SENIOR JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER

Code: 05109 Local Competitive

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, takes the lead over a group of juvenile detention officers by issuing instructions and assignments; maintains the security of the detention facility either on an assigned tour of duty or as a shift leader; performs the duties of controlling the general conduct and behavior of juvenile residents including the discipline, custodial, recreational, transportation, and housekeeping functions; does other related duties as required.

FOR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT OF A HOME DETENTION PROGRAM:

Under general direction of a supervisory employee responsible for carrying out the daily operations and maintenance of an electronic monitoring / home detention program for juveniles as well as adult detainees on a 24/7 on-call status.

Examples of work

• Receives written or oral instructions from supervisor and distributes and/or balances the work assignments among juvenile detention officers and other employees during an assigned tour of duty or as a shift leader (on evenings, nights, or weekends) to ensure that work assignments are carried out.
• Collects and records into a log pertinent, factual, and identifying information from juveniles who are being admitted to the detention facility (name, nickname, religion, race, and so forth) and any additional information from the law enforcement officers bringing the juvenile to the detention facility and the parents to complete the initial intake process in accord with the established admittance procedures.
• Instructs new employees by explaining the procedures of the job and answering their questions using a current knowledge of policy, procedures, and directives to assist the new officers in becoming acclimated to the detention facility routine.
• Writes factual, concise reports describing incidents of misbehavior on juveniles to establish a written record of the incident to be used for disciplinary action.
• Records information on a variety of forms or log book such as room assignments for juveniles, food records, eating utensils count, releasing of juveniles from facility, and so forth to ensure that proper documentation is maintained in accord with established policy and procedures.
• Resolves simple informal complaints of juvenile detention officers and juveniles and refers more serious types to supervisor for action.
• Applies first aid techniques to juveniles, juvenile detention officers, and so forth who have sustained minor injuries such as cuts, abrasions, lacerations, burns, and so forth or employees who have incurred an injury where immediate care must be given until a physician or ambulance arrives to provide proper emergency first aid.
• Performs related tasks as required.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• FOR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT OF A HOME DETENTION PROGRAM:
• Provide 24-hour on-call support to families and clients in the event of emergencies and alert warnings involving monitoring equipment.
• Ensures compliance with court orders and terms of home detention.
• Completes home inspections including an interview with family at home.
• Transports the detainee to home and set-up monitoring equipment.
• Perform all home detention installations and disconnects including all necessary set-up and termination with the monitoring company.
• Ensure that the home detention program has the proper equipment in the office at all times and that it is in working order.
• Establishes, updates and maintains case files.
• Replace transmitter or unit placed in the house when it is not working properly.
• Review billing from monitoring company for each client.
• Maintains contact with contract detention facility concerning the status of the juvenile detainees, their progress educationally, their disciplinary issues, if any, and their general adjustment to the detention environment.
• Perform daily checks on a client's whereabouts (i.e. school, probation appointments, employment and programs).
• Serves as the liaison to the Family Court on the status of juveniles in detention, receiving and communicating Court requirements to the contract facility and reporting to the Court as needed on progress or difficulties of the juveniles placed by the court in the contract facility.
• Acts as a liaison between the detention center and state and local agencies (i.e. Superior Court, Probation, Juvenile Justice Commission, Family Case Management, substance abuse treatment programs, school and work.
• Make visits to the contract family to establish and maintain a working relationship with the administrative, educational and medical components of the facility. Will report on these matters to the Warden and take the lead in working through any issues that may need adjustment or better understanding.
• Notify the Department of Corrections Transport Unit of need to move juveniles to detention and schedule the transport.
• Issue warning letters to detainees who show adjustment problems.
• Conduct random urinalysis tests on detainees.
• May assist the Coordinator of Juvenile Detention Services in the management of the juvenile detention population held in another county under contract.
• Writes comprehensive, factual, incident reports.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in the care and custody of juveniles or young inmates confined in an institution.

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 policies, procedures, and guidelines for a juvenile detention facility.
• Knowledge of methods of handling juveniles to secure cooperation and maintain discipline.
• Knowledge of problems involved in the custody, protection, and care of juveniles confined in an institution.
• Ability to take the lead and work with others to ensure that the programs of work are carried out.
• Ability to issue clear, concise, and correct oral and/or written instructions and assignments.
• Ability to learn and apply first aid techniques in crisis situations.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates, superiors and juveniles.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and prepare concise and factual written reports.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• FOR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT OF A HOME DETENTION PROGRAM:
• Ability to learn to use electronic monitoring equipment.
• Ability to function under difficult or stressful conditions both in the field and before the Courts.
• Ability to utilize program assessment tools to efficiently and correctly evaluate program applicants as well as their living situations for suitability in the Home Detention Program.
• Ability to interact and communicate with various professionals (i.e. Judges, Court personnel, law enforcement, social service Personnel, program participants and their families, etc.)
• 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 definition and 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.