Job Requirements

  1. Deputy Sheriff Requirements
  2. Correctional Deputy Requirements

Deputy Sheriff Requirements

To apply for a Deputy Sheriff position, the following is required:

  • Be at least 20.5 years old to apply / 21 years old at appointment
  • A U.S. citizen or eligible resident alien awaiting citizenship application decision
  • A U.S. High school graduate or GED, or passed a U.S. high school proficiency test
  • Valid Class C driver’s license (Out-of-state applicants can use a valid license from their home state while filing, but will need a valid California Class C license at the time of hire)
  • Be in good physical condition and free from any medical conditions that would interfere with the responsibilities of a Deputy Sheriff
  • No felony convictions or currently on probation; misdemeanors may be disqualifying, depending on the number, type of violation, and date of the violation

COVID-19 NOTICE:

The County of Humboldt does not mandate COVID-19 vaccination for employment. 


Drug Use Policies

In order to maintain high standards for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the following guidelines are used to determine an applicant’s suitability for employment in the context of their pre-employment (prior) drug use. An applicant for any position with the Sheriff’s Office is subject to disqualification if:

  • The applicant has illegally used or possessed a drug while employed in any law enforcement capacity, military police, or as a student enrolled in college-accredited courses related to the criminal justice field
  • The applicant has illegally manufactured or cultivated a drug or illegal substance or has any significant instances of sales of drugs or illegal substances as an adult or minor.
  • The applicant fails to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs
  • Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected

The following examples of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual and may result in disqualification:

  • Any illegal use or possession of a drug as a juvenile
  • Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above (e.g., marijuana use longer than one year ago or cocaine use longer than three years ago.)
  • Any illegal or unauthorized use of prescription medications

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Use Matrix

Past drug use is reviewed on a case by case basis. Potential applicants are encouraged to apply, regardless of previous drug use. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office values honesty and expects full disclosure from applicants to this department. Generally, the following criteria are used during background investigations per HCSO policy:

  • Hallucinogenics - disqualified if used within the past 7 years
  • Marijuana- disqualified if used within the past 1 year
  • Stimulants or other illegal drugs- disqualified if used within the past 3 years

Behavioral Standards

This agency has established pre-employment behavioral standards. Public trust requires that all applicants clearly demonstrate, through their past behavior, respect for high ethical standards that are demanded of criminal justice employees. The standards are designed to insure that this organization employs people who have demonstrated integrity, honesty, personal discipline and sensitivity, dependability, sound judgment, and respect for adherence to the laws of the State of California and the United States. An applicant for any position with the Sheriff’s Office is subject to disqualification if:

  • Applicant has received three or more moving vehicle code violations (or any single violation of a potential life threatening violation, such as reckless driving, speed contest, suspect of a pursuit, etc.) within the past three years. Moving violations for which there is a factual finding of innocence are not included.
  • Applicant was the driver in two or more chargeable (at fault) collisions within the past three years.
  • Applicant has a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within the past three years or any two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
  • Applicant intentionally lies or omits significant information during the application or background process, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview (Personal History Statement or Supplemental Questionnaire) or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies.
  • Applicant commits forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.
  • Convicted of any criminal offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law within the past three years.
  • Convicted for two or more misdemeanor offenses under California law as an adult
  • Convicted of any offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers)
  • Admission(s) of having committed any act amounting to a felony (including felony-misdemeanor offenses) under California law, as an adult, within five years prior to application or while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers)
  • Admission(s) of administrative conviction of any act while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers) involving lying, falsification of any official report or document, or theft
  • Admission(s) of any act of domestic violence as defined by law, committed as an adult
  • Admission(s) of any criminal act, whether misdemeanor or felony, committed against children including but not limited to: molesting or annoying children, child abduction, child abuse, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, or indecent exposure. Acts of consensual unlawful intercourse accomplished between two minors shall not be included, unless more than four years difference in age existed at the time of the acts
  • Any history of actions resulting in civil lawsuits against the applicant or his/her employer may be disqualifying
  • Applicant misses any scheduled appointment during the process without prior permission
  • Applicant has been disciplined by any employer (including military) as an adult for abuse of leave, gross insubordination, dereliction of duty, or persistent failure to follow established policies and regulations
  • Applicant has been involuntarily dismissed (for any reason other than lay-off) from two or more employers as an adult
  • Applicant has held more than seven paid positions with different employers within the past four years, or more than 15 paid positions with different employers in the past ten years (excluding military). Students who attend school away from their permanent legal residence may be excused from this requirement
  • Applicant has undergone personal bankruptcy more than once, having current financial obligations for which legal judgments have not been satisfied, currently having wages garnished, or any other history of financial instability
  • Resigning from any paid position without notice shall be disqualifying, except where the presence of a hostile work environment is alleged
  • Applicant has any outstanding warrant of arrest at time of application
  • Applicant is under current academic dismissal from any college or university where such dismissal is still in effect and was initiated within the last two years.
  • Applicant has been academically dismissed from any POST certified basic law enforcement academy wherein no demonstrated effort has been made to improve in the deficient areas, except: subsequent successful completion of another POST basic law enforcement academy shall rescind this requirement
  • Applicant has been disciplined by any employer (including the military and/or any law enforcement training facility) for acts constituting racial, ethnic or sexual harassment or discrimination. Uttering any epithet derogatory of another person’s race, religion, gender, national origin or sexual orientation
  • Applicant has been disciplined by any employer as an adult for fighting in the workplace
  • Admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal convictions for any violation of federal or state Civil Rights laws
  • Any admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal conviction for failure to properly report witnessed criminal conduct committed by another law enforcement officer