Sergeant - JDC

Job Responsibilities

Under general supervision of the Captain, the Sergeant will assist in instructing and directing Juvenile Correctional Officers in providing youth with a safe and secure environment that fosters healthy decision‑making and is conducive to rehabilitation of at‑risk youth. This position plays an essential role in ensuring orderly facility operations and the safety and well‑being of all youth and staff.

• Engages with youth throughout the day to ensure the safety, security, rehabilitation, and well‑being of youth.
• Ensures frequent and helpful communication with youth throughout the day.
• Serves as a mentor for new security staff.
• Provides support to new staff in maintaining youth headcount and completing all required reporting and daily logs.
• Physically responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Conducts routine and unannounced security inspections per agency policy.
• Conducts routine and unannounced frisk searches of the youth after all youth movement.
• Ensures that each youth has their basic needs met.
• Remains knowledgeable and informed of the security status of all youth assigned.
• Serves on all facility posts including specialized units and in various locations.
• Provides training, direction and guidance to staff in an effort to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities.
• Provides supervision and control, as well as leadership to the youth and staff in specialized programs, services and activities.
• Assists with supervision of shift operation regarding employees and youth as needed.
• Assists in maintaining the shift schedule, and coordinates staff coverage when necessary.
• Makes routine and frequent inspection of all units to ensure that employees are performing duties in compliance and practices.
• Ensures unit has adequate amount of clothing, linen, cleaning supplies and hygiene items for unit.
• Ensures proper grooming of youth in unit.
• Works to assist directly with any crisis intervention disputes amongst the youth, assist in controlling disruptive behavior.
• Refers acute problems to appropriate staff.
• Mediates disputes between youth and JCOs.
• Provides input on performance evaluations of officers as requested.
• Ensures all subordinate staff complies with agency policy and procedure, along with Federal and State law.
• Complies with agency policy and procedure to complete required reports concerning youth and/or employee related incidents and any matters pertaining to the safety, security and operation of the facility.
• Serves as a member of the on‑call management team and responds to the needs of the facility.
• Performs other duties and tasks as assigned by a supervisor to further support the agency's mission and values.

A high school diploma.

Special Requirements: Must be an officer in compliance with and certified under CLEE (Continuing Law Enforcement Education) within six (6) months of employment. Must achieve an 80% rate on the competency/proficiency exam and possess supervisory and teaching skills.

Additional Requirements:

• Knowledge of state laws, institutional rules, regulations, and requirements for the control of youth/Child Abuse Statutes.
• Knowledge of purpose, methods, and practices of secure facilities.
• Knowledge of various methods of instructing, handling, and supervising youth in various activities.
• Interpersonal skills, patience, and both verbal and non‑verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and initiative in a variety of situations.
• Ability to build healthy relationships with youth and effectively communicate with them to promote respect and trust, and to manage challenging behaviors in a mature and professional manner in accordance with training.
• Ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with fellow employees, families, and the general public.
• Ability to maintain a valid state driver's license and operate a state vehicle.
• Ability to follow a daily schedule, be accountable to facility processes, document events and activities, and supervise multiple youths effectively.

Essential Position: Performs work within a secure facility relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the…