SUPERVISING JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER

Code: 05110 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 supervises a group of juvenile detention officers and may have responsibility for the complete operation and security of the juvenile facility on a given shift; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Directs the work assignments of senior and juvenile detention officers and makes adjustments in the established work schedule to meet new requirements or unforeseen situations such as calling in additional officers to cover for sickness and so forth to maintain the operation and security of the facility in accord with established policy and procedures.
• Examines a variety of documents that are submitted from either court or complaints filed against juveniles and obtains supplementary information or reviews document for accuracy and signs documents to comply with established policy and procedures.
• Explains work requirements, methods, procedures, and daily routine to newly hired officers assigned to the shift, answering questions about the work to familiarize them on orientation to that detention facility's work procedures.
• Investigates incident reports submitted by officers on the shift verifying the accuracy of the facts and noting any discrepancies or deficiencies of the report to present the facts to higher levels of supervisory personnel for determination for possible disciplinary action.
• Directs the operation and security of the facility on a shift by ensuring that the proper count of juveniles is verified from the previous shift, that the facility is clean, that the whereabouts of juveniles are properly recorded, that all activities are being run properly without incident and so forth to provide a secure and efficiently run facility in accord with established procedures.
• Trains or recommends training for officers when need is apparent or for changes in policy to broaden or provide back up skills for the officers.
• Describes in a written evaluation form the performance of the officers assigned to the shift, identifying their quality of work, their following of policy and procedures and so forth to provide higher levels of supervisory personnel a written record of the officers performance.
• Discusses informal complaints made by officers on the shift and resolves those that can be resolved by correcting the unsatisfactory condition or sending both informal and formal complaints to higher levels of supervision for their determination to properly dispose of the complaint in accord with established policy and procedures.
• Maintains and records in log a variety of information such as number of boys and girls admitted or released and so forth to provide required information in accord with established policy and procedures.
• 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.

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.

Experience

Three (3) 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 the policies, procedures, and guidelines of the juvenile detention facility.
• Knowledge of the problems and difficulties, emotional, social, and other, of juveniles who are confined in a detention facility.
• Knowledge of the methods of handling juveniles to secure cooperation and maintain discipline.
• Knowledge of the problems in communicating with subordinates effectively both orally and in writing and in working out solutions to problems in a detention facility or answering questions relating to work.
• Ability to motivate, train, and work effectively with subordinates who have a variety of backgrounds and training.
• Ability to plan own work and carry out assignments effectively.
• Ability to communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or answering questions relating to work.
• Ability to be objective and fair in judging officers and juveniles when presented facts about circumstances that have occurred in the detention facility.
• Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations that may occur in a juvenile detention facility without undue stress.
• Ability to consider new ideas or divergent points of view presented to them by officers, superiors, and so forth.
• Ability to prepare sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to work harmoniously with officers, juveniles, superiors, and others interested in or concerned with the programs of the detention facility.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording 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 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.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is found primarily in County Juvenile Detention facilities which provide secure custody for juveniles who are deemed a threat to the physical safety of the community or are awaiting trial, sentencing, or availability of space in a state facility.

The supervisor communicates the policies, procedures, and objectives of higher levels of supervision to subordinate officers on their shift. The supervisor revises established work schedules to meet changes in workload, assign officers to positions, assigning tasks to provide new officers with the experience and training required to perform the work. The supervisor informally recommends promotions, reassignments, or other status changes of assigned personnel and recognizes outstanding performance of officers by recommending meritorious awards. The supervisor may have responsibility for determining priorities or scheduling work for their shift, but this is usually set by higher levels of supervisory personnel. The supervisor is required to supervise a group of juvenile detention officers. A group in this standard is defined as consisting of three or more employees. Responsibility for work assignments involving one or two officers is not sufficient to warrant being classified as a Supervising Juvenile Detention Officer. Such jobs will be classified under the appropriate nonsupervisory title.

The following are typical tasks associated with the position of Supervising Juvenile Detention Officer. Although some jurisdictions may require the performance of other duties and responsibilities, those must be considered as related work and the knowledge and abilities needed to perform them would not normally be required upon entering the position.