JTDC - PREA Compliance Officer

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois•Chicago, IL

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development. As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents. The PREA Compliance Officer works directly with the (PREA Coordinator-hereafter referred to as the PC) to ensure compliance with the PREA standards. Responsible for the administration and direction of functions related to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC). The primary goal is to maintain a zero-tolerance environment for sexual abuse and harassment through prevention, detection, and response. This is a confide n t i a l position .

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferably with major course work in criminal justice, sociology, social work, education(added), or related social services.
With Two or more years of employment in juvenile detention, at least one of the required years must be in juvenile detention/residential services.
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) required.
21 years of age at the time of application submission.
High level of integrity; the ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information with extreme discretion.
Strong public speaking skills for training and clear technical writing for administrative reports.
Comprehensive understanding of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 and National Standards (28 CFR Part 115).
Exceptional written and verbal skills for delivering staff training and drafting technical compliance reports.
Ability to build rapport with diverse groups, including detained juveniles, law enforcement, and victim advocates.
Skill in coordinating facility-wide audits and managing timelines.
Analyze complex situations and provide recommendations.
Microsoft Office proficiency.
Illinois residency obtained within 90 days of the date of hire.
Pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check including but not limited to LEADS, CANTS, and professional references.
The result of negative from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Abuse Registry.
Meet additional minimum requirements for eligibility established by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC).
Must pass Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) screening requirements.
Must have an open/flexible schedule to work hours which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays, depending on the needs of the division/facility.

Responsibilities

Assist with oversight and implementation of the PREA standards to ensure the quality and consistency of JTDC processes
Working closely with the PC and JTDC Administration to analyze and provide recommendations pertaining to mandated internal PREA audits
Support facilitating internal PREA audits.
Assist with response to inquiries, audits, and investigations by internal, State, and Federal oversight bodies.
Conduct training and resident education in compliance with JTDC/PREA policy and standards.
Assisting with training of volunteers, medical staff, mental health staff and other JTDC Contractors
Responsible for the completion of quality assurance checks of JTDC PREA related processes/procedures
Responsible for Victimization and Sexual/Physical Aggression Screenings (VSPA).
Performs quality assurance checks in accordance with JTDC PREA related processes/procedures.
Facilitate PREA Incident Review meetings at the conclusion of investigations.
Attends internal and external meetings as designated by PC and/or Director of OPR
Maintains confidential documentation, data, and information related to PREA events.
Establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Consult with mental and medical professionals, as necessary, to ensure the physical and emotional safety of residents
Assist PC with Developing, implementing, and facilitating PREA trainings for staff, residents, and contractors.
Other duties as assigned