Correctional Officer

Overview Join the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice as a Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO). Are you ready for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference in the lives of at-risk youth? Join the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) and help transform young lives while building a stronger, safer community. NEW STARTING SALARY: $47,682 We are hiring Juvenile Correctional Officers (JCOs) to maintain safety and security at our Midlands Region Facilities : Juvenile Detention Complex (JDC): A centralized pre-trial detention facility serving juveniles from most of South Carolina's 46 counties. Midlands Evaluation and Development Center (MEDC): The agency’s long-term commitment facility, as well as provides court-ordered evaluations for adjudicated juveniles before final case disposition. Our Mission The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) aims to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation. Open To ALL Experience Levels . Our comprehensive training program equips new officers with skills in communication, de-escalation, crisis intervention, defensive tactics, first aid, report writing, and more. You'll learn from experienced trainers who prepare you for a meaningful career in corrections and law enforcement. Is this career right for me? Our JCOs come from diverse backgrounds with vast experience levels but share a passion for service, strong communication skills, and a desire to positively impact youth. Successful candidates thrive in team environments, value their community, and demonstrate sound judgment in fast-paced situations. Bonus Incentives Our way of rewarding YOU for your commitment! Job Purpose Under the supervision of your facility’s leadership, the Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO) ensures a safe, secure, and supportive environment for at-risk youth. This role is essential to maintaining orderly facility operations, safeguarding the well-being of youth and staff, and fostering positive decision-making. By contributing to a rehabilitative culture grounded in positive youth development, the JCO plays a vital role in the agency’s mission to provide safe and effective opportunities for youth rehabilitation and personal growth. Job Responsibilities Diligently ensures compliance with Juvenile Correctional Officer continuous certification requirements. Interact with youth throughout the day to ensure their safety, security, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. Maintain frequent, meaningful communication to support their progress. Perform assigned duties to provide care, meet basic needs, and ensure the security of all youth under supervision. Conduct headcounts regularly, maintain accurate logs, and complete all required reports to document daily activities and incidents. Respond promptly and appropriately to emergencies, following agency protocols and procedures. Perform routine and unannounced security checks and frisk searches as required by policy. Serve on various facility posts, including specialized units, to ensure comprehensive coverage and operational efficiency. Counsel youth to prevent incidents and redirect inappropriate behavior. Enforce the behavior management system consistently and effectively. Address disruptions and emergencies using verbal and physical de-escalation techniques per agency policy. Communicate observations and interactions with educational, social work, mental health, and medical staff. Actively participate in unit team meetings to support youth rehabilitation plans. Supervise youth during transportation and movement to ensure participation in required treatment, education, recreation, vocational training, visitation, and other activities. Ensure youth receive proper medical care as needed, adhering to agency policies and procedures. Submit work order requests to supervisors and maintain a clean, safe environment for youth and staff. Comply with agency policies to complete detailed reports on incidents, safety concerns, and operational matters. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors to further the agency’s mission and uphold its core values. Minimum And Additional Requirements State Minimum Requirements : A high school diploma or equivalent. The candidate must be a U.S. Citizen and at least 21 years old. The candidate must also have a valid driver's license and attend, pass, and maintain all required SCDJJ training courses and certification requirements. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Ability to understand and apply state laws, institutional rules, regulations, and requirements related to youth control, including Child Abuse Statutes. Ability to grasp the purpose, methods, and practices of secure facilities to ensure safety and security. Ability to learn and implement various techniques for instructing, handling, and supervising youth across a variety of activities. Strong interpersonal skills, patience, professionalism, and effective verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. Ability to exercise sound judgment and initiative in a wide range of situations. Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with youth, effectively communicating with them to foster respect and trust while managing challenging behaviors in a professional and mature manner. Ability to establish and maintain constructive working relationships with coworkers, families, and the general public. Ability to ensure safety and security by following policies, procedures, and training. Ability to adhere to daily schedules, manage facility processes, document events and activities accurately, and supervise multiple youth effectively. Ability to maintain a valid state driver’s license and operate a state vehicle safely. Special & Additional Requirements Certification and Training : Must obtain certification in Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE) within 90 days of employment. Must achieve a minimum competency/proficiency exam score of 80% and demonstrate supervisory and teaching skills. Training will include Behavioral Management techniques such as Primary Restraint and Take Down procedures, on the job functions but not limited to handcuffing, prone positions, Kicks and Strike Motions, Joint Manipulations, bending at the waist and torque motions. Lifting hands above the head, repeated breathing techniques for CPR/First Aid/AED. Kneel on knees Physical Demands : This position requires mobility and physical capability, including bending, lifting, kneeling, and engaging in torque motions. Must respond to emergencies, including physically intervening and restraining youth in accordance with agency policy. Must walk and stand for extended periods, sit in a desk chair for up to eight hours, and visually distinguish subjects up to 75 yards away. Work may occur in extreme heat, cold, humidity, or inclement weather. Work Schedule : Required to work day, evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts. Must be available for mandatory overtime as needed to meet facility demands. Environmental and Equipment Requirements : Must maintain a valid state-issued driver’s license and operate a motor vehicle safely. Wear protective equipment during emergencies or as required by agency policy. Job Duties Context : Performs tasks related to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth under the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Direct and indirect contact with youth is expected. Training relevant to all job duties will be provided. Supervision and Evaluation : Operates under the general supervision of a direct supervisor who provides daily and monthly reviews and conducts annual performance evaluations. Works independently on a limited basis while adhering to agency policies and guidelines. Preferred Qualifications PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS : Experience supervising, mentoring, or interacting with at-risk youth. Additional Comments The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Health, dental, and life insurance 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year 15 days of sick leave per year 13 paid holidays State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date. You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing will be required . Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application. Benefits For State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies. Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available. 01 I understand that I will accept an initial duty and workday/shift assignment, which may be changed to meet the needs of SCDJJ. If selected for this position, are you available to rotate shifts, i.e. nights, days, weekends, holidays, on-call? Yes No 02 I acknowledge that I have reviewed and understand the position requirements, training requirements and physical demands of this job. I agree that I can perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodation. Yes No 03 I understand that there will be at least a four-week initial training period for this position that will take place during the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm. I also understand that once the initial training is completed, I will be assigned to 12 -hour shifts based on the needs of the agency. Yes No 04 Are you willing to undergo a background investigation that may include, but is not limited to, checks of criminal records, driver's license status, and the child abuse registry? Yes No 05 Are you willing to undergo a physical examination, medical evaluation, and drug screening as part of the hiring process? Yes No 06 Have you been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense on or after your 17th birthday? You must disclose this information under "Agency-Wide Questions #1 & #2," regardless of how long ago the conviction occurred, unless the record has been legally expunged. This includes offenses such as fraudulent checks, driving under suspension, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, etc. Minor traffic violations, such as speeding tickets or seatbelt violations, may be omitted. Please note: A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify you from employment; each case is evaluated individually. However, failure to disclose convictions may be considered falsification of your application and could result in termination. It is your responsibility to know the contents of your criminal record. If you have questions about this requirement, please seek clarification before completing your application. If you have any misdemeanors or criminal offenses (felonies) to disclose, as described above, please provide details below. If not, please type "No" in the space provided. 07 I understand that the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice is an equal opportunity employer. SCDJJ does not discriminate in hiring, promotions, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, or other employment aspects based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Any acts you feel are in violation, please get in touch with the Office of Human Resources, 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC View phone number on click.appcast.io. Yes No 08 I understand that SCDJJ will not hire or promote anyone who may have contact with residents and shall not enlist the services of any contractor who may have contact with residents who have engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility juvenile facility, or other institution (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997); has been convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above. Yes No 09 I understand that my fingerprint record received from the FBI and SLED must indicate no felony convictions as a condition of employment. Yes No 10 I certify that I have not been convicted of any criminal offenses that carries a sentence of 1 year or more or any criminal offenses that involves moral turpitude (an act contrary to the accepted rule of right and duty to man and society). Forfeiture of bond, a guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a conviction. Yes No 11 Have you or any members of your family ever been a victim of a crime committed by a juvenile who is currently under the supervision of SCDJJ? If yes, type in “Yes” and give your last name of the juvenile, date, and location of trial. If no, please type “No”. 12 How did you hear about this position? SC State Government Jobs Website Career Fair SC Works Social Media DJJ Employee Indeed.com Other 13 If you answered "DJJ Employee" to the previous question please list employee's name. 14 If you answered "Other" to the previous question, please tell us how you learned of this position. 15 Do you have a high school diploma or a high school Diploma Equivalent (ex. GED, etc.)? Yes No 16 Do you have a valid driver's license? Yes No 17 Minimum Requirement: Are you 21 years of age or older? Yes No 18 Are you a U.S. citizen and if selected for employment, can you provide proof of citizenship? Yes No 19 Are you currently employed or have you previously been employed with SCDJJ? Yes No 20 If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, when and what position? 21 Do you currently work for or have you previously worked for another state agency? Yes No 22 If your answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the agency and year(s) of employment. 23 Have you ever served in the military? Yes No 24 If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please list the branch and dates of service. Be prepared to provide a DD214 for each period of service. 25 Are you able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation? Yes No 26 Do you currently or have you ever worked in or have been professionally associated with a prison, jail, lock, community confinement facility, juvenile facility or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997? Yes No 27 If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, please list the institution(s) and your date(s) of employment. 28 I understand that any misrepresentation, omission of facts, or otherwise falsification on this application and attachments will result in disapproval of this application or termination of employment. Yes No 29 Please provide us with two (2) references. One (1) Professional reference and One (1) Personal reference (Non-Family Members). Please list name(s), phone number(s), and email address(es). Required Question #J-18808-Ljbffr