Juvenile Detention Officer

Salary: $29.58 - $36.72 Hourly
Location : Lincoln, NE
Job Type: Full time/probationary or status
Job Number: 202600047C-9
Department: Youth Services Center
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Central


Job Posting Information
Juvenile Detention Officers

Do you want a career that truly makes a difference? We're looking for motivated, compassionate individuals who care about their community-especially kids. As a Juvenile Detention Officer (JDO), you'll play a vital role in guiding and supporting young people during a pivotal moment in their lives, helping set them on a path toward better choices and brighter futures.

You'll be part of a team that values teamwork, support, and growth. We offer a positive, caring work environment, competitive pay, excellent benefits, and real opportunities to build a long-term career.

Now hiring full-time Juvenile Detention Officers!

In this dynamic role, you'll work hands-on with youth in a secure detention setting. Responsibilities include supervising and supporting daily activities in housing units, facilitating group programming, operating Central Control, conducting assessments, managing intake and release, and safely transporting residents inside and outside the facility.

If you're passionate about making a positive impact, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want a career with purpose, we'd love to connect with you and talk about becoming a Juvenile Detention Officer.
Qualifications: Graduation from high school or equivalent supplemented by college coursework in criminal justice, human development or a related behavioral science field including six months of experience working with juveniles in a social service, detention or corrections program or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the desirable knowledge, abilities and skills.


Necessary Special Requirements:
Employees assigned to transport must possess a valid driver's license. At the time of employment, must meet facility driving record requirements.

Must be a citizen of the United States and be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

At the time of employment, must be fingerprinted for a National and State criminal history search; must be free of any convictions of crimes punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for a term of one year or more from which a pardon has not been received; cannot be registered as a Child Abuse or Sexual Offender with the National Child Abuse and Neglect registry.

At the time of employment, must submit to and successfully pass a substance abuse test.

At the time of employment, must pass a physical examination and meet physical and medical requirements of the job classification.
THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO MANDATORY DRUG TESTING POLICIES AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

Lancaster County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and E-Verify participant.
We value each Lancaster County employee and one way we demonstrate this is by providing an attractive and competitive total compensation package that adds value to our employees' professional and personal lives. The following benefits are available for full time employees in this position:

• Pay increases are available upon completion of the 12-month new employee probationary period, and annually thereafter based on performance.

• We encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering 10 days of vacation leave and 13 days of sick leave that begin accruing upon hire; plus 11 paid holidays and 18 hours of non-cumulative personal holidays per year.

• All medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family begin the first of the month following hire, no need to wait!

• Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.

• Up to 4 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave

• $30,000 of Life Insurance

• 401(a) Retirement Plan . When you make an 8% contribution, the County will match your contribution 100%.

• Employer provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses after you leave County employment.

• Optional benefits include:
  • Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Allstate Voluntary Plans
  • Supplemental Term Life
  • Deferred Compensation Plans

01


APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTTo successfully complete your application, please make sure you read each statement below and check ALL boxes prior to submission.

• 1. This application is hand scored.
• 2. ALL questions must be fully answered to receive full credit.
• 3. "See Resume", or answers such as "See ___" are not acceptable responses and may not receive full credit.
• 4. Copied/Pasted answers may not receive full credit.
• 5. ALL employers and education referred to in answers must be listed in the Work History and Education sections of the application for verification and to receive full credit.
• 6. I understand I am responsible for the accuracy and completeness of my application.
• I Acknowledge that I have read and understand each of the above statements.

02


I understand I must be a U.S. Citizen, per jail standards. Are you a U.S. Citizen?

• Yes
• No

03


I understand a requirement of this position is graduation from a senior high school or equivalent. Have you graduated from a senior high school or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

04


I understand that I must be at least 21 years of age as per Juvenile Detention Standards. Are you 21 or older?

