Juvenile Detention Officer II

Responsible for the safety and well-being of youth referred to the Juvenile Court Detention Center. Engages youth to develop positive working relationships, teach life skills of accountability, structured living, relapse prevention, self-sufficiency, and positive support system building. Serves as a role model and mentor for youth as detention programs are implemented. Monitors and maintains a structured, caring, safe, healthy, and effective learning environment for youth.

About the Role

As a Juvenile Detention Officer II, you’ll serve as a trusted leader within the detention team, helping guide daily operations, support fellow officers, and create a safe, structured environment where youth can succeed. This is an opportunity to lead by example and mentor others.

This is a classified position that reports to a Supervisor, Juvenile Detention. The incumbents perform duties under general supervision and have lead responsibilities for programs, daily work, and activities performed by detention officers.

Background Check Requirements

The successful candidate must successfully pass juvenile detention officer background check requirements as governed by the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration (ACJA) 6-106 and ACJA6-311 (Detention Operations). The process includes:

• Fingerprint & Criminal History: Run through the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVD): A complete driving history check in Arizona and any prior state of residence.
• Department of Child Safety (DCS): A search of the DCS Central Registry for historical allegations of child abuse or neglect.
• Drug Screening: Mandatory urinalysis testing for illegal substances, including dangerous narcotics and cannabis.
• Psychological & Physical Evaluations: Passing a pre-employment psychological examination and a physical fitness certification for duty.
• Health Testing: Mandatory post-offer tuberculosis screening to confirm candidates are free from infectious Tuberculosis (TB).

Responsibilities

• Monitors and secures detention, positively engaging and working with youth to develop accountability and other life skills while deploying safety and security measures.
• Processes newly arrived juveniles into the detention facility, issues meals, clothing, bedding, and personal items to juvenile detainees.
• Assists in the successful implementation of court and detention division initiatives, programs, and activities.
• Engages detained youth in therapeutic programming to include group and individual instruction and support.
• Builds working alliances with detained youth and families, teaches accountability to youth, reinforces positive ownership of errors and behaviors, determines youth rule infractions, takes appropriate action, and reports violations and incidents.
• Assists detention officers by providing training, monitoring work activities, and in deploying skills development programs.
• Facilitates continuous improvement processes including staff training and program development.
• Provides information on the status of youth to the probation division, produces reports, and implements program activities jointly with other court staff and other professionals from external network providers.
• Performs safety and security measures including, Handle with Care, physical searches (pat-downs and strip searches), monitoring and supervision of youth in all areas, when necessary.
• Assesses situations for potential volatility and takes appropriate actions to effectively de-escalate situations, performs physical restraining and/or mechanically restraining of youth as necessary, and creates and maintains accurate incident and disciplinary reports, roster, and daily logs.
• May testify at hearings or in court on observations and/or activities of detainees.
• May engage in community supervision and programming of juveniles.
• May act on behalf of the detention supervisor in his/her absence.
• May be required to drive and transport youth or officers to appointments, emergency care or to pick up supplies.
• Performs other related duties and/or projects as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Must be a minimum age of 21 years.
• Must be a United States citizen or have legal resident status.
• One year of experience working with youth in a detention facility.
• Possession of a valid Arizona driver's license is required at time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and support detention officers in daily operations.
• Experience providing on-the-job training, coaching, or guidance to staff.
• Ability to model professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and positive leadership.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, families, service providers, and other professionals.

Skills

• Knowledge or familiarity with the purpose of juvenile detention and court operations, procedures, and policies.
• Knowledge of proper interventions, de-escalation strategies, and restraint techniques.
• Ability to learn the court policies, procedures, and the practices and rules of operation for the detention center.
• Familiarity with detention emergency protocols, security systems, scheduling, conducting and evaluating emergency procedure drills.
• Skill and ability to learn defensive tactics, First Aid and CPR, develop good observation skills, and the ability to respond to emergency and safety incidences in a proficient manner.
• Ability to work with a desktop computer and Microsoft office software.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work with a diversity of people, including court employees and detainees from varied cultural, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Benefits

• Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP).
• 15 paid vacation days, 12 holidays, and 15 days of sick leave.
• 12 weeks of 100% paid parental leave.
• Employer-paid Short-term Disability.
• Tuition Reimbursement: $5,250 per year.
• Health Wellness discount program.
• Mental and Behavioral Health Benefits.
• Paid Training with Advancement Opportunities.
• Free access to Court Gym.
• Upon yearly anniversary, 56 hours of sick time accrued, less usage, may be rolled over to vacation time.

Pay

$23.98 - $26.08 per hour.

Physical Demands

• Typically performs duties in a secure institution and may lift a detainee, materials, or equipment of 50 lbs or less.
• Required to stand and walk for at least half of their scheduled work shift.
• Physically required to bend, reach, kneel, crouch, crawl, and stoop.