Juvenile Supervision Officer

The Juvenile Supervision Officer at Smith County Juvenile Detention Center is responsible for the care and custody of the juveniles under his or her charge. This requires close and courteous interaction with juveniles under normal and potentially volatile circumstances. The Juvenile Supervision Officer (JSO) is required to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while being mindful of security operations.
The facility is hiring for Female Positions Only and is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, weekends and holidays, therefore, shift assignments are scheduled as 8-hour shifts evening positions only. Due to the unpredictable and critical nature of the work, the Juvenile Supervision Officer must be willing and available to work additional hours beyond assigned shifts, sometimes with little or no notice.

Pre-Employment Requirements
The minimum standards set by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) must be met to qualify for certification as a Juvenile Supervision Officer in Texas.

• Citizen of the United States of America
• Obtained a High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Have never been convicted, pled guilty, nor have been on court-ordered community service or probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class A Misdemeanor or felony.
• During the last 10 years, have not been convicted, pled guilty, nor have been on court-ordered community service or probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor in this state, other state, or while serving in the military.
• Have never had a military court martial that resulted in dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver License at the time of hiring.
• Minimum age of 21 years old by date of hire.

This position under the Texas Administrative Code section §343.432 has a bona fide occupational qualification of Gender Supervision Requirement. A juvenile supervision officer of one gender shall be prohibited from supervising and visually observing a resident of the opposite gender during showers, strip searches, disrobing of residents (suicidal or not), or when personal hygiene practice (e.g., onset of menstrual cycle, etc.) requires the presence of a juvenile supervision officer of the same gender. Select your gender.

• Creates and maintains an atmosphere conducive to respect of others.
• Performs security rounds during scheduled and unscheduled times.
• Enforces disciplinary sanctions.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries with resident juveniles.
• Initiates and monitors resident juvenile movement.
• Restrains unruly juveniles using certified restraint techniques and restraining devices.
• Responds to emergencies, including medical emergencies.
• Documents incidents, movement, rounds, and resident juvenile discipline.
• Performs person, property, and facility searches.
• Complies with all policies and procedures of Smith County Juvenile Services.

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs additional duties as assigned.
• Be “on-call” for periods of time.

• Must be able to learn existing software programs.
• Must be able to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, etc. as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.

• High school diploma or G.E.D. required.
• Formal education in human services or criminal justice desired.
• No experience required.

Licenses and Certifications
Must pass the TJJD Certification Exam to become a state certified JSO.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Visual Capabilities

• Ability to detect abnormal behavior and extraordinary activities when observing the actions of a resident juveniles or groups of resident juveniles.
• Ability to prepare a written description of personal property and accurately observe resident juveniles.
• Must have sufficient vision without glasses to defend self and others and perform mandatory life safety functions.
• Ability to properly identify colors utilized in descriptions.

 
Auditory Capabilities
 

• Ability to hear alarms.
• Ability to hear and understand information received over the telephone and intercom.
• Ability to distinguish between normal detention center sounds and sounds indicating impending, improper, or unacceptable behavior such as altercations, fights, assaults, etc.
• Hearing must be within normal range as defined by nationally recognized audiometric standards, or that surpasses the normal range.

 
Physical Capabilities
 

• Physical requirements include lifting, carrying, struggling and pulling resident juveniles or equipment weighing approximately 150 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to climb stairs when moving within a correctional facility.
• Ability to work in a standing position for extended periods of time when observing and monitoring resident juveniles, checking rooms, etc.
• Ability to bend, stoop, and kneel when checking under tables, beds, and mattresses during room searches.
• Finger dexterity, and hand and arm steadiness when adjusting knobs and switches and operating a computer keyboard.
• Eye, hand, and arm coordination when fingerprinting individuals.
• May be required to physically restrain resident juveniles in order to maintain discipline among other resident juveniles.
• Must use hands and feet in self-defense, physically place resident juveniles in or remove them from rooms.
• Ability to use restraint devices (waist belts, leg irons, handcuffs, etc.) to control resident juveniles, drag immobile persons, grip persons tightly with hands to prevent their escape, crawl on hands and knees to avoid smoke.

 
Work Environment
 
Working conditions are inside a correctional environment with occasional exposure to hostile or violent people, bodily injury, contagious diseases, high noise areas, and unfavorable fumes and odors.
 
Must maintain a professional demeanor with coworkers, juvenile detainees, court staff, and the public.
 
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:

All candidates for employment with the department must undergo a comprehensive background investigation prior to being made a final offer of employment. The investigation may include, but is not limited to, a records check, credit review, verification of credentials and interviews with personal and professional references.
 
REQUIRED TESTING:

Candidates must take and pass a standardized aptitude test and polygraph exam. Juvenile Supervision Officers must take and pass the TJJD Certification Exam to become certified.
 
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:

A psychologist will interview and test the candidate using various cognitive assessments. The psychologist will summarize the clinical impressions and make recommendations regarding the candidate's overall psychological makeup and compatibility with the position.
 

Salary : $46,898 - $60,698