Juvenile Detention Officer

Responsible To

Assistant Superintendent and Shift Supervisor of the River Valley Detention Center (RVDC)

Under the supervision of the Shift Supervisor and the Assistant Superintendent of the River Valley Detention Center (RVDC), a juvenile detention officer (JDO) will perform work of moderate difficulty in supervising; counseling; providing treatment in a safe, humane, secure manner; and take care of the physical and emotional needs of residents detained at the River Valley Detention Center.

Supervising, controlling, and working with residents’ behavior so that they are not a danger to themselves or to others; maintaining the physical security of the detention center; ensuring safety of the resident and that they remain in secure custody; preventing and stopping physical altercations between residents, residents and staff, or residents and any volunteer worker; managing resident behavior by supervising wake‑ups, personal hygiene and grooming, meals, showers and bedtimes;

overseeing the emotional needs of the residents by humane personal interaction, individual contacts, group processes guidance and assistance in handling stress and behavior problems; screening detention requests and assisting supervisors when making decisions for detention or alternative placement; patting down and possibility of strip‑search of residents; processing residents into the detention center through securing personal property, intake interview, and facility orientation;

releasing residents from the detention center with all personal property and obtaining the proper signature from the parent/legal guardian for all release paperwork; maintaining resident intake supplies, restocking and rearranging resident inventory as needed; processing and recording information from court orders regarding residents; maintaining daily logs of resident movement and activities; supervising residents’ visits with families and assisting them by answering basic questions about the facility;

completing other related tasks and undertaking special projects as assigned by the shift supervisors or other administrative staff; remaining abreast of recent developments in the field of juvenile detention and programs; participates in training as directed; maintaining the cleanliness of staff‑only areas and posts; abiding by the RVDC Rules of Conduct. Basic knowledge of professional methods of handling socially maladjusted and emotionally disturbed children and the dynamics of normal and abnormal adolescent behavior;

knowledge of security measures and the criminal justice system as it relates to juveniles and detention; basic knowledge of family dynamics and systems; child and adolescent development, learning theories and patterns, and individual and group counseling; basic computer skills; skill in applying professional methods of handling socially maladjusted and emotionally disturbed children; skill in dealing effectively with others.

• Handling objects, hearing, near and far‑sighted vision; standing; reaching; lifting and fingering objects; walking; sitting; using legs to ascend and descend stairs; carrying objects weighing 20 lbs. or less;
• The following may be required in unusual or non‑routine situations: kneeling, crouching, crawling, running, climbing, grappling, lifting objects including people that weigh 100 lbs. or more, pushing or pulling objects or people that weigh up to 100 lbs. or more, issuing, responding to, and taking directives during emergency or crisis situations.

Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, BBS, BSW, etc.) from an accredited college or university, preferably with major course work in criminal justice, psychology, sociology, social work, or the related social sciences prior to application; subject to a criminal background check and pre‑employment drug screening test; complete and Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) Application, and be on the AOIC Certified list prior to hiring Probation/Court Services Employment/Promotion Application.

The County of Will is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals needing accommodations in the recruitment process should notify the Department of Human Resources in advance at 815‑730‑7057.