PREA Coordinator/Mental Health Ombudsman

Salary : $53,426.98 Annually
Location : Leon County Sheriff's Office Major James Morgan Jr. Way, Tallahassee, FL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: PREAOM-01
Department: Detention
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 10/1/2026 5:00 PM Eastern

General Description of Duties
The PREA Coordinator/Mental Health Ombudsman serves as the agency's subject matter expert, coordinator, advisor, and advocate for matters related to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), inmate mental health services, grievance review, and the protection of the rights and welfare of incarcerated individuals.
The position is responsible for coordinating and monitoring agency-wide compliance with federal PREA standards; reviewing allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment; coordinating PREA training, audits, reporting, and corrective action; and maintaining collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
In the Mental Health Ombudsman capacity, the employee serves as an independent and impartial advocate for incarcerated individuals receiving mental health treatment, services, and programming. The position reviews mental health-related grievances and appeals, monitors access to treatment and therapeutic activities, participates in suicide mitigation efforts, identifies systemic concerns, and makes recommendations to command staff and contracted medical and mental health providers to improve the quality and accessibility of services.
The employee exercises considerable independent judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and initiative in performing routine duties and addressing sensitive or emergent matters. The position works collaboratively with command staff, security personnel, medical and mental health providers, investigators, community partners, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to promote inmate safety, regulatory compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The employee promotes the Sheriff Office's mission and vision and adheres to the agency's core values of honesty and integrity, accountability, teamwork, trust and respect, and commitment to excellence.

Essential Duties

PREA Coordination and Compliance

1. Serves as the agency's PREA Coordinator and subject matter expert regarding the Prison Rape Elimination Act and applicable federal PREA standards.
2. Oversees the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of PREA-compliant policies, procedures, practices, and protocols.
3. Coordinates and assists all applicable divisions and units with PREA compliance efforts.
4. Conducts routine monitoring and periodic site visits to housing areas to evaluate compliance with PREA standards and identify potential deficiencies.
5. Monitors youthful inmates to ensure appropriate housing and sight-and-sound separation from adult inmates in accordance with PREA standards.
6. Ensures incarcerated individuals receive required PREA information, education, and reporting resources.
7. Reviews allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment and assists investigators with interviews, documentation, and reports as appropriate.
8. Monitors reports received through the internal PREA hotline and ensures appropriate follow-up, referral, and documentation.
9. Coordinates with local rape crisis centers and victim advocacy organizations to ensure access to advocacy and support services for victims of sexual abuse.
10. Coordinates appropriate medical and mental health follow-up for individuals reporting sexual abuse, sexual harassment, or related victimization.
11. Collects, maintains, analyzes, and reports PREA-related data and prepares required reports, including the annual Survey of Sexual Victimization.
12. Conducts PREA self-assessments, internal compliance reviews, and other quality assurance activities.
13. Coordinates and hosts PREA compliance audits and maintains documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with applicable standards.
14. Develops and delivers PREA training to sworn and non-sworn personnel, contractors, volunteers, and other applicable stakeholders.
15. Maintains appropriate PREA training, audit, investigative, compliance, and corrective-action records.

Mental Health Advocacy and Oversight

1. Serves as the primary advocate for incarcerated individuals receiving inpatient mental health treatment, services, programming, and therapeutic activities.
2. Serves as a principal liaison between the Sheriff's Office, contracted detention medical and mental health providers, command staff, and other stakeholders regarding the delivery of mental health services.
3. Monitors mental health treatment, services, programs, and required activities to ensure they are provided in accordance with agency policies, procedures, contractual requirements, and applicable standards of care.
4. Conducts periodic site visits to mental health and inpatient housing units to proactively identify concerns involving access to treatment, services, programming, therapeutic activities, living conditions, and continuity of care.
5. Reviews indicators associated with inpatient mental health services and the provision of structured out-of-cell therapeutic services in coordination with mental health, medical, and security personnel.
6. Monitors facility mental health programs and activities and evaluates whether established protocols adequately support the needs of the inmate population.
7. Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary treatment teams to identify barriers to treatment and facilitate appropriate access to mental health services.
8. Evaluates established mental health protocols and makes recommendations to improve the accessibility, quality, effectiveness, and continuity of mental health services.

