Security Response Officer

About the role

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

The Security Response Team (SRT) Officer under the direct supervision of the Department of Public Safety or other supervisors. The Security Response Team member is to contain and control the immediate crisis area and regains control of the incident by non-lethal force. The Security Response Team Correctional Officer will play a vital role in all announced and requested contraband interdiction efforts. These efforts will include, but not limited to, random/routine searches and shakedowns, searches and frisk of youth and visitors and the gathering of intelligence information as it relates to contraband control on institution grounds. The Security Response Team Correctional Officer will be the primary layer of support to the frontline Juvenile Correctional Officer when transporting and providing supervision to potentially volatile/aggressive youth.

Responsibilities

• Physically respond appropriately to emergency situations to isolate, control, and quell disturbances/incidents that are beyond the control of an institutional response.
• Works to assist directly with any crisis intervention disputes amongst the youth.
• Assist in controlling disruptive behavior.
• Refer acute problems to appropriate staff.
• Play a proactive role in all agency institutional contraband interdiction efforts.
• Conduct routine and/or pre-scheduled searches and shakedowns of youth and visitors within the confines of correctional institution living areas or grounds. These efforts will include, but are not limited to, routine institutional searches, shakedowns, conducts routine and unannounced strip (for cause), frisk searches of youth, and maintaining presence and support at institutional entry gates.
• Provides security assistance for normal activities and special programs.
• Assists in the movement, transportation, and supervision of potentially volatile/aggressive youth.
• Prepare written reports regarding actions taken.
• Provide written and/or oral communication concerning institutional matters for briefing/advising other officers, supervisors other agency officials.
• Draft, write and/or dictate clear, concise, and comprehensive reports of contraband findings and prepare shift reports for dissemination.
• Be available for recall in emergency and non-emergency situations that require additional support personnel.
• Remain thoroughly familiar with all policies governing contraband control, searches, property, visitation, etc.
• Attend training and maintain certification required by the Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE) and Agency policy.
• Performs other duties deemed necessary by the Director of Public Safety and/or the Inspector General that supports the mission and needs of the agency.

Requirements

• A high school diploma and relevant experience. A bachelor’s degree in a related field may substitute for the required experience.
• Ability to meet and maintain certification by the Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE).
• Ability to learn state laws/institutional rules/regulations/requirements for the control of youth/Child Abuse Statutes.
• Knowledge of purpose/methods/practices of secure facilities