Juvenile Justice Detention Officer II - 80064256

State of Florida • Tallahassee, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a highly responsible position in the criminal justice system. The employee is expected to perform duties responsibly, serve as a positive role model for staff, youth, and the community, treat all persons with dignity and respect, follow agency and facility policies, and help maintain a safe and secure environment. The role supports the operation of a secure detention center and the safe custody of assigned youth while ensuring their constitutional rights and attention to legal, medical, and mental health needs. The employee helps ensure that services and programming comply with court orders, departmental requirements, and quality assurance standards.

The position supervises youth and maintains facility security, including conducting checks, searching for contraband, responding to behavioral issues, preparing reports and records, and supporting admissions, releases, transportation, and court appearances. It may include dispensing medication when designated medical personnel are absent, coaching employees, and acting as supervisor when the supervisor is absent. The employee must complete required direct-care training and maintain applicable certifications and a valid driver's license.

Requirements

• Must be at least 19 years of age.
• Must be a high school graduate or have an equivalent as determined by the department.
• Must not have a disqualifying felony conviction or misdemeanor conviction involving perjury or a false statement, or a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, subject to the stated statutory provisions.
• Must comply with fingerprinting, background investigation, and other personnel screening requirements and submit the required sworn affidavit of compliance.
• Must pass applicable sex-offender and criminal background checks and pre-employment drug screening for direct-care positions.
• Must obtain State of Florida DJJ direct-care certification or already hold it; successful candidates must be certified or obtain certification within 180 days of employment.
• Must have a valid driver's license. Florida residents hired with an out-of-state license must obtain a valid Florida license within 30 days of hire. Work-permit licenses and certain restricted licenses are not acceptable; corrective-lenses restrictions are acceptable if corrective lenses are worn while driving.
• For duties involving youth transportation, must have a three-year acceptable driving record as defined in FDJJ Policy 1920.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
• Ability to prepare and maintain reports and records.
• Ability to work effectively with youth, coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
• Knowledge of good hygiene and facility policies and procedures.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions in a timely manner.
• Ability to determine the appropriate level of force.
• Ability to observe changes in youth behavior and provide constructive feedback to correct behavior.
• Knowledge of housekeeping tasks needed to maintain sanitary facility conditions.
• Candidates not currently employed in the state system as DJJ direct-care workers at the time of application must pass the Ergometric IMPACT Assessment and Training Test if they are top-ranked after the interview phase.
• Must comply with applicable facility staffing requirements concerning the male-to-female ratio of the juvenile population.

Responsibilities

• Help operate a secure detention center and ensure the safe and secure custody of assigned detained youth while respecting their constitutional rights and addressing legal, medical, and mental health concerns.
• Assist the supervisor in ensuring youth services and programming comply with court orders, rules, departmental policies and procedures, and quality assurance standards.
• Complete training and maintain proficiency in proper medication-dispensing methods; distribute medication when a designated medical health authority or facility nurse is absent.
• Perform duties in Master Control, admissions, releases, and transportation as needed.
• Supervise youth during activities and maintain control through directives, counseling, and appropriate levels of verbal or physical Protective Action Response (PAR), consistent with policy.
• Inspect the facility, youth, visitors, and delivered packages for contraband.
• Train or coach employees on their duties and orient them to facility policies and procedures.
• Assume the acting supervisor role when the supervisor is absent.
• Write reports and prepare records about incidents, youth movement, and noteworthy information; ensure violations of procedures, rules, regulations, and state or federal statutes are documented.
• Prepare youth for court appearances and transport or escort them to medical, criminal justice, social services, and judicial facilities as needed.
• Use security and emergency equipment to protect youth and facility security.
• Complete 10-minute checks, 5-minute checks, or Constant Sight and Uninterrupted Sound Supervision for youth in room confinement or designated as suicidal.
• Assess and analyze information in the Juvenile Justice Information System.
• Initiate and maintain detained-youth counts as required by departmental and facility procedures.
• Attend and successfully complete required direct-care and other assigned training, and attend required meetings.
• Use CPR, an AED, and First Aid techniques in emergencies, as taught during certification training.
• Maintain a valid driver's license and report changes to the supervisor within 72 hours; do not drive a state vehicle or use a private vehicle for state business if the license is revoked, suspended, or curtailed.
• Comply with the Prompt Payment Compliance Law requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• Veterans' Preference is available to eligible candidates for 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED