CORRECTIONAL POLICE OFFICER, YOUTH JUSTICE COMMISSION
Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice Commission is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
It expects a high school diploma and a professional license. State payroll currently lists about 11 people in the title, most of them at Juvenile Justice Commission.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 11 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $53,218. The agencies employing the most are:
- Juvenile Justice Commission (11)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
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.
Definition
Under the close supervision of a Correctional Police Sergeant or other supervisory official in the Youth Justice Commission, attends residential training in various law enforcement courses as authorized by the NJ Police Training Commission; receives on-the-job training and instructions for the appropriate care, well-being, security, and custody of juvenile offenders assigned to various institutions, facilities, and boot camps throughout the State; learns to utilize a balanced approach of supervision and instruction to encourage juvenile offenders' self-involvement and personal esteem to participate in rehabilitation and educational programs; attends classes and courses addressing principles of supervision practices and surveillance activities in accordance with the NJ Police Training Commission requirements; does other custody related duties as required.
Examples of work
Learns to exercise full police powers and act as a peace officer at all times for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law. Learns proper usage, security, integrity, and care for firearms and the responsibility of maintaining firearms and other restraints and defense equipment while performing assigned duties. Learns the rules, regulations, policies, procedures, practices, operational methods, and processes related to juvenile correctional institutions, facilities, boot camps, and satellite locations. Learns military style training techniques and regimented activities associated with close order drill, physical fitness conditioning, and training requirements for assigned juvenile offenders. Learns program objectives developed for the social and emotional habilitation initiatives of juvenile offenders. Learns how to project an authoritative, supportive, and positive attitude to assist juvenile offenders in achieving goal objectives. Participates in custody programs in rating and evaluating juvenile offenders in earning access of credits toward privileges and specialized activities and programs. Attends an in-residence Police Training Commission program to learn various law enforcement practices, instructions, surveillance and detection techniques, firearms training, qualification and applicable regulations, policies, directives, and procedures for the care, well-being, security, and custody of juvenile offenders under charge of the State. Attends specific program classes for instruction and receives on-the-job training and physical conditioning directives related to the principles of performing custody duties and the charge of sentenced juvenile offenders assigned to boot camps. Learns to supervise the care, inspection, and maintenance of living quarters of juvenile offenders in a safe, clean, secure environment. Learns to perform military style inspections of juvenile offenders' clothing, living quarters, and hygiene practices on a regular daily basis. Assists in the patrolling and surveillance activities of assigned areas, grounds, buildings, and living quarters, renders regular periodic reports via telephone or electronic communications, and reports the whereabouts of all assigned juvenile offenders. Assists in the development of acceptable conduct and behavior of juvenile offenders in accordance with established directives and assertive mannerisms to prevent disturbances and attempted escapes from custody. Reports violations and discrepancies of a facility's rules to superiors. Assists in maintaining discipline in living quarters, recreation areas, grounds, school classrooms, hospitals, theaters, churches, eateries, trade shops, and other areas and places where juvenile offenders gather in groups. Assists in preventing stated contraband and unauthorized articles from entering the facility's grounds, buildings, and living quarters by utilizing various search and surveillance techniques. Assists in conducting regular periodic inspections and recording conditions of living quarters, secured areas, door locks, windows locks, and other restricted areas of the facility and surrounding grounds. Escorts juvenile offenders to and from living quarters to various areas of the facility and other authorized locations. Notifies supervisor or training officer of differing or suspicious actions being displayed by juvenile offenders or visual contact of suspicious persons/conditions that warrant review and/or investigation; notes changing conditions to determine possible dangerous or hazardous situations. Attends classes and demonstrations on the proper methods of utilizing available institution equipment and accessories. Assists in escorting juvenile offenders to job/training sites which are off grounds, and to courts of law and other formal proceedings. When assigned to a medical area of treatment, assists civilian employees in performing their duties. When assigned to boot and/or institution camps and other outside assigned details, is responsible for safety, security, and custody of juvenile offenders under said charge. Receives training in the preparation of program reports and in keeping records and files. Observes and assists in performing investigations and in the preparation of detailed, concise reports. Learns the practices and procedures for monitoring enforcement programs and ensures juvenile offenders' rights are not violated. Learns how to prepare and complete program incident reports of violations, procedures of reporting such incidents, and investigations required to prepare reports thereof. Learns to prepare and compose memoranda and other communications. May be required to testify as a witness for the State before formal hearings, Grand Juries, Courts of Law, administrative hearings, or other judicial bodies. Learns how to maintain records and security of confidential records and files. Learns to utilize various types of electronic communications equipment and database software in the performance of assigned duties. Learns how to recognize and rapidly evaluate potentially dangerous and hazardous situations involving juvenile offenders' safety and well-being. Learns to exercise caution and good judgment in handling these circumstances to avoid personal injury or to prevent endangerment to the general public and/or serious personal injury to juvenile offenders and/or property damage. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Possession of a High School Diploma or its equivalent.
