns? No, this is an unarmed position.
Do JSOs work odd hours? Yes, our JSO work around the clock on either day shift, swing shift or night shift.
Is being a JSO dangerous? As a JSO, you won’t be working in the field, but you will be processing prisoners, some of whom are dangerous. Our JSOs receive special training on how to protect themselves. They also work closely with our police officers when dealing with a violent prisoner.
Is working in the police department like working at other places? Not really. Police departments are paramilitary organizations. As a JSO you’ll be expected to be the consummate professional. Example: Let’s say you are a JSO assigned to a swing shift. You will be required to be in uniform and ready to go precisely at 3 p.m., not 3-ish, not 3:01, and definitely not 3:02. JSOs, just like all of our employees, are essential parts of our team and we are counting on you to be on time and ready to go. This is just one of the many standards that you’ll be expected to adhere to. In return, you will get to play an integral part in protecting your community and working for an outstanding organization.
Click here to learn more about the position.