JUVENILE JUSTICE DETENTION OFFICER I - 80004051

State of Florida • Sebring, FL

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is seeking dedicated professionals to enhance public safety through high-quality effective services for youth and families. Working as a juvenile justice detention officer is a rewarding and challenging career opportunity. The primary responsibility is to ensure public safety by providing a safe and secure environment for troubled youth in a structured setting. DJJ expects youth to be accountable for their criminal actions while striving to sustain a culture that promotes dignity and respect. The goal is to treat each youth as an individual by providing the right services, at the right time, to shape them into productive citizens. As a detention officer, you are often the first DJJ employee to interact with juvenile offenders, making leadership, coaching, mentoring, and a desire to work with youth essential qualities.

Requirements

• Be at least 19 years of age.
• Be a high school graduate or its equivalent.
• Not have been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement.
• Not have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.
• Abide by all provisions of s. 985.644 (1), regarding fingerprinting and background investigations and other screening requirements for personnel.
• Execute and submit to the Department an affidavit-of-application form, attesting to compliance with the above requirements.
• Be agreeable to working shift schedules, including rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays with varying days off.
• Be agreeable to potential unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts.
• Be subject to a sex offender check, criminal background checks (state, local, and national), and pre-employment drug screening for direct care positions.
• Possess a valid driver’s license (if initially hired with an out-of-state license, a Florida resident must obtain a valid Florida state driver’s license within 30 days of hire).
• Have a three-years acceptable driving record if transporting youth.
• Be certified in accordance with the Department direct care training policy, and must obtain such certification within 180 days of employment.
• Pass an Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test (for candidates not currently in the state system as a direct-care worker for DJJ).

Nice To Haves

• Leadership qualities.
• Coaching abilities.
• Mentoring abilities.
• A desire to work with youth.

Responsibilities

• Ensure public safety by providing a safe and secure environment for troubled youth in a structured setting.
• Hold youth accountable for their criminal actions.
• Promote a culture that sustains dignity and respect.
• Treat each youth as an individual by providing the right services at the right time.
• Interact with juvenile offenders.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to youth.
• Recognize signs of potential suicide or depression and changes in youth’s behavior.
• Address issues of youth who are experiencing problems.
• Determine appropriate level of use of force.
• Provide constructive feedback to correct behavior.
• Use conflict management skills.
• Prepare and maintain reports and records relating to the supervision of youth.
• Perform good hygiene and housekeeping tasks relating to maintaining the sanitary conditions of the facility.
• Conduct strip searches.

Benefits

• 104 hours of paid vacation annually
• 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’s colleges and universities
• Eligibility for participation in student loan debt forgiveness program
• Participation in one of the best group health insurance and dental plans
• One of the most secure pension/investment plans

What This Job Offers

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