0000009132.Juvenile Detention Officer I.Medlock

Dallas County•Dallas, TX

17d

About The Position

Functions as an entry-level Juvenile Detention Officer providing direct supervision to youths in a 24-hour detention facility. The position helps ensure each youth’s health, safety, and welfare while following departmental policies, procedures, and applicable standards. It includes counseling, enforcing facility rules, responding to crises, conducting facility checks, transporting youths, and coordinating daily programs and activities. The employee may be subject to shift changes, mandatory overtime, double shifts, holdovers, or call-backs, and may be transferred to another department, shift, location, or facility based on departmental needs. The work takes place inside a secured facility and may involve exposure to infectious diseases and physically restraining or chasing youths.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or GED program.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, departments, and the general public.
Obtain First Aid/CPR certification within 90 days of hire.
Obtain certification required by applicable standards for the assigned facility or department within six months of employment.
Possess a valid Texas driver’s license and a good driving record.
Pass an extensive background investigation.
Complete mandatory drug testing before employment and submit to random, unannounced drug and/or alcohol testing during employment.
Be at least 21 years of age for applicable positions.
Pass all portions of the Juvenile Academy (physical and written) to continue employment, or meet all standards related to PREA and Ethics for specific positions.
Be physically able to perform handling-with-care techniques, including takedowns, chasing, and restraining youths, as required by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Possess a high tolerance for emotionally demanding and stressful work with juveniles who may have committed dangerous or aggressive acts.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day direct supervision of youths in a 24-hour detention facility in compliance with departmental policies, procedures, and applicable standards.
Provide individual and group counseling to promote youths’ awareness of responsibilities and alternatives.
Make critical decisions during crisis or potentially dangerous situations when a supervisor is absent; inform the supervisor of problems and actions taken, and document those actions.
Enforce facility rules, discipline youths, document behavior and other relevant information, and forward documentation to appropriate personnel.
Back up other staff and perform duties as needed, including administering medications, transporting youths to appointments, processing intake assessments or discharges, and disciplining youths.
Conduct inspections, rounds, and drills, including room checks and physical searches of youths.
Transport youths to and from appointments.
Coordinate and provide daily educational and recreational programs and activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Remain available for mandatory overtime, double shifts, holdovers, or call-backs when required.