Juvenile Custody Services Specialist
About The Position
The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is seeking committed, enthusiastic, and compassionate Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) to serve a critical, operational role within the Juvenile Detention Facility. This role involves working with culturally diverse juveniles, providing guidance, supervision, security, safety, and general care for youth facing various behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and intellectual challenges. The work includes facilitating group and recreational programming, cognitive skill groups, and fostering pro-social behavior. Accurate documentation, record keeping, and report writing are essential. The facility utilizes an interactive model of supervision, emphasizing skill development, prosocial development, cognitive restructuring, leisure activities, personal hygiene, and enrichment. JCSS are considered Essential Personnel and must be available to work regardless of inclement weather or facility closures.
Requirements
- Associate's degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field.
- Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in a detention or youth correctional facility, youth residential setting, or a setting providing programming for at-risk youth.
- Successful completion of a battery of psychological tests / psychological evaluation.
- Physical ability to respond to crisis situations with youth, including violent exchanges.
- Must regularly climb up and down stairs.
- Must pass a thorough background investigation.
- Valid driver's license.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
- Group facilitation skills.
- Experience working with justice-involved youth (12-18).
- Experience working in an alcohol and drug treatment facility or program.
- Experience working in a mental health treatment facility or program.
- Exceptional skill with Google calendar/documents and electronic record keeping.
- Training or education in trauma-informed care, restorative justice, and adolescent brain development.
- Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Responsibilities
- Conduct behavior observations and assessments of individual youth detainees and groups through active supervision.
- Prepare detailed incident reports, document daily individual behavior summaries, and unit/shift reports.
- Assist with the intake process of juveniles, including collecting and securing personal belongings.
- Support youth with problem-solving conversations and restorative processes.
- Ensure the safety and security of the detention facility.
- Deliver prosocial role modeling and facilitate skill-building activities for individual youth and groups.
- Oversee volunteers and/or contractors facilitating skill-building activities.
- Assist with orientation of newly admitted youth, explaining facility rules and the behavior level system.
- Introduce youth to daily routines, expectations, and available programs/services.
- Ensure youth understand their safety, rights, and responsibilities.
- Use verbal skills to de-escalate volatile situations.
- Respond to crisis situations, including physically intervening with youth and using restraints if necessary.
- Regularly climb up and down stairs.
- Work a variety of shifts, including overnight, swing, weekends, and holidays.
Benefits
- Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
- Defined benefit pension after five years of vesting (company picks up employee's share)
- Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, bereavement, military etc.)
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Optional deferred compensation
- Flexible spending accounts
- Free annual Tri-met bus pass
- Access to wellness resources
- Access to Employee Resource Groups
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