License
Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the care, usage, security, and integrity of firearms and other restraints and defense equipment, after a period of training. Knowledge of the electronic communications equipment and database software utilized in the performance of assigned duties, after a period of training. Knowledge of surveillance methods and procedures, after a period of training. Knowledge of the administrative procedures for reporting violations to applicable rules, regulations, policies, and program procedures, after a period of training. Knowledge of the methods and techniques for performing investigations of recorded juvenile offenders' inappropriate actions and violations to stipulated rules and regulations. Ability to act as a peace officer at all times for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law, after a period of training. Ability to interpret problems/circumstances likely to be encountered in a working environment involving the social rehabilitation, care, well-being, and custody of juvenile offenders detained and deprived of specified freedoms throughout a custodial supervision period of confinement. Ability to utilize proper assertiveness techniques and methods appropriate in a confined work environment with persons of varying ethnic and language backgrounds, education, abilities, economic levels, and personalities. Ability to recognize and identify potentially dangerous and hazardous situations involving juvenile offenders, evaluate available options, and exercise independent judgment in handling these circumstances, after a period of training. Ability to communicate with juvenile offenders to foster self-assurance attitudes and self-esteem for themselves and toward others, after a period of training. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with juvenile offenders, their family members, coworkers, and superiors. Ability to utilize appropriate techniques to gain the confidence of juvenile offenders, to instill mutual respect of others, and to provide direction with their personal development and emotional stability during their period of incarceration, after a period of training. Ability to utilize varying levels of supervision over juvenile offenders and to recommend sanctions and/or loss of privileges when necessary. Ability to learn military style training techniques and regimented activities. Ability to conduct and lead rigorous physical fitness activities, calisthenics, exercises, and close order drill activities, after a period of training. Ability to perform military style inspections of living areas and quarters, proper clothing/uniform attire, appropriate self-hygiene habits, safety issues, and liabilities of juvenile offenders. Ability to apply the principles and practices of commission directives as they apply to custody related juvenile delinquency problems and issues. Ability to interpret, remember, and carry out oral and written directions and to learn from oral and written explanations from classes and demonstrations as they apply to custodial responsibilities. Ability to learn how to properly utilize firefighting equipment and adhere to stipulated emergency procedures. Ability to learn to recognize specific occurrences and differing instances learned in classes and workshop demonstrations gleaned useful for everyday custody work in an institution or facility housing juvenile offenders. Ability to recognize suspicious persons and/or events and take suitable action and reporting requirements to the supervisor or training officer in a very timely manner. Ability to analyze custodial problems, organize assigned duties, and develop effective work methods. Ability to perform repetitive work assignments without loss of equanimity, patience, or courtesy, to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations, and retain emotional stability. Ability to follow instructions and render to others, clear, accurate, and explicit directions to follow. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic communications, computer information systems, other types of recording equipment, devices, and manual recordings used by the agency, institutions, facilities, satellite locations, and other related units. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence, reports, and communications on custody issues and problems and other program issues. Ability to learn how 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, and 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 if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. ADVANCEMENT: Appointees who successfully complete the required working test period in addition to the twelve (12) month training period, including the NJ Police Training Commission and agency training requirements will be eligible for advancement to the title Senior Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice Commission under NJ Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an appointee in this title to attain the level of performance warranting advancement to the title listed above shall be considered as cause for separation from employment.
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. The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority. AGE: Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age. CITIZENSHIP: Must be a United States' citizen at time of appointment. At time of appointment, eligible applicants for this position must submit acceptable proof of meeting the above indicated requirements. Appointees will be required to undergo and successfully pass medical and psychological examinations administered by the Appointing Authority. Appointees will be required to successfully complete the NJ Police Training Commission and agency training course standards for custody, investigations, and related law enforcement requirements. Appointees shall be required to qualify in the use of firearms on a semi-annual basis. All training requirements and successful completion thereof reflect a one (1) year training period in addition to satisfactory completion of the working test period as a Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice to be considered as an eligible appointee for appointment to the Senior Correctional Police Officer, Youth Justice position. Appointees may be required during the one (1) year training period to attend college level and/or other courses, paid by the Appointing Authority, in Criminal Justice, Psychology, or other related field of study. Selected eligible candidates shall meet the qualifications for juvenile correctional police officers and shall be employed as juvenile correctional police officers pursuant to section 6 of P.L. 1995, c. 284 (N.J.S.A. 52:17B-174).
Study guides for this exam
- Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB) (C-4759): Passbooks Study Guide (Career Examination Series) National Learning Corporation
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.