Devon Shields

Interviewing a Assistant Unit Manager

I want to interview this person because I find interest in this job as a jailer
and my sister told me that it is a very interesting job.
What type of schooling or on the job training do you need? Associates degree in
criminal justice and/ or four years of experience, two of which are at supervisory
level.
What is a daily routine of Assistant Unit Manager? Security and Supervising
offenders in their daily activities. Safety of the institution. Daily documentations,
such as visitation forms, alert screens, custody reviews, monthly reports.
Supervising sergeants and officers.
What are the good points of your job? Helping offenders recover and to be able to
guide them to become citizens of society again.
What are the bad points of your job? Not knowing if you are going to come home
safely.
What are your work hours? 40+ hours a week ranging from 1st and 2nd shift.
What is the pay scale? 37,000 a year
What is the possibility of advancement? There is a high rate of advancement with
experience and education.
Will there be any traveling involved? Some traveling for training purposes only.

Do you like your job? It has its ups and downs.

How many people do you have to answer to? Four people. Unit manager, assistant
for custody programs, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.
Are your work hours flexible? Or are they set hours? They are set but can adjust if
needed.
What benefits do you have with your job? Retirement plans, life insurance, dental
plan, medical insurance, and short term disability.
Do you work overtime? Yes, every week.
Are there many jobs in this area? Yes, at every detention center.
How are you paid? Are you required to wear certain clothes? Paid by salary and
required to wear a uniform.
Other than your job, are there any other responsibilities that you have? To take
care of your family at home.
The assistant unit manager is under direct supervision of the Unit Manager.
Assistant Unit Managers supervise the sergeants, officers, and case managers
assigned to the unit team. In the absence of the Unit Manager the Assistant Unit
Manager takes over his/ her role as the Unit Manager. The Assistant Unit Manager
may be assigned a caseload for case management purposes and will generally
oversee the day to day case management operations on the unit. This includes
completion of classification and case management reviews, monitoring inmate

progress through periodic program reviews, participating on various unit and

institution committees. Assistant Unit Managers have to conduct town hall
meetings, inmate orientation, inmate disciplinary process, and answer grievance.
Being an Assistant Unit Manager means you have to enhance the quality of
relationships between staff and inmates. Assistant Unit Managers are a member of
a so-called unit team which includes officers, case managers, sergeants, and up
to 300 offenders or inmates. It is a huge responsibility to communicate with the
Officer in Charge (OIC) as serving the role of Assistant Unit Manager or Unit
Manager. All prison employees must be of moral character and must not lose their
cool on the job sight. They must firmly establish authority but show themselves as
wanting to help better the inmates. A big saying in the prison system is firm, fair,
and consistent which means they have to be firm taking charge of the situation,
fair with the inmates on how to handle the situation, and consistent with the way
they handle the situation every time something may happen. If someone comes into
the prison that you have or have had a personal relationship with you must report it
to the supervisor within 48 hours. Assistant Unit Managers hold a major role in the
prison system by being in charge of inmates and other co workers. While they are
not at the very top of the chain of command, they are still a vibrant role in prison
system and need to conduct themselves accordingly.