Suicide Prevention and Mitigation

1. Serves as a primary agency contact and resource regarding suicide mitigation efforts involving the incarcerated population.
2. Reviews practices, trends, incidents, and identified concerns related to suicide prevention and mitigation and recommends corrective or preventive measures when appropriate.
3. Collaborates with medical, mental health, security, classification, and command staff to identify systemic concerns involving suicide prevention and the management of individuals experiencing acute mental health needs.
4. Participates in multidisciplinary reviews of suicide-related incidents, attempts, serious self-harm events, or identified trends as directed.
5. Monitors implementation of recommended corrective actions associated with suicide mitigation and mental health quality improvement.

Grievances, Complaints, and Inmate Advocacy

1. Conducts timely, independent, impartial, and professional reviews of mental health-related formal grievances and appeals submitted by incarcerated individuals.
2. Receives, documents, assesses, and appropriately refers complaints or concerns regarding access to mental health treatment, services, programming, or other matters within the scope of the position.
3. Conducts interviews, fact-finding inquiries, document reviews, and other research necessary to evaluate complaints and grievances.
4. Serves as an impartial intermediary between incarcerated individuals, detention staff, contracted providers, and administration when addressing matters within the scope of the position.
5. Promotes fair and consistent application of agency policies and procedures while advocating for appropriate access to the services required.
6. Identifies recurring or systemic concerns arising from grievances, complaints, investigations, PREA reports, and facility observations and communicates those concerns to appropriate leadership.
7. Provides in-depth research and professional responses to inquiries from authorized outside sources as required.

Quality Assurance, Data Analysis, and Continuous Improvement

1. Plans, develops, and participates in facility quality assurance activities related to PREA compliance, mental health services, and inmate advocacy.
2. Collects and analyzes data to assess program performance, identify trends, evaluate outcomes, and identify areas requiring corrective action or improvement.
3. Reviews applicable facility operating reports, program reports, grievance data, PREA data, mental health service information, and other relevant documentation.
4. Prepares periodic status reports, executive summaries, trend analyses, and recommendations for command staff.
5. Consults with medical, mental health, security, classification, and command staff regarding identified concerns and assists with developing practical corrective measures.
6. Tracks identified deficiencies and recommendations to assist leadership in determining whether corrective actions have been implemented and sustained.
7. Recommends revisions to agency policies, procedures, practices, and protocols based upon regulatory requirements, audit findings, grievances, investigations, trend analysis, and observed operational needs.

Training, Education, and Collaboration

1. Provides education and guidance to staff regarding PREA requirements, inmate rights, mental health-related procedures, grievance processes, reporting obligations, and applicable agency policies.
2. Promotes effective communication and collaboration among security, medical, mental health, classification, investigative, administrative, and community stakeholders.
3. Participates in meetings, committees, multidisciplinary treatment discussions, quality assurance reviews, and other activities related to PREA, mental health services, inmate advocacy, and organizational improvement.
4. Maintains professional working relationships with governmental agencies, regulatory entities, community advocacy organizations, contracted providers, and other external partners.
5. Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the responsibilities and classification of the position.

Eligibility Criteria

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Law, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following: PREA compliance, Corrections, Investigations, Auditing, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, Organizational Compliance, Conflict Resolution, Ombudsman Services, Human Services, Administrative Management.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving history.
• Equivalent combinations of education and/or experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position will be considered.
• PREA Auditor certification is preferred. If required by the agency, certification must be obtained within the designated period following appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree preferred.
• Florida law enforcement or correctional certification preferred.
• Certified PREA Auditor, or ability to obtain certification within one (1) year.
• Experience conducting administrative investigations.
• Experience facilitating mediation or conflict resolution.
• Experience with correctional accreditation.
• Experience developing and delivering training.
• Experience analyzing statistical and operational data.

