NJ Civil Service Navigator

CHIEF JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER

Code: 00721 Local Competitive

Career Family: CHIEF

New Jersey treats Chief Juvenile Detention Officer as a competitive-class job, so the gate is an examination and the ranked list it produces rather than a direct offer.

Eligibility comes down to 5 years of relevant experience.

How to apply

This title is filled by competitive examination.

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Where this title is used

Chief Juvenile Detention Officer is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.

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Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisory official in a County Juvenile Detention Facility, has charge of the custodial work program, shift personnel, and custody workforce of the facility housing juvenile offenders. Has the responsibility for approving and authorizing all staffing changes and schedules for all shifts (24/7). Has responsibility for ensuring appropriate care, well- being, security, custody and discipline of juvenile offenders is being followed on each shift; does other related duties.

Examples of work

  • Manages work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and /or disciplining of employees
  • Determines and plans staffing or organization structure
  • Plans duty roster and assign workloads and specific duties to staff
  • Evaluates the overall operation of the program or service
  • Plans education or training programs
  • Provides protective custody for juveniles
  • Determines response to emergency situations
  • Recommends security level for inmates or residents
  • Determines penalty for infraction of rules or regulations
  • Develops justifications in support of agency programs or polices
  • Informs and instructs staff of policies and procedures
  • Monitors (patrols) designated areas within institutions, such as cell blocks, yards, or corridors
  • Implements procedures for performance drills, such as fire drills, safety drills, disaster drills
  • Enforces compliance with court orders, laws, rules, regulations or codes
  • Monitors (guards) juvenile offenders, inmates or residents
  • Investigates inmate or resident disturbances
  • Informs parents of juvenile offenders' case status
  • Provides technical advice to staff, peers, or management
  • Operates base station or two-way radio communication equipment
  • Reviews and approve recommendations
  • Controls conduct and behavior or inmates or residents
  • Authorizes release of confidential, sensitive or classified information
  • Secures confidential, sensitive, or classified information
  • Calculates discharge time for inmates or residents
  • Authorizes movement of inmates or residents within a facility
  • Administer work release programs
  • Counts inmates or residents
  • Conducts body searches
  • Interviews individuals for job openings
  • Approves inmate or resident requests
  • Opens (unlocks) cells and secures (locks) buildings, rooms, or gates
  • Ushers (escorts) individuals to designated areas
  • Testifies in court as an expert witness
  • May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

Education

Appointees must have successfully completed a training program approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission within the time period prescribed by law or the New Jersey Police Training Commission.

CITIZENSHIP

Applicants must be citizens of the United States.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience in the case and custody of juveniles or young inmates confined in an institution, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Knowledge of the principles and practices of managing a juvenile detention facility
  • Knowledge of procedures for determining security classification of juveniles or adult offenders
  • Knowledge of the theories, practices, and problems pertaining to the custody, care and training of juvenile offenders
  • Knowledge of the culture and lifestyle of various ethnic groups
  • Knowledge of procedures for preparing affidavits or sworn testimonies
  • Knowledge of factors that impact security, safety, and fire prevention in prisons, detention homes or other institutions
  • Knowledge of procedures for conducting body searches
  • Knowledge of principles and techniques of supervision
  • Knowledge of employee performance procedures
  • Knowledge of grievance procedures
  • Knowledge of the legal rights of individuals under investigation
  • Knowledge of disciplinary procedures
  • Knowledge of administrative principles and practices
  • Knowledge of the legal rights of individuals under investigation
  • Knowledge of program evaluation techniques
  • Knowledge of security procedures required for individuals on work or study release programs
  • Knowledge of established safety and security procedures and guidelines
  • Knowledge of the culture and life style of various ethnic groups
  • Knowledge of techniques for lifting and moving individuals or for applying physical restraints
  • Knowledge of the proper techniques for lifting and moving individuals and applying restraints
  • Knowledge of methods used to implement custody and security in maximum and medium prisons and institutions and in youth detention centers and halfway houses
  • Knowledge of Standard English grammar such as syntax, punctuation, verb agreement, or tense
  • Knowledge of methods for assessing employee training needs
  • Knowledge of basic interviewing techniques
  • Knowledge of methods for operating a centralized radio communication system
  • Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations relating to correctional facilities and inmate populations
  • Ability to write information in an organized format
  • Ability to follow written and oral orders, directions or plans
  • Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations governing the release of confidential information
  • Ability to write at the reading level of the targeted audience
  • Ability to interact with various people who are in differing situations
  • Ability to establish goals and set priorities
  • Ability to identify problems in the administration or coordination of programs, plans or projects
  • Ability to schedule and organize work activities for others
  • Ability to determine compliance with program guidelines and regulations
  • Ability to relay instructions or questions accurately and clearly
  • Ability to recognize information or situations that require confidentiality
  • Ability to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations
  • Ability to provide testimony in court or other legal forum
  • Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual re cording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units
  • Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
  • Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.