TJJD - Juvenile Correctional Officer II​/III​/IV GNS

Teen Juvenile Correctional Officer – a supervisory and direct‑care role in a residential correctional facility for youth.

• Retirement plan
• Paid group health, life insurance for employees
• Paid holidays, vacation leave, and sick leave
• Longevity pay
• Educational assistance program
• Employee assistance program
• Optional benefits:
  Dental, Vision, Optional Life Insurance, Voluntary ADD Insurance, Dependent Health Life Insurance, Health Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, etc.
• Hazardous duty pay, career ladder advancements, and free meals while on duty (for designated positions)

Provides supervision and direct care for youth in a residential correctional facility. Works to help youth achieve progress in learning and applying methods to identify and manage reactions to stress and trauma and react in more socially appropriate ways. Uses appropriate intervention methods in response to behavioral issues, maintains safe environments, and employs security measures when youth, staff, or others are in danger.

Engages with youth in ways that maintain appropriate structure while understanding brain development in youth with complex trauma. Provides healthy relationships and boundaries, recognizes progress, and promotes good choices.

Work involves facilitating youth rehabilitation, supervising youth, coaching their personal development in accordance with individualized treatment plans. Works assigned shift, may be on‑call, may work in excess of 40 hours per week. Occasional travel may be required.

This position is in the approved TJJD career ladder for Juvenile Correctional Officers. Personnel receive career ladder salary adjustments upon meeting established eligibility criteria, progressing through Junior to Senior levels based on experience and performance.

Newly hired or rehired JCOs separated more than 18 months must attend the pre‑service training academy and and complete on‑the‑job training full‑time. JCOs returning within 18 months from prior employment are exempt and placed in full‑time status on the day of rehire.

• Engages in competency‑based training in the techniques and capabilities needed to coach youth under the Texas Model of trauma‑informed corrections.
• Holds youth accountable in ways that fit the level of behavior, seeking to help youth learn socially acceptable responses and approaches.
• Uses good judgment in determining when safety is at risk and higher levels of intervention are required.
• Helps youth identify their responses to stress, fear, and other triggers and works with them to learn ways to increase emotional self‑regulation skills.
• Practices and models appropriate self‑regulation skills and is able to remain calm during times of stress and crisis.
• Gains a basic knowledge of each youth’s treatment plan and provides support in learning the skills needed to meet those goals.
• Coaches youth on how to resolve conflict with other youth and staff as appropriate.
• Participates in the Youth Service Team and provides input into each youth’s treatment plan; is a responsible and supportive team member, who understands that an effective team is composed of reliable people who provide backup and support for their fellow team members and the facility as a whole.
• Provides for a predictable schedule for youth that is transparent to them and provides warnings and prompts for all movements and transitions; exercises independent judgment when the need arises to alter a schedule (while still maintaining transparency and warnings).
• Implements and monitors youth activities, programs, and behaviors on an individual and group basis, to ensure healthy youth engagement and to provide appropriate role modeling for all youth.
• Observes and keeps staff informed daily of significant behavioral and treatment‑related conditions and events known about a youth and/or the group.
• Provides services to potentially aggressing youth.