Necessary Special Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The successful employee must demonstrate:

• Knowledge of PREA standards and applicable federal requirements.
• Knowledge of correctional operations, policies, procedures, and administrative practices.
• Knowledge of mental health services within a correctional environment.
• Knowledge of standards of care applicable to incarcerated individuals with mental health impairments.
• Knowledge and experience working with multidisciplinary treatment and service teams in an inpatient level-of-care setting.
• Knowledge and experience with correctional grievance and appeal processes.
• Knowledge of suicide prevention and mitigation principles within a correctional environment.
• Knowledge of auditing, monitoring, quality assurance, and continuous improvement principles.
• Knowledge of investigative and fact-finding techniques.
• Knowledge of methods used to collect, compile, organize, interpret, and analyze data.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution and problem-solving techniques.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective oral and written communication.
• Ability to independently and objectively review grievances, complaints, reports, and allegations.
• Ability to conduct interviews and fact-finding research.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate programs, policies, procedures, and service-delivery practices.
• Ability to identify systemic issues and formulate appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to develop and deliver professional reports, presentations, and training.
• Ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Ability to communicate effectively with incarcerated individuals, staff, contracted providers, command staff, community partners, and outside agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships.
• Ability to prioritize workload and manage multiple responsibilities independently.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment while maintaining neutrality and objectivity.

Core Competencies

• Integrity and Ethical Judgment
• Accountability
• Neutrality and Objectivity
• Confidentiality
• Inmate Advocacy
• Professional Communication
• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution
• Collaboration
• Organizational Awareness
• Attention to Detail
• Continuous Improvement
• Independent Judgment
• Professionalism

Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift, push, carry, or pull a minimum of 25 pounds independently.
• Work is performed primarily within a secure correctional environment and may require routine access to inmate housing, mental health, medical, and other secure areas.
• Position may require travel to attend meetings, training, audits, conferences, or other functions related to assigned responsibilities.
• Position may require work outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, or mandatory overtime as designated by administration.
• Must be available to respond to agency needs during emergencies or natural disasters as required.
• Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of individuals in the workplace.

Physical Requirements
The employee must be capable of performing all essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others. Duties require walking, standing, sitting, climbing stairs, and responding to detention facility emergencies.
Full-time benefits include:

• Health insurance with an employer contribution between 77.5% - 87.5%.
• Life insurance equal to 1 X annual salary paid 100% by LCSO.
• Retirement via the Florida Retirement System with a choice of pension or investment plan.
• Paid vacation, sick and personal leaves.
• Tuition Assistance Program for advanced degrees.
• Education incentive for advanced degrees (only sworn positions).
• Other ancillary benefits including but not limited to deferred compensation, dental/vision insurance, cafeteria savings plan, short/long term disability and identity theft protection.

01

Which best describes your level of education?

• Some High School
• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate Degree

02

Salary anticipated to be at base pay. If not acceptable to you, what minimum annual salary would be acceptable?
03

Have you ever received a dishonorable discharge from the military?

• Yes
• No
• Never served in military.
• Currently serving in military/No discharge.

04

Have you ever been convicted of, received a withhold of adjudication for, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you ever been convicted of a felony traffic offense including adjudication withheld?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you currently under criminal investigation or indictment?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have any current criminal charges pending in the courts (without an official legal disposition)?

• Yes
• No

08

Are you currently under internal investigation, under investigation by the CJSTC or administrative investigation?

• Yes
• No

09

Have you ever separated, abandoned, resigned or retired from a business or agency while under criminal or internal investigation or while under the threat of criminal or internal investigation?

• Yes
• No

10

Have you been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in or attempted to engage in sexual activity in the community or detentions facility by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse?

• Yes
• No

11

Have you ever been convicted of, received a withhold of adjudication for, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime involving perjury or false statement, abuse of a child, elderly, or disabled person, domestic violence, or any crime of a sexual nature?

• Yes
• No

12

Have you ever been engaged in, convicted of, received a withhold of adjudication for, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime of sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution?

• Yes
• No

13

Have you ever held membership in, association with, or any other connection to any organization that exposes or supports discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation or marital status or is known to have been involved in criminal activity and/or a violation of any state laws and/or laws of the United States?

• Yes
• No

14

When would you estimate was your last use of marijuana.

• 0 - 12 months (within the last year)
• 13 - 36 months (3 years or less)
• 37 - 60 months (more than 3 years ago to 5 years)
• 61 - 120 months (more than 5 years to 10 years ago)
• 10+ (more than 10 years ago)
• Never used

15

When was the last time you used any of the following - heroin, cocaine, meth, mushrooms, LSD, illegal steroids or other drugs not prescribed to you?

• 0 - 12 months (last year)
• 13 - 36 months (3 years or less)
• 37 - 60 months (more than 3 years to five years ago)
• 61 - 120 months (more than 5 years to 10 years ago)
• 10+ years ago
• Never used

Required Question