Juvenile Detention Officer

Juvenile Detention Officer

The Juvenile Detention Officer (JDO) operates under the belief that all youth and families have the capacity for change while striving to provide a safe and secure environment in an institutional setting. Successful Juvenile Detention Officers have integrity, use teamwork and critical thinking to teach skills and to encourage youth offenders towards positive change while promoting accountability, responsibility, and positive values. This position is designated as safety sensitive.

A JDO is responsible for maintaining custody, control, and security of detained youth and for protecting the safety of the youth, staff, and the public. This position requires continuous situational awareness and the ability to respond immediately and appropriately to unpredictable and potentially dangerous circumstances.

Day, evening, and night shift work is required on a regular and rotating basis, and you must be available to work holidays and weekends. Applicants will work five (5) eight-hour shifts and will be hired for the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift or the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift, subject to staffing needs and availability. Assignments are at the Durango Detention Center located at 3131 W Durango, Phoenix, Arizona 85009.

All Candidates will be required to complete a Candidate Assessment Day as part of the hiring process. The Assessment Day will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and consist of a tour of the detention facility and operations, screening assessments, and an interview. The following date is the last available Assessment Day for 2026. Please check your availability to attend prior to applying.

Tuesday, October 20th

Tuesday, October 27th

The Juvenile Probation Department of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is dedicated to providing innovative and efficient juvenile justice services grounded in evidence-based practices and research. These services improve the safety of our community, hold youth accountable through developmentally appropriate orientation, and ensure the public's trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. Join our Juvenile Probation Department in its mission to promote public safety through positive change as we connect youth to the community and provide opportunities that are delivered with fairness, dignity and respect.

Position Qualifications

• High school diploma

Other Requirements:

• Pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration Section 6-311: Juvenile Detention Standards, applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time they complete the detention academy.
• Candidates will be required to successfully complete a background/reference check, polygraph, and pre-employment psychological evaluation prior to hire.
• Positions in Detention are subject to Tuberculosis (TB) testing. All offers of employment are subject to successful completion of new employee processing and a negative TB result prior to the start date.
• Candidates must be able to safely and effectively perform the essential functions of this safety-sensitive position, with or without reasonable accommodation including but not limited to the ability to:
• Receive, interpret, and respond appropriately to verbal communications, emergency alerts/alarms, radio transmissions, and other safety signals in a detention environment.
• Maintain continuous situational awareness by observing youth behavior, movement, and environmental conditions in order to detect security risks, medical distress, contraband or threats of harm.
• Accurately identify individuals, actions, and objects at varying distances and in different lighting conditions sufficient to ensure the safety and security of detained youth, staff, and the public.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Effective time management and organization techniques.
• Principles of positive youth development and engagement.

Skill in:

• Critical analysis of individuals and situations to problem solve and make sound decisions.
• Seeing and paying attention to details.
• Demonstrating a rational and objective demeanor when faced with stressful or emotional situations, and acting objectively rather than impulsively or emotionally.
• Balancing and defusing tensions and stresses.

Ability to:

• Apply principles and methods of correctional casework.
• Follow department policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Demonstrate a positive, open, and objective attitude towards others.
• Demonstrate flexibility by readily modifying, responding to, and integrating change with minimal personal resistance.
• Engage others in a constructive two-way conversation, to demonstrate patience, tact, courtesy, empathy, and tolerance.
• Appropriately engage in, establish, and maintain relationships with diverse populations of co-workers and detained youth.
• Provide continuous visual and auditory supervision of youth, recognize behaviors or conditions that may present a risk of harm, and intervene or initiate response procedures as appropriate.
• Maintain ongoing situational awareness.
• Ensure safety by effectively recognizing and responding to various signals, such as verbal communication, emergency alerts/alarms, radio communications, and other safety signals.
• Perform duties that require close attention to detail, as well as the ability to identify and respond to potential safety concerns in a detention environment.

Essential Job Tasks

• Maintains constant observation of youth behavior, movement, and environmental conditions in order to detect security risks, medical distress, contraband, or threats of harm.
• Receives, interprets, and appropriately responds to officer communications, emergency alerts, radio transmissions, and other safety signals in real time.
• Responds rapidly and effectively to emergencies, including fights, medical incidents, self-harm attempts, disturbances, and evacuation situations.
• Identify individuals, actions, and objects accurately in varied lighting conditions and distances sufficient to maintain safety and security within a detention environment.
• Provide clear verbal commands and written documentation during routine operations and crisis situations.
• Coordinate responses with other staff in dynamic and potentially life-threatening situations.
• Supervises all juveniles in a fair and respectful manner regardless of admission reason.
• Maintains order and safety through positive engagement, rapport building, and crisis de-escalation techniques.
• Restores and maintains security, order, and schedules of activities; takes appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions.
• Determines and applies approved restraint techniques to control and mitigate disturbances.
• Knows and adheres to all department policies and standard operating procedures and instructs juveniles on rules, procedures, and expectations.
• Performs crisis intervention functions to include counseling, suicide prevention, recognizing abnormal behavior, and takes appropriate actions.
• Searches people, clothing, mail items, and objects capable of concealing contraband; searches buildings and large outdoor areas; inspects juveniles with reasonable suspicion; confiscates and properly logs and disposes of contraband.
• Transfers and transports youth on foot, in vehicles, or other forms of transportation.
• Maintains the safety and security of detained youth in all areas of the detention facility, on the facility grounds, and when escorting youth outside of the secured detention facility.
• Develops, presents, and engages youth in meaningful transitional programming to provide skill development.
• Establishes, monitors, and maintains detailed case files, ensuring accurate and complete documentation of juvenile's behaviors, attitudes, and actions; prepares thorough and detailed reports and maintains records as necessary.
• Develops and maintains effective and appropriate professional relationships with youth, co-workers, treatment team members, and outside agencies.
• Controls access to and from the facility; maintains active visual and auditory supervision of youth for extended periods of time; operates and monitors surveillance and electronic security equipment as assigned.
• Performs, as needed, basic first aid procedures, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Assists, as needed, in courtroom sessions.

Working Conditions:

Work will be conducted in a secure detention facility. Work regularly requires climbing stairs, standing, maintaining focus and active visual and auditory supervision of detained juveniles and may include noisy, crowded areas. It may include exposure to disruptive people, uncomfortable physical conditions, including heat, cold, wetness, strong odors, dust, pollen, and blood borne pathogens. May include kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing (including ability to clearly distinguish and identify colors), and repetitive motions. Requires frequently exerting force up to 20 pounds, and occasionally 50 pounds of force to move objects. Requires sufficient strength and coordination for restraining and/or carrying the weight of adults, may