Juvenile Detention Officer - South Bend, United States - St. Joseph Probate Court

Description

Benefits include:

Free Health Clinic for all employees and immediate family members on employee insurance plan; affordable health, vision and dental insurance; free gym membership; Enrollment in PERF (Public Employee Retirement Fund).

Incumbents serve as Detention Officers for the St. Joseph Probate Court/Juvenile Justice Center, responsible for providing care and security for residents at the St. Joseph Probate Court/Juvenile Justice Center. Meeting the physical and emotional needs of all residents. Possessing the ability to perform any tasks necessary and requested for the overall operation of the agency.





HOURS:
First Shift is 7:00am-3:00pm. Second Shift is 3:00pm-11:00pm. Work schedule is five days on, two days off. Days off to be determined.


QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum age 21.


EDUCATION:
Baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice or Social Services preferred; high school diploma or GED required.


EXPERIENCE:
Prior training or experience dealing with adolescents preferred.


SKILLS:

The ability to relate to professional staff, detained youth, and their families without bias or partiality. Competency to provide security for the community, staff and Detainees through applied mental and physical skills. Capacity to use good judgment, problem solve, anticipate, prevent, intervene, and solve crisis situations appropriately. Ability to make rationale, independent decisions regarding detention operations. Ability to see what needs to be done, with skills to make sure the job is completed. Must be mature and able to accept responsibility with mínimal or no supervision. Good written and verbal communication skills are a must.


DIRECT REPORT:

Detention Officers report directly to their shift Supervisor. However, final determinations are made by the Director of Detention and/or the Executive Director.


DUTIES:

Provides care and security for residents at the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center. Meets the physical and emotional needs of all residents.

Possesses the ability to perform any tasks necessary and requested for the overall operation of the agency, including, but not limited to:


ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:


INTAKE:

• Provides orientation for new residents.
• Assists in training new employees.
• Properly fills out detention forms in writing or via computer.
• Records demographic data in log.
• Maintains daily log book of significant events.

SECURITY:

• Checks all resident doors regularly.
• Checks on residents in rooms every 15 minutes, with closer intervals if situation warrants.
• Searches all rooms for contraband.
• Routinely makes material, (i.e. pencils) and physical head counts.

SUPERVISION:

• Provides immediate crisis intervention for distraught, suicidal or violent residents.
• Disciplines residents consistently and fairly for misbehavior
• Supervises assigned residents at all times.
• Ability to conduct themselves as a positive role model for juveniles by demonstrating values of respect, responsibility, tolerance and acceptance. Must possess good verbal communication skills in order to effectively lead and facilitate group presentations and discussions in youth selfimprovement classes (i.e., VBBM, CPI, Life Skills, Physical Education). Successful officers have the ability to motivate juveniles by relating lessons taught to real life situations; i.e., encouraging youth to think through their options before they act and the consequences of those options chosen.
• Supervises visits from parents, grandparents, and guardians.
• Female staff supervise male and female detainees. Male staff supervise male detainees.

HOUSEKEEPING:

• Supervise residents while eating, and supervises clean up. Officers dine with residents at the facility.
• Supervises cleaning of sleeping room (cells) and pod areas.
• Performs minor maintenance chores and notifies appropriate maintenance staff/supervisors of related problems that need attention.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Considerable judgment must be exercised on an independent basis in regard to the safety and security of all residents and staff.

Policies and procedures are written, but every situation is not, and cannot be covered. Supervisory assistance is available.

Errors in judgment may result in safety or security problems such as:
fights, escapes, suicides, and injury to staff or residents.


PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Receives phone calls from police personnel, parents of juveniles, juveniles on probation, and general public. Responsible for answering questions, taking messages, and relaying accurate information in a courteous and professional manner.

Interacts with juveniles in detention, parents, grandparents, and relatives of juveniles in detention, teachers, other Detention Officers, Probation Officers, Police Officers, Administrative staff.

Must maintain a professional relationship with all residents and staff at all times and staff while on duty. Detention Officers are expected to be positive role models