• Yes
• No

05


I understand, as a condition of my employment for the position for which I am applying with the City of Lincoln/Lancaster County, that I must at all times be legally licensed to operate a motor vehicle. I understand state law requires operators possessing a driver's license from another state must obtain a valid Nebraska Driver's license within 30 days of change of residence. Further, I understand that I must notify my immediate supervisor the next working day following a motor vehicle conviction which results in loss, revoked, impounded or suspension of my driver's license.Further, I understand that this document is an official City/County record, and that falsification of this document, or failure to properly notify the City/County of driving convictions or loss of driving privileges will result in discipline, up to and including termination. This applies any time driving privileges are revoked, suspended or limited in any way by any court or the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles or any other Administrative agency of the state of Nebraska or any other state jurisdiction.Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06


For verification purposes please list the state that issued the license and your driver's license number.
07


I understand that applicants for Lancaster County positions will have their driving records checked through the State of Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicle to ensure they meet the insurable standards under the County's automobile insurance policy.

• Yes
• No

08


Have you been convicted of a DUI within the last five (5) years or any other serious driving violation within the last three (3) years?

• Yes
• No

09


This position requires that you have access to 24-hour transportation and home phone. Please list your means of transportation and your home phone number.
10


I understand this position is subject to mandatory drug testing policies as a condition of employment.

• Yes
• No

11


Indicate if you have a college-level degree or coursework in the following:

• Criminal Justice - Coursework only
• Criminal Justice - Associate's Degree
• Criminal Justice - Bachelor's Degree
• Human Development - Coursework only
• Human Development - Associate's Degree
• Human Development - Bachelor's Degree
• Psychology - Coursework only
• Psychology - Associate's Degree
• Psychology - Bachelor's Degree
• Sociology - Coursework only
• Sociology - Associate's Degree
• Sociology - Bachelor's Degree
• Social Work - Coursework only
• Social Work - Associate's Degree
• Social Work - Bachelor's Degree
• Related Field - Coursework only
• Related Field - Associate's Degree
• Related Field - Bachelor's Degree
• None

12


If checking related field, please specify the field.
13


Indicate if you have AT LEAST 6 MONTHS work experience in the following areas:

• Supervising juveniles in a juvenile detention/corrections program.
• Supervising incarcerated juveniles in a non-secure juvenile program.
• Counseling/problem solving with youth
• Law enforcement.
• Adult corrections/detention.
• Other security related experience.
• No experience.

14


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
15


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience.
16


Indicate if you have AT LEAST 6 MONTHS volunteer experience in the following areas: (This experience must be listed on this application under the Employment Section in order to receive credit.)

• Working with detained juveniles.
• Working with youth.
• No experience.

17


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
18


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience.
19


Indicate if you have AT LEAST 6 MONTHS experience in the following:

• Educational or youth group work.
• Conducting intake interviews.
• Transporting juveniles outside of the facility
• Operating Central Control functions.
• Organizing, facilitating, and participating in behavioral, educational, and/or recreational activities.
• Computerized documentation.
• No experience.

20


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
21


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience.
22


Can you physically restrain and transport to the security unit hostile youth weighing between 75 and 300 pounds with the assistance of one or two co-workers?

• Yes
• No

23


Why do you want to work at the Juvenile Detention center?
24


Have you been, or are you currently, a Juvenile Detention Officer/On-Call employee? (This experience must be listed on this application under the Employment Section in order to receive credit.),

• Yes
• No

25


Do you have experience maintaining records and documentation?

• Yes
• No

26


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
27


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience including the types of records and documentation.
28


Do you have experience working with the public?

• Yes
• No

29


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
30


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience.
31


Do you have experience working with diverse populations?

• Yes
• No

32


If yes, please list the employer(s) from your application where you acquired this experience.
33


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience.
34


Do you speak another language fluently?

• Yes
• No

35


If yes, please list the language(s) and describe your experience including level of proficiency.
36


Do you have experience with American Sign Language?

• Yes
• No

37


If yes, please describe your experience including your level of proficiency.
38


Do you agree to work ANY of the shifts to which you may be assigned (scheduled day shift: 6:30am-2:30pm, evening 2:30pm-10:30pm, night shift 10:30pm-6:30am)

• Yes, I am willing to work any shift
• No, I am not willing to work any shift

39


Do you agree to a schedule of ANY five (5) working days with and two (2) consecutive days off?

• Yes, I am willing to work any day of the week
• No, I am not willing to work any day of the week

40


If No was selected for any of the above two questions, please explain.
Required Question