Juvenile Justice Specialist - South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit, Franklin County

Salary: $56,646.00 - $73,817.00 Annually
Location : Franklin County, PA
Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time
Job Number: CS-2026-52193-41790
Department: Department of Human Services
Division: HS Bur Juv Jus Srvs Ctrl Rgn
Opening Date: 06/18/2026
Closing Date: 7/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code: 41790
Position Number: Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.
Union: AFSCME
Bargaining Unit: N1
Pay Group: ST05
Bureau / Division Code: 00210881
Bureau / Division: Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services, Central Region
Worksite Address: South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit
Worksite Address: 10056 South Mountain Road
City: South Mountain, Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 17261
Contact Name: HHS Intake Section
Contact Email: View email address on click.appcast.io


THE POSITION
Join the South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit as a Juvenile Justice Specialist with the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services. This role gives you the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people. You will help create a safe, structured environment where residents can grow and learn. Step into a position that values dedication, teamwork, and positive change.
Watch this video to see how you can make a difference!
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This position focuses on providing supervision, guidance, and care to adjudicated youth in a secure treatment setting. The role supports safety, structure, and personal growth for residents. As a Juvenile Justice Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Maintain Safety: Monitor residents closely to prevent harmful behaviors and ensure a secure environment
• Control Environment: Search residents and facility areas for contraband to protect staff and residents
• Guide Daily Living: Instruct residents in hygiene, meals, recreation, work tasks, and treatment activities
• Support Treatment: Document behavior, participate in programming and meetings, and assist residents with treatment goals
• Communicate Status: Provide clear verbal and written updates about residents and their environment
• Model Behavior: Demonstrate pro-social values to support emotional and social growth in residents

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours include shift work in a 24/7/365 operation, including holidays and weekends. 8-hour shifts with no duty-free lunch.
  • 1st shift: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • 2nd shift: 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
  • 3rd shift: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Travel and overtime as needed. Overtime may be voluntary and possible mandatory.
• May change based on operational needs.
• Must be willing to accept employment at South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit and commute to this location in South Mountain, Franklin County.
• The Department of Human Services provides excellent benefits, pay increases, paid leave and holidays, as well as opportunities for career advancement.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $56,646 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Two years of experience in the care, custody, activities, or personal guidance of adolescents or adults in a human services or social services program, law enforcement or correctional program, or an educational, community, or military organization; or
• Successful completion of the Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• An associate's degree in social sciences, counseling, restorative justice, juvenile justice, child development, behavioral sciences, human services, criminal justice, education, or a closely related field; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree

Special Requirement:

• You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and drug screening.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  1. Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  1. your score may be lower than deserved.
  2. you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short !
See the total value of your benefits package by exploring our


Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.


Work/Life Balance
We know there's more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*


Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.
01


Are you at least 21 years of age or older as of today's date?
If yes, please click the button below. If no, please do not apply at this time and exit out of this application.

• Yes
• No

02


Have you successfully completed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee program (commonwealth title) (previously known as Youth Development Aide Trainee program)?

• Yes
• No

03


If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
04


How many years of full-time experience in the care, custody, activities, or personal guidance of adolescents or adults in a human services or social services program, law enforcement or correctional program, or an educational, community, or military organization do you possess?

• 2 years or more
• 1 but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

05


If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
06


Have you successfully completed, or are you within three months of completing, an associate's degree in social sciences, counseling, restorative justice, juvenile justice, child development, behavioral sciences, human services, criminal justice, education, or a closely related?
If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation. For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• Yes
• No

07


If you are within three months of completing the above degree, on what date do you expect to graduate? If this does not apply to you, please type N/A in the text box.
08


How many years of full-time paraprofessional (or higher) level experience do you possess in social sciences, counseling, restorative justice, juvenile justice, child development, behavioral sciences, human services, criminal justice, education, or a closely related field?

• 2 years or more
• 1 but les than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

09


If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
10


You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.
All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.


If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our

• Yes

11



WORK BEHAVIOR 1 - MAINTAIN SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT Maintain a safe and secure environment by being alert and responding to behavioral based disruptive incidents or emergencies. Utilize appropriate restraint/discipline techniques with disruptive, emotionally disturbed, and suicidal youth to prevent escapes and control aggressiveness. Levels of Performance Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience responding to disruptive incidents or emergencies or utilizing appropriate restraint/discipline techniques with COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS in a RESTRICTIVE/SECURE SETTING.
• B. I have experience responding to disruptive incidents or emergencies or utilizing appropriate restraint/discipline techniques with ANY ADULTS OR YOUTH (OTHER THAN COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS) in a RESTRICTIVE/SECURE SETTING.
• C. I have experience utilizing appropriate restraint/discipline techniques with ANY ADULTS OR YOUTH involved in disruptive incidents or emergencies.
• D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to criminal justice, restorative justice, or juvenile justice.
• E. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

12


In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
2. Who were you working with (court adjudicated youth, convicted adults, other adults or youth, etc.).
3. Your specific duties and responsibilities (responding to disruptive incidents or emergencies, utilizing restraint/discipline techniques, etc.).
4. The specific setting (restricted, secure, etc.).

