TJJD - Juvenile Correctional Officer II / III / IV

About the role

We are committed to transforming lives and building safer communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission-driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

Responsibilities

• Transports youth as directed; assists in planning and coordinating the transportation of youth; transports youth master files, medications and personal items; instructs, explains, and enforces all transportation rules, regulations, procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Supervises youth throughout the movement; ensures security and cleanliness of state vehicle(s); and ensures adherence to and compliance with all agency policies and procedures, and state/federal laws for operating a motor vehicle.
• Engages in competency-based training in the techniques and capabilities needed to coach youth under the Texas Model of trauma-informed corrections.
• Holds youth accountable in ways that fit the level of behavior, seeking to help youth to learn socially acceptable responses and approaches.
• Uses good judgment in determining when safety is at risk and higher levels of intervention are required.
• Helps youth to identify their responses to stress, fear, and other triggers and works with the youth to learn ways to increase emotional self-regulation skills.
• Practices and models appropriate self-regulation skills and is able to remain calm during times of stress and crisis.
• Gains a basic knowledge of each youth’s treatment plan and provides support in learning the skills needed to meet those goals.
• Coaches youth on how to resolve conflict with other youth and staff as appropriate.
• Participates in the Youth Service Team and provides input into each youth’s treatment plan; and is a responsible and supportive team member, who understands that an effective team is composed of reliable people who provide backup and support for their fellow team members and the facility as a whole.
• Provides for a predictable schedule for youth that is transparent to them and provides warnings and prompts for all movements and transitions; and exercises independent judgment when the need arises to alter a schedule (while still maintaining transparency and warnings).
• Implements and monitors youth activities, programs, and behaviors on an individual and group basis, to ensure healthy youth engagement and to provide appropriate role modeling for all youth.
• Observes and keeps staff informed daily of significant behavioral and treatment-related concerns.
• When not performing transportation duties, is assigned to other duty stations to assist with facility coverage and supervision of daily activities related to juvenile rehabilitation.

Career Ladder Promotion Opportunity

This position is in the approved TJJD career ladder for Juvenile Correctional Officers. Personnel in this career ladder have the working title of Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO) Transportation. JCOs receive career ladder salary adjustments upon meeting established eligibility criteria per agency policy (PRS.15.08) until they reach the top level of the ladder. Placement on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and education. Progression to the highest pay level on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and performance.

Levels of Work Performed by Career Ladder Level

• Juvenile Correctional Officer II: Performs moderately complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Juvenile Correctional Officer III Transportation: Performs complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Juvenile Correctional Officer IV Transportation: Performs highly complex (senior-level) work under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.