Juvenile Detention Officer

About the position:
Juvenile Detention Officers (JDOs) work in a secure juvenile detention facility with male and female detainees under 18 years of age. JDOs interact directly with juveniles with the focus on managing behavior by the least restrictive means, utilizing coaching and conflict resolution skills to teach and promote pro-social behavior among the juveniles. JDOs are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, secure environment for juveniles and ensuring that their care and programming needs are met.
 
The Juvenile Division of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is responsible for the care and custody of youth who are detained in the Juvenile Detention Facility and also operates King County's Alternatives to Secure Detention (ASD) programs. The Juvenile Division is committed to a philosophy of balanced and restorative justice, moving from a system that criminalizes vulnerable youth to one that supports them in leading safe, productive lives. Joining DAJD's Juvenile Detention provides the unique opportunity to join a department during the height of systemic transformation. The Juvenile Division incorporates the principles of restorative justice by promoting communication skills, empathy and other opportunities for personal growth. Youth also learn team building skills and are exposed to new ideas, career opportunities, and self-awareness through various program offered within the facility.
 
Our focus is on ensuring that there are alternatives to secure detention and community based services for eligible youth. While King County has significantly reduced the number of youth detained in our facility and continues to develop alternative programs to further reduce the reliance on detention, youth who are detained in our secure detention facility are managed in a manner consistent with national best practices in juvenile justice.

About the department:
DAJD is a professional and nationally recognized organization that supports safe, vibrant, and healthy communities in partnership with other criminal justice and human service agencies. DAJD's mission is to contribute to the public safety of the citizens of King County and Washington State by operating safe, secure, and humane detention facilities and community corrections programs, in an innovative and cost-effective manner. DAJD is committed to its employees' professional development and encourages JDOs to pursue further education. DAJD may reimburse tuition and associated expenses for classes taken while employed with DAJD related to the field of criminal justice.

King County DAJD is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. DAJD encourages people of all backgrounds, cultures and religions to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. DAJD values diversity and is committed to making appropriate accommodations as needed to support diversity as we believe that a diverse workforce is a strong workforce. 

Our Ideal Candidate will embody the following competencies:

• Decision Quality: Make good decisions based on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment
• Managing Diversity: Manage all kinds and classes of people equitably, deal effectively with all races, nationalities, cultures, disabilities, ages, and both sexes
• Integrity and Trust: Be widely trusted. Be seen as a direct and truthful individual. Present the truth in an appropriate and helpful manner
• Ethics and Values: Adhere to appropriate and effective set of core values in both good and bad times
• Conflict Management: Read situations quickly; can find common ground and get cooperation with minimum noise
• Composure: Perform under stress when confronted with emergency, critical or dangerous situations; handle multiple activities simultaneously; exercise good judgment under stressful circumstances
• Compassion: Demonstrate real empathy with the joys and pains of others
• Listening: Practice attentive and active listening; has the patience to hear people out
• Patience: Tolerant with people and processes; try to understand the people and the data before making judgments and acting; follow established process

Scope of Job Duties:
In order to be considered for this opportunity, applicants will demonstrate skill and ability to:

• Provide safe and secure custody of juveniles and ensure that their constitutional and other rights are upheld through ensuring access to health and mental health services, attending educational, gym and library services, serving meals and snacks, maintaining proper living standards and health habits by instructing juveniles in housekeeping, sanitation responsibilities, and personal hygiene
• Monitor and document the movement and location of all juveniles at all times, complete reports regarding incidents and violations of DAJD policy and procedures, and operate electronic audio/video surveillance equipment
• Create a firm, fair and consistent environment which models pro-social behaviors for juveniles and supports them in changing behaviors and patterns to achieve positive goals.
• Provide educational and/or recreational structured programming which includes both overseeing a program performed by volunteers/contractors and directly providing programs and groups aimed at teaching pro-social behavior, games, and other activities
• Pay special attention to individual considerations, such as mental health, emotional needs, gender identity, cultural or ethnic requirements, etc.
• Manage behavior and diffuse disruptive behaviors through problem solving, crisis intervention, and/or counseling
• Use appropriate physical defensive interventions and restraint techniques to subdue and restrain juveniles as necessary and in accordance with local, state and federal law; achieve and maintain proficiency in application and use of defensive interventions and physical agility.
• Conduct inspections of facility, juveniles, visitors and packages delivered to the facility, as well as conduct searches related to safety and security to include but not limited to vehicles, facilities, property and person for contraband, health hazards, safety and security violations.
• Must be physically able to run, sit, climb stairs, and perform physical defensive tactics.
• Must be able to perform mandatory overtime
• Operate a motor vehicle to transport juveniles.

Most competitive: Bachelors' degree in: Criminal Justice, Law and Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or related area of study and 1-year full time experience working with at-risk youth or juveniles in a correctional or security oriented environment.

Demonstrated/related work experience must be detailed in the job application. Examples of work with at-risk youth may include, but is not limited to:

• Probation or Community Corrections,
• Mentoring programs,
• Coaching or teaching,
• Recreation or after school programs, or
• Any programs where the mission is for progressive transformation and focus is on youth with behavior problems.

 
Details regarding the position:
This position is open to all eligible King County employees and the general public. This is a 40-hour per week, overtime eligible position. The normal workday is eight (8) hours, including paid meal break. DAJD is currently accepting applications to fill current vacancies and create an eligibility list for vacancies in the future.
 
The Juvenile Detention facility is located at 1211 East Alder Ave, Seattle, WA and operational 24-hours per day, 7-days per week. Incumbents must be available to work varied shifts which include days, swing, graveyard, holidays, weekends and mandatory overtime. Assignments and schedules are based on the department's staffing needs and subject to bargaining unit bid processes which are seniority based.
 
Questions regarding this position or the selection process may be directed to Ayana Hawk at 206-477-2401 or Ayana.Hawk@kingcounty.gov. More information about this job and the department can be found on the DAJD website at www.kingcounty.gov/dajdjobs. 

How to apply: Completion of a King County employment application and DAJD supplemental questionnaire is required. Resumes or letter of interest alone will not substitute for full application. Online applications are preferred. To apply, go to: http://www.kingcounty.gov/jobs. For assistance with the online application process, please contact NeoGov Customer Support toll free at: 1-877-204-4442 or Governmentjobs.com.