Juvenile Detention Officer Assistant

Approximate salary: $5,006.90 - $6,085.92/month. Opening date: 7/10/2026. Full-time position.

About the role

Under immediate supervision, maintains the safety, security, and discipline in assigned unit for youthful offenders; supervises and guides the behavior of youthful offenders; enforces rules and regulations of the facility; advises youthful offenders in proper standards of personal conduct; observes and assesses behavior and needs of groups and individuals within groups. Incumbents serve as trainees for the Juvenile Detention Officer series, performing routine activities under close supervision while receiving departmental training to acquire essential knowledge and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Maintains security and discipline over assigned unit or program; enforces rules and regulations of the facility and program.
• Supervises and guides youthful offender behavior; advises youthful offenders in proper standards of personal conduct with emphasis on collaboration, education, and partnership.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with youthful offenders, individually or in groups, to gain compliance and build trust.
• Documents and relays information to appropriate persons.
• Conducts programs related to recreation and work activities; participates in behavior modification programs such as anger management and victim awareness; assists in planning activities and programs.
• Prepares and maintains conduct records and reports regarding youthful offenders for use in placement or court proceedings, including incident reports.
• Performs basic housekeeping tasks; conducts room checks and searches; scans incoming and outgoing mail; searches youthful offenders for contraband.
• Learns to subdue and restrain violent or attacking youthful offenders when appropriate for the safety and protection of themselves and others; learns to determine appropriate course of action when faced with potentially violent situations.
• Uses computers and youthful-offender detention-specific programs for detention management and communications.
• Transports youthful offenders when necessary.

Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following patterns:

• Pattern I: Completion of thirty semester (or equivalent quarter) units at an accredited college or university, including at least six semester (or equivalent quarter) units in the social or behavioral sciences.
• Pattern II: One year of full-time experience in law enforcement, correctional work in a probation or parole agency, detention or residential treatment facility, correctional institution, or supervision of residents in a youth or adult housing program.

Additional requirements for both patterns:

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
• Successful completion of the required Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course training during the first year of appointment as established by the California Board of State and Community Corrections.
• Employees must satisfy State of California criteria for peace officer status and conform to all training and other requirements to hold and maintain peace officer status pursuant to the California Government Code.

Skills

Knowledge

• California youthful offender justice system.
• General principles of human behavior, normal and abnormal.
• Basic group and individual counseling techniques.
• Basic psychological theories, terminology, and treatment methods.
• Principles of conflict de-escalation.
• Community interaction and collaborative problem solving.
• General principles of report writing and composition.
• Basic computer literacy; personal computer systems and software.

Abilities

• Establish rapport with youthful offenders.
• Recognize emotional and behavioral problems.
• Assess physical and emotional needs of individual youthful offenders.
• Demonstrate clear written and oral communication skills.
• Follow written and oral instructions/procedures.
• Fairly and equitably enforce rules and regulations with firmness.
• Organize and direct the activities of youthful offenders.
• Utilize a variety of office equipment, including computer operation.
• Operate communications and safety equipment.
• Work different shifts, weekends, holidays, and extended schedules.
• Work with other staff to effect job duties.
• Relate to a wide variety of socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Physically restrain or subdue youthful offenders for the safety of themselves and others.
• Drive in a safe manner.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Mobility: Constant standing, walking, running, stooping, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting individuals requiring strength, coordination, endurance, and agility; driving; operation of a computer.
• Visual: Constant overall vision; constant color perception, eye-hand coordination, depth perception; frequent reading/close-up work; constant field of vision/peripheral.
• Dexterity: Frequent repetitive motion and reaching.
• Hearing/Talking: Constant requirement to hear normal speech; constant hearing on telephone and radio; ability to hear faint sounds; constant talking on telephone/radio.
• Emotional/Psychological: Constant contact with hostile individuals; frequent exposure to emergency situations; frequent exposure to trauma, grief, and death; frequent public contact; frequent decision-making; frequent concentration.
• Special Requirements: Assignments may require working weekends, nights, and/or occasional overtime.
• Environmental: Occasional exposure to varied weather conditions.

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Choice of three health plans (Kaiser, Select, Premier). Employees pay a portion of the premium; dependent coverage available.
• Dental Insurance: Choice of two dental plans (Delta Dental, United Health Care-Select Managed Care Direct Compensation Plan). No cost for employee-only coverage; dependent coverage available at employee’s expense.
• Vision Insurance: Coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP). No cost for employee-only coverage; dependent coverage available at employee’s expense.
• Life Insurance: Coverage based on years of continuous service:
  • 1 but less than 3 years: $1,000
  • 3 but less than 5 years: $3,000
  • 5 but less than 10 years: $5,000
  • 10 years or more: $10,000
  Employees may purchase additional term life insurance at the group rate.
• 125 Flexible Benefits Plan: Voluntary program allowing pre-tax dollars for health-related expenses not covered by medical, dental, or vision plans (Health Flexible Spending Account: $2,550 annual limit with $500 carryover) and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan: $5,000 annual limit).
• Retirement Plan: Covered by the County Retirement Law of 1937. Visit SJCERA for details.
• Deferred Compensation: Plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. Annual contribution limit: $22,500 (or 100% of includible compensation, whichever is less). Individuals age 50 or older may contribute up to $30,000. Roth IRA (after-tax) also available.
• Vacation: 10 days each year up to 3 years; 15 days after 3 years; 20 days after 10 years; 23 days after 20 years.
• Holidays: 14 paid holidays each year.
• Sick Leave: 12 working days annually with unlimited accumulation. Eligible for eight hours of administrative leave if leave balance equals at least half of cumulative accrual and employee is on payroll the entire calendar year.
• Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of a qualifying family member; 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent, or child.
• Merit Salary Increase: New employees start at the first step of the salary range. After 52 weeks (2,080 hours) on each step, eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
• Job Sharing: Subject to approval by Department Head and Director of Human Resources.
• Educational Reimbursement Program: Up to $850 per fiscal year for career-related coursework. Up to $800 per semester ($1,600 per fiscal year) for approved four-year college or university academic programs.
• Parking Supplement: Provided (details not specified).