probation officer

office specialist

supervisor

therapist

juvenile correctional officer

Department of Juvenile Justice

Typical day- I enter the unit, greet everyone with a warm hello. Conduct a physical head count on how many kids I have on the unit. walk down the hallway and make sure all their doors are secured and their rooms are in order.
 Debrief the day with the on-duty staff of any infractions or updates on the residents or unit. I sign in the monthly log book and retrieve all vital paper work that I need for the day. (Meal Check off sheet, Snack Check off sheet, Unit Condition sheet, Individual Resident door sheets and Formal Count sheet)  I check-in with my assigned mentees and make sure they are doing well or have anything that they would like to address. Then I call a circle up with everyone that is there. Everyone is to respect the floor, position themselves in a circle and give me their undivided attention. I give the residents a check-in topic, for example: "Check in with a Feeling word and name your favorite candy." Once everyone checks in then I set the expectations for the day, I tell them what we have planned and ask them if they have any comments, questions or concerns. Residents participate in structured activities facilitated by myself, another staff or my supervisor. When we aren't conducting activities the residents are playing board games, video games or talking on the phone. I prepare them for major line movement to the dining hall, cafeteria, school and recreation. I set the expectations for movement. We move14 residents with 2 staff, each resident is paired in two vertical lines, one behind the other and the directives are to keep the line tight, shirts tucked, keep the pace and no shouting across the yard to other residents during movement. Once we return to the unit from the dining hall the residents are instructed to go into their rooms to conduct showers and Staff will take their 30 minute break once all the doors are secured. (Breaks are not to be conducted on the unit. Break starts as soon as you leave the unit and it takes approximately 6 minutes to get out of the building and to your car, depending on where you parked. In essence 12 minutes of your break time is used walking) One staff must remain in clear sight of the bathroom if there are two or more people in the bathroom (PREA security). 15 minute door checks are also conducted while showers are in progress. Once the showers are complete, we pass out evening snacks and the residents enter the day room with their slippers on to watch television or talk on the phone. Upon their exit, everyone is instructed to separate and place their dirty laundry in the "whites or Colors" Laundry basket for morning pick- up. We conduct a Settlement group at 8:30pm, which is a summary of the day to talk about incidents or praises. Everyone except two residents go to bed by 9:00pm, during the week or by phases during the weekend (9:15pm, 9:30pm, 9:45pm and 10:00pm). The two trusted residents stay up until 9:30pm to clean the day room and the bathroom. Once the two residents are secured for the night 15 minute checks are conducted until I get off.  Some days are longer than others, but that was just a small synopsis of what we do. 

I've learned to be more patient with the residents. We must give directives and set our expectations so that everyone is on the same page and understand what we need to do for the day. Some may take longer than others to grasp, but it's okay. As long as they get it. I've learned to keep the residents occupied because an idol mind leads to idol time. I've learned that "If it's not written, it did not happen" and to always document everything.
I've learned that a "cold" heart could be "warm" again with proper direction, encouragement and a sense of accomplishment.
I've learned to hold the residents accountable for all their actions and to reward them when it's due. 
I've learned that we need to place the residents in a different environment to promote change and expose them to different opportunities to show them a better way. 

Work Place Culture- Team work makes the dream work! Help one, Teach One is how I see it. 

Hardest Part of the Job- Lack of financial support.  We just need more dedication and efforts to do so. A raise would be nice and if a raise cannot be accommodated then I don't think there should not be a limitation on overtime. Lack of recognition of staff is also hard.  

Enjoyable part of the job- The success stories. When I see the positive changes in the resident's lives and I hear them use the words "Please and Thank you. The feeling is inexplicable.  When they accomplish their goals and turn their lives around and become considerate and apologetic, that's the reward. When they empathize without being told and in the midst of adversity muster up the strength to do the right thing in spite of, that makes ALL the complaints worth it. It's absolutely priceless and I work with the department of Juvenile Justice because I love what I do. The children are our future and it's our duty to help them make that change.

If you are interviewing with DJJ please go in with an open mind, a prayer before stepping on their premises, and your game face. If you are a great interviewer and are being interviewed by the hiring manager or manager that you'll be working for take the time to assess them and read them. That is truly important with knowing who you'll be working with. In my experiences with DJJ, I've had my good days but mostly definitely my bad days. There isn't much room for growth unless you are forcing your way up or know who's who. You will be over worked and even lack some structure. For me knowing what I know, vibes don't lie and if for any reason you feel unsettled, I say run! I'm in no way bitter about my experience there but I can say that DJJ isn't a great agency to work for if you are serious about your professional growth. If you know someone who can help you get your foot in the door and is willing to train you and advocate for you, then you've encountered one of the special ones in leadership. Be sure about what you want to do and what your sole purpose is before working for DJJ. Also, make sure you ALWAYS document your encounters with your reporting manager, coworkers, and other employees in other departments. Know the policies and the ones that pertain to you and your work. Make sure you read all policies because whether you work in a facility, field office, or central office the sole purpose for working DJJ is to help rehabilitate the youth that have been placed in the State of Georgia's care regardless if you have contact with or not. If you have questions, ask them and don't take no for an answer.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Helping Youth to change, by mentoring and getting them to see they can change their ways. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Way too much middle management that do not know how to make a positive change. Constantly being micromanaged and the agency not abiding by its own policies. A majority of the budget goes to paying the management and not giving bonus incentives to working staff that go above and beyond their job duties. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It is a toxic work environment created by management as they allow bad employees to keep working at the agency, while constantly punishing those who are following the rules.  It is do as they say or find another job. No accountability when the Youth do something horrible, just isolation for a few days and loss of privileges  ( which are nonexistent) for 5 days. The culture of the Youth has changed drastically,  but the policies to change the Youth haven't been updated to reflect how to change the thinking of the Youth. The priority of the agency is for the Youth to get a GED, go to recreation and do therapy when you can. Working staff will not stay as they are over worked, long hours with no breaks and lack of supervisors. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Sign in when arriving,  scan badge also, remove shoes, belt, empty pockets to be xrayed, then go through a body scanner.  Work 9 hours with no real guidance and make time to do the actual job. Attend numerous meetings on teams that don't solve any problems.  People that drive onto the facility, do not have to be strictly searched, and can bring items that people walking inside the facility cannot bring in; for example,  a cup of coffee is allowed to be driven in but not walked in. Double standards that never change.

I possess the expertise to adequately utilize the computer to include typing correspondence, drafting and processing criminal and administrative reports, data entry and retrieval of information using the BADGE and Supreme Court computer systems, file management employing automated and manual file structures, and I’m quite knowledgeable of office systems and practices.  I possess the ability to create documentation; proof read, edit, and prepare final versions for submission to staff and the Courts.

I satisfied receptionist back up coverage to include but not limited to such as positively greeting clients and staff in a professional/friendly approach, informing citizens of services provide by the CSU, managing incoming/outgoing calls, enthusiastically communicating with clients/staff and organizing Intake appointments.
I work well within a team environment, convey effectively with people of varying socio-economic areas, races, creeds, and religions and I’ve maintained positive working relationships with clients and co-workers.

I work independently with limited supervision and have excellent deductive reasoning skills.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working with the juveniles and their families.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Having to work with management that didn’t care enough to ask how they can make the working environment better. JPO’s not being appreciated, and given the tools to do a better job. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Superiors and managers treating Officers as if they’re less important and getting away with that behavior. Sweeping Officers concerns under the rug and rarely addressing issues that are brought up to them. Officers really don’t have a voice in that agency and they’re the ones who put their lives in danger daily, and know what’s going on out there.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Very hectic, having to work under dangerous situations with little or no protection. Highly stressful. Having to meet deadlines that are not attainable, just to give the higher ups a good name. Probation Officers is the last ones to be recognized for anything, yet still they do most of the work at the front end and faces the most dangers.

What is the best part of working at the company?
If you are young and or want to do a massive amount of OT then this is the job for you. The Draft at Hicky is a Double edged sword....lots of hours up to 32 ot a week,so 64 every check at most, but you will be very wore out but ....money.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The Draft and if you are the idealistic type that realy wants to help these "kids" then I hope to GOD you have tons of willpower . They will test you, try you , but you might find one who is "redeemable " and that's it.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
You have to figure it out yourself.....some say its good and hopeful and some say it's stressful and disfunctional....me i think its so so its what you make it. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Easy ..night shift ..some paperwork,  walk the fence, sign equipment in and out ....chill ,jest keep a eye on the gate, stay awake if you can and pray you get to go home at the end of your shift.

Worked on the Education side of this Pipeline to Prison institution. Worst leadership I've experienced in my entire working career. Antiquated thinking ie. no denim, send no emails outside of facility without having manager, and manager's manager view/sign off on it... Collaboration is highly discouraged, ask no questions, cover your *** environment, employees are treated as offenders, suitable for adult children, last-minute everything. Highly unprofessional. This is a teaching license graveyard, the best place to work if you have no vision, no drive. Modern-day plantation at its best, and chock full of "leaders" who have only had the likes of Beverly Hall, of Atlanta Public School's cheating scandal as a model where bullying and retaliation are prevalent. The salary is not justified for year-round school considering no additional pay for summer school hours.

Department of Juvenile Justice isn't horrible; what makes it horrible is the politics of the environment. By politics, I'm referring to "favorites." I have seen supervisors contradict what they inform their subordinates not to do, and some subordinates are able to do whatever they want without, or limited consequences. I have seen supervisors abuse their title, and criticize new supervisors over minor things - such as being a working supervisor. It is often implied that nobody is really to leave early due to the possibility of the next shift needing coverage; however some are able to leave early by about 6 hours, and it's not a huge deal. However; some others request to leave early (by a couple hours at the very most) for personal reasons, and it's frowned upon and excuses are made.

Terrible culture at SCDJJ. I been there over 20 years in various roles to include mid level management. The current administration works off of feelings and popularity rather than what’s better for the agency or community we’re supposed to serve. The juveniles aren’t not protected from each other and the staff certainly aren’t. We have several very serious assaults on staff and juveniles in the last two years. With both staff and juveniles ending up in the hospital with serious injuries. Management treats the   people who work with the juveniles like second class citizens. The attitudes of leadership are very condescending toward people who actually do the work. They don’t speak to you like a person if they speak. It’s surprising when you find a person who has some home training and acts accordingly at DJJ.

Before considering a role here, it is important to understand the realities of the facility. While the pay is a draw, it comes at the cost of working in a highly dysfunctional environment. Management consistently fails to provide adequate support to staff, often prioritizing the word of the youth over verified reports. Policies are frequently treated as 'gray areas,' leading to inconsistent discipline and safety risks. Between the lack of professional confidentiality and a culture driven by favoritism rather than merit, it is extremely difficult to maintain a career or advance here. The high turnover rate reflects the unsustainable nature of the daily work experience.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Probation officer 35 salaries reported	$61,995 per year
Office specialist 22 salaries reported	$44,280 per year
Supervisor 7 salaries reported	$72,742 per year
Therapist 9 salaries reported	$86,744 per year
Juvenile correctional officer 3 salaries reported	$28.00 per hour

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