13


CS-EDUCATION If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

1. College/University
2. Course Title
3. Credits/Clock Hours

14



WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - PROVIDE INSIGHT AND ESCORT YOUTH Promote social and emotional growth by providing insight into responsible behaviors and attitudes, building on strengths, and working through personal problems with court adjudicated youth by communicating with and mentoring them as part of their treatment. Escort and accompany adjudicated youth during their activities, special trips and visits. Levels of Performance Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience providing insight to COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS into responsible behaviors and attitudes, working through their personal problems, mentoring them as part of a treatment or program plan, or escorting them during their activities, special trips, and visits.
• B. I have experience providing insight to ANY ADULTS OR YOUTH (OTHER THAN COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS) into responsible behaviors and attitudes, working through their personal problems, mentoring them as part of a treatment or program plan, or escorting them during their activities, special trips, and visits.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to psychology, human behavior, human or child development, or sociology.
• D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

15


In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
2. Who were you working with (court adjudicated youth, convicted adults, other adults or youth, etc.).
3. Your specific duties and responsibilities related to providing insight into responsible behaviors and attitudes or working through their personal problems.
4. Your specific duties and responsibilities related to mentoring individuals as part of a treatment or program plan, or escorting individuals to activities, trips, etc.

16


CS-EDUCATION If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

1. College/University
2. Course Title
3. Credits/Clock Hours

17



WORK BEHAVIOR 3 - SUPERVISE DAILY ACTIVITIES AND DUTIES Supervise and provide instruction to court adjudicated youth regarding their daily activities (such as personal hygiene, eating, recreation, work assignments, program activities, etc.), work and study habits, and daily housekeeping duties (such as cleaning, laundry, caring for furnishings, etc.) to maintain a clean and comfortable living environment. Levels of Performance Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience supervising and instructing COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS in their daily activities, housekeeping duties, OR work and study habits.
• B. I have experience supervising and instructing ANY ADULTS OR YOUTH (OTHER THAN COURT ADJUDICATED YOUTH OR CONVICTED ADULTS) in their daily activities, housekeeping duties, AND work and study habits.
• C. I have experience supervising and instructing ANY ADULTS OR YOUTH in their daily activities, housekeeping duties, OR work and study habits.
• D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to social work or welfare.
• E. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

18


In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
2. Who were you working with (court adjudicated youth, convicted adults, other adults, or youth, etc.).
3. Your specific duties and responsibilities (regarding activities, housekeeping, etc.).

19


CS-EDUCATION If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

1. College/University
2. Course Title
3. Credits/Clock Hours

20



WORK BEHAVIOR 4 - SECURITY MEASURES AND FIRE DRILLS Maintain security measures (such as checking doors, windows and locks, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.) and conduct fire drills and other safety programs, including reporting any deficiencies, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff and adjudicated youth. Maintain appropriate and adequate supplies and equipment in all assigned living areas, and inspect housekeeping functions, in order to meet the needs of the youth. Levels of Performance Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience maintaining security measures, supplies, and equipment, AND conducting fire drills to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of others.
• B. I have experience maintaining security measures, supplies, and equipment, OR conducting fire drills to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of others.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework or formal training related to fire safety, CPR, or first aid.
• D. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

21


In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
2. Your specific duties and responsibilities (regarding security measures, supplies, equipment, fire drills, etc.).
3. Your level of responsibility.

22


CS-EDUCATION If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework or training, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

1. Training Source
2. Course Title
3. Credits/Clock Hours

23



WORK BEHAVIOR 5 - WRITE REPORTS, STATEMENTS, AND LOG BOOK ENTRIES Write incident reports and witness statements to record instances of injury, type of crisis, or investigations. Write daily progress reports and logbook entries to maintain accurate records of daily observations of the youths' progress in meeting program and individual goals. Levels of Performance Select the "Level of Performance" which best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience writing incident reports, witness statements, daily progress reports, and logbook entries to record daily observations of an individual's progression to meet goals.
• B. I have experience writing daily progress reports/activity sheets OR logbook entries to record daily observations of an individual's progression to meet goals.
• C. I have experience writing other record keeping reports or documents not related to an individual's progression.
• D. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to business writing, technical writing, report writing, or journalism.
• E. I have NO experience or training related to this work behavior.

24


In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience.
2. List the type of reports/statements you have prepared (incident, daily progress, etc.).
3. Indicate the purpose/content/topic of the report/statement.

25


CS-EDUCATION If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the three items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

1. College/University
2. Course Title
3. Credits/Clock Hours

Required Question