Correctional Officer, Juvenile

Hennepin County • Downtown Minneapolis, MN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Juvenile Correctional Officer, you are responsible for the health, welfare, and programming of pre-adjudicated youth in a secure detention setting. The Juvenile Detention Center is a Minnesota Department of Corrections-licensed facility serving youth ages 10 to 18 and older who are awaiting disposition of their court cases. The role involves directly supervising residents’ daily activities, supporting therapeutic and behavioral goals, maintaining facility safety and security, and working with a multidisciplinary team. Positions are located at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center in Minneapolis. Candidates must be available for full-time or part-time shifts that may include days, evenings, overnights, holidays, and weekends; part-time work is up to 20 hours per week. These positions may be used to fill current and future regular or limited-duration vacancies. New benefit-earning employees attend in-person New Employee Orientation in downtown Minneapolis. Annual respirator fit testing is required, and facial hair may need to comply with respirator fit requirements. Employees may need to complete onsite pre-employment testing and pass required physical, drug, background, reference, and driver’s license checks.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following qualifications: at least two years of college or vocational/technical coursework (90 quarter or 60 semester credits) in corrections, a related criminal justice or behavioral/social science field, or law enforcement; related education and/or experience totaling at least two years; an Evidence Based Practice Corrections Professional Certificate from an approved school substituted for one year of relevant coursework or experience; or active military duty with an honorable discharge.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have a valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver’s permit.
• Be able to stand, stoop, bend, reach, run, and walk indoors and outdoors, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Complete annual respirator fit testing and comply with facial-hair requirements that allow proper respirator fit.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including a physical with strength and agility testing, drug test, employment history/reference check, criminal background check with fingerprinting, and driver’s license check.
• Complete required onsite pre-employment testing in Minneapolis after a conditional offer.
• Undergo required tuberculosis testing and a Department of Human Services Background Study.
• Pass applicable background eligibility requirements; convictions for certain crimes and any level of Criminal Sexual Conduct may disqualify applicants.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving youth in group residential settings, such as licensed group homes, shelters, or treatment programs.
• Experience serving youth in community settings, such as secondary schools, outpatient counseling or day treatment programs, community-based services, or youth outreach programs.
• Experience in correctional or detention settings involving direct care, supervision, and control of residents.
• Experience working with customers or clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience writing electronic documentation, such as reports and progress notes, accurately and efficiently.
• Commitment and dedication to adolescents and their families.
• Completion of an internship or paid work experience with Hennepin County’s Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation or a similar jurisdiction.
• Professional goals related to corrections, probation, counseling, or law enforcement.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally verbally and in writing, by hand and electronically.
• Knowledge of drivers of individual and interpersonal behavior in social systems.
• Knowledge of the impact of personal and collective trauma on individuals and communities.
• Knowledge of the juvenile justice system and its key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of correctional Evidence Based Practices and programs.
• Knowledge of cultures and customs of Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, American Indian, African American, new immigrant, and/or other diverse communities.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Somali, and/or Hmong; candidates who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise youth’s daily activities, including school attendance, recreation, programs, visitation and phone calls, hygiene, cleanliness, and sleep hours.
• Mentor residents by building healthy relationships, modeling respectful interactions, and encouraging prosocial behavior and decision-making.
• Foster a respectful group environment among youth.
• Implement case plans related to therapeutic goals and behavioral plans.
• Set and maintain limits related to facility rules and expectations.
• Respond to issues affecting youth, including trauma histories, cognitive and developmental delays, chemical dependency, and mental health needs.
• Promote resident and staff safety using motivational interviewing and verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Respond to building emergency calls and use appropriate restrictive procedures when needed to manage dysregulated youth.
• Document resident activities and behaviors in log notes and critical incident reports.
• Follow facility safety and security policies, including resident counts, searches, contraband control, and resident well-being checks.
• Co-facilitate cognitive behavioral, problem-solving, and skills groups, and monitor residents in volunteer or contracted programs and services.
• Collaborate with JCOs, supervisors, managers, social workers, school staff, medical staff, probation officers, and justice partners.
• Receive and release juveniles from the facility and transport residents as needed in a Hennepin County vehicle.

Benefits

• $1.10 per hour night shift differential for nights involving five hours of work after 3 p.m.
• Additional $2.00 per hour weekend differential for Saturday and Sunday.
• Facility meals are provided.
• Uniform allowance for qualifying positions.
• Competitive benefits and work-life balance for eligible employees.
• Potential $500 employee referral bonus for eligible current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position.
• Potential additional bilingual pay for bilingual candidates who pass a language assessment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed