Juvenile Justice Detention Officer I - 80004191

State of Florida • Orlando, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Juvenile Justice Detention Officer I helps ensure public safety by maintaining a safe and secure environment for youth in a structured detention setting. Officers hold youth accountable while promoting dignity and respect, and provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to youth in their care. The position involves direct interaction with juvenile offenders and requires working with youth, coworkers, supervisors, and the public.

The role is based at the Orange Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Orlando, Florida. Detention facilities operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, and officers must be able to work rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays, with varying days off. Unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts may sometimes be necessary. The successful candidate must obtain direct-care certification within 180 days of employment.

Requirements

• Must be at least 19 years old.
• Must be a high school graduate or have an equivalent accepted by the department.
• Must not have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or received a dishonorable discharge from any U.S. Armed Forces branch, subject to the statutory qualifications described in the posting.
• Must comply with fingerprinting, background investigation, and other screening requirements under Florida Statute 985.644(1).
• Must execute and submit the department’s affidavit of application attesting to compliance with the applicable statutory requirements.
• Knowledge of department policies and procedures, including procedures for the care, custody, and control of youth.
• Knowledge of facility operating procedures and safety procedures, including conducting strip searches.
• Knowledge of hygiene and housekeeping tasks related to maintaining sanitary facility conditions.
• Skill in recognizing potential suicide or depression and changes in youth behavior, and addressing issues affecting youth experiencing problems.
• Ability to determine an appropriate level of use of force and provide constructive feedback using conflict-management skills.
• Ability to prepare and maintain youth-supervision reports and records.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing and work effectively with youth, coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
• Must be agreeable to rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays, and may need to work unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts.
• Must obtain certification in accordance with the department’s direct-care training policy within 180 days of employment.
• Candidates not already in the DJJ state system as direct-care workers at the time of application who rank highest after interviews must pass the Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test to be considered.
• Prospective candidates are subject to sex-offender and criminal background checks and pre-employment drug screening for direct-care positions.

Responsibilities

• Help maintain public safety by providing a safe and secure environment for youth in a structured setting.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to youth.
• Recognize signs of potential suicide or depression and changes in youth behavior.
• Address issues affecting youth who are experiencing problems.
• Determine the appropriate level of use of force.
• Provide constructive feedback to correct behavior and use conflict-management skills.
• Prepare and maintain reports and records relating to youth supervision.
• Follow department policies, facility operating procedures, and procedures for the care, custody, and control of youth.
• Conduct safety procedures and strip searches.
• Perform hygiene and housekeeping tasks to maintain sanitary facility conditions.
• Communicate and work effectively with youth, coworkers, supervisors, and the public.

Benefits

• 104 hours of paid vacation annually, with unlimited accrual of unused hours.
• 96 hours of paid sick leave annually, with unlimited accrual of unused hours.
• 9 paid holidays and 1 personal day each year.
• 6 paid credit hours per term at Florida colleges and universities.
• Eligibility to participate in a student loan debt forgiveness program, with affordable payments and possible balance elimination.
• Participation in group health insurance and dental plans.
• Access to a pension/investment plan.
• Veterans’ preference for eligible candidates in Career Service vacancies; certain service members may be eligible for waivers of postsecondary educational requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED