Detention Juvenile Officer

Robert L. Perry Juvenile Justice Center

Detention Juvenile Officer I

Starting wage is $19.93 an hour or $41,446 annually with the potential of a pay increase after a 6-month successful probationary period. We offer a $2.00 shift differential for positions that work evenings and nights.

Basic Functions And Responsibilities

We are looking for energetic people to work in the direct care and supervision of juveniles placed within a detention facility. An employee in this position is responsible for the safety, personal conduct, care and supervision of juveniles during a work shift. The employee is expected to exercise limited judgement and discretion in the performance of duties in accordance with detention policies and procedures.

Detention Juvenile Officers are vested with the statutory authority of a Juvenile Officer to take charge of children in a detention facility. Detention Juvenile Officers provide supervision over Detention Aide staff while also directly supervising the residents in the detention center.

This position requires availability to work a variety of shifts when needed, including weekends, evenings, and overnights. We will provide all the training you need to be successful.

Characteristic Duties

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed.)

• Assists, directs, supervises, and coordinates the work of Detention Aides.
• Assists in the training of Detention Aides.
• Conducts detention orientation with juvenile and parents.
• Maintains working relationship with school officials to monitor educational progress of juveniles in detention.
• Serve as a youth supervisor, with responsibility for the safety, personal conduct and care of juveniles during a shift.
• Interacts critically and constructively with other staff members to develop and implement successful programs and services.
• Assist juveniles with their personal issues and refers issues to the group in accordance with the principles of the program.
• Interacts with juvenile officers to report the behavior and activities of a juvenile.
• Prepares reports regarding each juvenile’s work assignments or recreation activities.
• Develop, implement, and facilitate detention center programming.
• Manage youth who exhibit moderate to high risk behaviors including, but not limited to, chemical dependency, mental illness, trauma, mental health disabilities, sex offenses, SOGIE, physical ailments, medical needs, language and cultural differences.
• Provide information regarding juvenile’s progress to visiting parents or guardians.
• Resolves conflicts among the juveniles and intervenes in crisis situations as needed.
• Restrain a juvenile when necessary to protect the juvenile or others.
• Entry of required data into Missouri’s electronic data collection system.
• Organizes and supervises physical education activities.
• Performs Intake processing of in custody juveniles.
• Provide secure and safe transportation of juveniles to court or other approved activities.
• Provide drug testing of juvenile’s when required.
• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

(This job description does not include specific physical requirement necessary to perform the job, such as carrying, standing, and lifting. Such requirements vary from position to position and may be determined by appointing authority.)

• Basic knowledge of juvenile courts and procedures.
• Basic knowledge of the Standards of Operation of a Secure Juvenile Detention Facility.
• Basic knowledge of the statutory rights of juveniles.
• Basic knowledge of personal computers and software.
• Applied knowledge of the statutory rights of juveniles.
• Applied practical knowledge of individual and group behavior.
• Applied practical knowledge of child development and the role of the family.
• Ability to log reports regarding the activities of juveniles during a shift.
• Ability to organize, supervise and participate in physical education activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with detention staff, juveniles, their family members and other juvenile office and court staff, and explain the progress of the juvenile.
• Ability to handle potentially hostile situations with a juvenile and family.
• Ability to resolve conflicts by de-escalation techniques and to restrain juveniles, including the use of physical force if necessary.
• Ability to work with juveniles and families in an understanding and empathetic manner.
• Ability to foster cooperation of juveniles during detention.
• Ability to learn crisis intervention techniques and emergency treatment procedures.
• Knowledge of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

(The following represents the minimum education and experience that will be used to determine qualifications of applicants, provided equivalent substitution will be permitted in case of deficiencies of either experience or education. Education above the minimum stated may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required general experience; experience above the minimum stated may be substituted on a year for year basis for the required education.)

• Graduation from a four year college or university with a degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or related field. Professional employment in a public or private agency involving substantial amount of time (Over 50% time) in the delivery of protective services to families, adults, children, or the aged may be substituted on a year to year basis for the required education.
• Must be 21 years old.
• Must be free from all illegal drugs.
• Must have a clean background check.

As a Missouri State Paid Employee, you will have the following benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Missouri State Retirement System (MOSERS)
• Cafeteria Plan
• Paid Time Off
• 14 Paid Holidays per year

Please send inquiries regarding this position or questions regarding employment with the Missouri Judiciary to: ***email_hidden***