Juvenile Justice Detention Officer I - 80004000

State of Florida • Bradenton, FL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is hiring multiple Juvenile Justice Detention Officers for the Manatee Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Bradenton, Florida. Officers help ensure public safety by maintaining a safe, secure, and structured environment for youth in detention. They are often the first department employees to interact with juvenile offenders and are expected to provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring while promoting dignity, respect, accountability, and constructive behavior.

The position involves caring for, supervising, and maintaining custody and control of youth in accordance with department policies and facility operating procedures. Detention facilities operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so employees must work assigned shifts, which may include rotating schedules, evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying days off. Unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts may sometimes be necessary. The minimum pay is $1,676.76 biweekly, equivalent to $20.96 per hour.

Applicants must meet Florida statutory requirements, including being at least 19 years old, having a high school diploma or equivalent, meeting criminal-history and discharge restrictions, completing required background screening and fingerprinting, and submitting a sworn affidavit of eligibility. Successful candidates must obtain department direct-care certification within 180 days of employment. Candidates not already working as a DJJ direct-care worker may also be required to pass an Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test after the interview phase.

Requirements

• Be at least 19 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent, as determined by the department.
• Not have a felony conviction or a misdemeanor conviction involving perjury or a false statement, and not have received a dishonorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, subject to the statutory provisions described in the posting.
• Comply with fingerprinting, background investigation, and other screening requirements under Florida Statute s. 985.644(1).
• Execute and submit the department’s sworn affidavit-of-application attesting to statutory eligibility.
• Knowledge of department policies and procedures for the care, custody, and control of youth, and of facility operating procedures.
• Knowledge of safety procedures, including conducting strip searches.
• Knowledge of hygiene and housekeeping practices for maintaining sanitary facility conditions.
• Skill in recognizing potential suicide or depression and changes in youth behavior, and in addressing youth experiencing problems.
• Ability to determine the appropriate level of use of force, provide constructive feedback, and use conflict-management skills.
• Ability to prepare and maintain youth-supervision reports and records.
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic with rational numbers.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing and work effectively with youth, co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
• Agree to work shift schedules, including rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying days off; unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts may be required.
• Pass applicable sex-offender and criminal background checks and pre-employment drug screening for direct-care positions.
• Obtain department direct-care certification within 180 days of employment.
• If not currently a DJJ direct-care worker, pass the required Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test if selected as a top-ranking candidate after interview.
• For positions identified as requiring driving, hold a valid driver’s license; youth transportation duties additionally require a three-year acceptable driving record. Florida residents hired with an out-of-state license must obtain a Florida license within 30 days.

Nice To Haves

• Current status in the state system as a DJJ direct-care worker, which may exempt a candidate from the post-interview IMPACT Assessment and Training Test.
• Veterans’ Preference eligibility; eligible candidates are encouraged to apply and must submit supporting documentation by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe and secure environment for youth in a structured detention setting.
• Care for, supervise, and maintain custody and control of youth in accordance with department policies and facility operating procedures.
• Promote accountability, dignity, and respect while working with youth.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to youth.
• Recognize signs of potential suicide or depression and changes in youth behavior.
• Address issues involving youth who are experiencing problems.
• Determine the appropriate level of use of force and apply conflict-management skills.
• Provide constructive feedback to correct behavior.
• Prepare and maintain reports and records related to youth supervision.
• Communicate and work effectively with youth, co-workers, supervisors, and the public.
• Maintain sanitary facility conditions through good hygiene and housekeeping practices.

Benefits

• 104 hours of paid vacation annually.
• 96 hours of paid sick leave annually, with unlimited accrual of unused hours.
• Nine paid holidays and one personal day each year.
• Six 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.
• Group health insurance and dental plans.
• Pension/investment plans.
• Veterans’ Preference for eligible candidates in Career Service vacancies.
• Possible waiver of postsecondary educational requirements for certain service members.

What This Job Offers

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