DEPARTMENT: Court Services- River Valley Juvenile Detention Center
TITLE: Juvenile Detention Officer (JDO) – Full-Time
RESPONSIBLE TO: Assistant Superintendent and Shift Supervisor of the River Valley Detention Center (RVDC)
JOB SUMMARY:
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.
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
Supervising, controlling, and working with resident’s 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 resident’s 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.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following may be required routinely:
- 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.
After an offer of employment is extended, hiring will be contingent upon completing a physical (to be provided by the employer) to determine fitness for the above demands of the job, and upon obtaining a tuberculosis screening test. All employees, including those with a history of Bacillus Calmette, and Guerin (BCG) vaccination, will receive a two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test unless a previously positive reaction can be documented. The two-step shall be performed, at no cost to the employee, by the current medical agency affiliated with the RVDC and Will County Health Department, or at a nominal cost to the employee by a licensed physician. Documentation of the test results shall then be provided to the RVDC Administration.
Individuals with active pulmonary or laryngeal TB shall not return to work until there is definite proof of lack of infectivity with regard to negative cultures and negative sputum smears. Documentation of the test results shall then be provided to the RVDC Administration.
All employees with negative PPD’s will be tested annually by the current medical agency affiliated with the RVDC.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
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
STARTING DATE: To Be Determined
SALARY: Starting at $48,767 per year (union position)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
APPLICATION PROCESS: Please submit the following:
- Letter of Interest
- Current resume
- Copy of your official college transcripts from institutions where you were enrolled.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. It is advisable that letters of recommendations be authored by individuals who are familiar with your employment record or academic performance. Letters of recommendation must not be older than a year from your date of application.
- Will County Court Services Application. Click here to download application,
Mail, hand-deliver, or email above items to:
Will County Court Services Department
Attn: Human Resources
57 N. Ottawa Street, 3rd Floor
Joliet, Illinois 60432
Email: courtservicesjobs@willcountyillinois.com (All files must be attached as a PDF format)
Any materials that may have been submitted on a previous application must be submitted again and in accordance with applicable time limitations and deadlines.
The submission of any, or all, of the above materials does not guarantee employment or the offer of an interview.
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to:
Will County Court Services
Courtservicesjobs@willcountyillinois.com
(815) 727-8446
WILL COUNTY COURT SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER