Juvenile Center - Detention Services Officer

Allen County

Job Description

DETENTION SERVICES OFFICER

This position offers a 6% shift differential pay.

Department:  ACJC - Detention                                                      FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Classification/Level: POLE - III                                                     Date: 7/2022

Under the direction of the Shift Leader, the Detention Services Officer  is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of fellow employees, juveniles and juveniles waived to the adult jurisdiction being housed in the secure detention facility of the Allen County Juvenile Center.  Detention Services Officer s are also responsible for the safety of visitors and external service providers to the facility. This position is covered under the Superior Court Employee Handbook.  This is an employee-at-will position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises detained juveniles and juveniles waived to the adult jurisdiction residents’ daily activities such as promoting a personal hygiene routine, unit day room leisure time, linen and clothing exchanges, and daily phone privileges. 
• Process new juveniles and juveniles waived to adult jurisdictions upon entrance to their assigned general population unit.
• Maintains safety and security by performing searches of detained juvenile's sleeping rooms, and common areas.  Physical facility counts of all persons detained include watching tours consisting of a visual inspection of any person confined to a room every 15 minutes. All of the above is to ensure a safe and secure environment.
• Physically escorts and supervises all movement within the secure detention facility to the dining room for all food service; physical recreation in an indoor and outdoor environment with access to fitness equipment; organized group activities, medical staff for daily health checks, assessments and routine medication, facilitate movement to individual and group counseling as well as educational services.
• Effectively communicates with other facility staff, including immediate supervisors accurately via multiple methods of communication such as handheld radios, emails, phones, case management messaging system, typed documents, and work log entries.  Complete incident/discipline reports concerning juveniles and provide redirection and corrective action as appropriate.
• Provides transportation supervision assistance to the Transportation Officer when transporting juveniles to health-related appointments.  Provides backup relief by cross-training for Central Dispatch Coordinator positions.
• Attends staff meetings and educational workshops as required to meet minimum training requirements such as CPR/First Aid/AED, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), Handle with Care Behavior Management, and suicide prevention including Columbia Scale.
• Oversees and participates in daily housekeeping assignments with juveniles in the secure detention rooms and common areas.
• Responds to emergencies in all areas of the Allen County Juvenile Center i.e., the conflict between residents where physical restraint may be required, escape attempts, or medical issues where CPR may be necessary.
• Maintains physical confidential juvenile files with organization and precision, ensuring proper documentation is filed accordingly.
• Distributes after-school snacks related to the Indiana Department of Education School Food Nutrition program and additional evening snacks.
• Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma or GED with one year experience working in a maximum detention facility preferred
• Supervisory skills needed to supervise juveniles and juveniles waived to adult jurisdictions
• Strong written and verbal skills including technical writing skills needed for report writing
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and other job related computer software programs
• Ability to use handcuffs, shackles, restraint chairs and shields, AED devises and hand held radios
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must be able to physically perform the essential functions of the job
• Must maintain confidentiality of all departmental records and information
• Valid Driver’s License to provide transportation for residents and/or to operate county owned vehicles required

DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

The Detention Services Officer  performs work that requires an understanding of, and ability to make practical application of customary practices, rules and regulations, as well as procedures and techniques that are directly relevant to the assigned guidelines. Requires application of a moderately complex of technical or specialized knowledge when supervising a detained juvenile’s daily activities.

RESPONSIBILITY:

The Detention Services Officer  performs work that requires some analysis and judgment, or selection of applicable methods and procedures when resolving conflicts between juveniles and/or adults within the center, sometimes using physical restraint.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

The Detention Services Officer  maintains frequent contact with other County employees and potentially violent and hostile detainees regarding enforcing rules and regulations and providing information regarding the residents.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The Detention Services Officer  works in a juvenile center with frequent standing, some sitting and the ability to move about freely.  Frequent lifting of over sixty pounds, bending, pushing/pulling, kneeling, typing, attention to detail, monitoring of equipment, detailed inspection and proofreading exist.  The Detention Services Officer is sometimes exposed to dangerous equipment, extreme temperatures, chemicals and noise and frequently interacts with potentially dangerous and/or violent offenders and their families.

SUPERVISION:

None

LICENSING:

CPR/First Aid/AED

Proper Restraint Techniques

Valid Driver’s License to provide transporation for residents and/or to operate county owned vehicles required

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:

Shift Leader

HOURS:

4/2 rotation with varying shifts averaging 40 hours per week

EEO CATEGORY:

1104

WORKERS’S COMP CODE:

8833

I agree that the contents of this job description are a fair and accurate representation of the duties of this position being described.

Employee Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Supervisor Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ____________________