juvenile correctional officer

shift manager

registered nurse

human resources manager

training coordinator

Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

A typical day is fast-paced and centered around supporting the needs of the youth in care. Staff collaborate with treatment teams, provide supervision, facilitate therapeutic activities, document services, and help youth work toward their treatment goals. Every day presents different challenges and opportunities to make a positive impact.

Working at NVJDC taught me how to build professional relationships with youth, manage challenging behaviors, communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, and develop stronger crisis intervention and problem-solving skills. I also gained a better understanding of trauma-informed care and the importance of consistency in treatment environments.

Management maintains high expectations but also recognizes employees who demonstrate commitment, professionalism, and strong performance. Advancement opportunities are available, and employees who consistently work hard and take initiative can move into leadership roles relatively quickly. Effort and dedication do not go unnoticed.

The workplace culture is mission-driven and focused on helping youth succeed. Employees who are invested in the work tend to build strong relationships with both coworkers and residents. While the environment can be demanding, there is a shared commitment to providing therapeutic and treatment opportunities that support positive outcomes for the children and adolescents served.

The hardest part of the job is managing difficult situations and behaviors while maintaining professionalism and consistency. Working with youth who have experienced significant trauma can be emotionally challenging, and some days require patience, resilience, and strong teamwork.

The most enjoyable part of the job is seeing youth make progress and achieve goals they once thought were impossible. Being able to positively influence a child's future and witness growth over time makes the work meaningful and rewarding. It is also rewarding to work alongside long-term employees whose experience and dedication contribute greatly to the program's success.

Working at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center has been an eye-opening experience, and unfortunately, not in a positive way. The typical workday is rife with challenges that compromise staff safety and well-being, making it difficult to recommend this workplace to prospective employees.

One of the glaring issues is the unsafe working conditions that staff members are subjected to on a daily basis. The administration seems indifferent to addressing these concerns, fostering an environment where compromise on staff safety is the norm rather than the exception. It is disheartening to see that the residents' needs are prioritized over the basic safety measures necessary for staff to perform their duties effectively.

The administration's unprofessionalism is palpable, creating a hostile work environment that takes a toll on the mental and physical health of employees. Their lack of receptiveness to staff needs further exacerbates the situation, leaving employees feeling unheard and undervalued. This outdated management style does not foster a collaborative or supportive workplace, hindering the overall effectiveness of the team.

In my experience, it is evident that the administration prioritizes the residents' interests over staff safety and the efficient operation of the facility. This skewed focus compromises the quality of service and creates unnecessary risks for the dedicated staff working tirelessly to maintain order.

I strongly discourage potential employees from considering positions at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center until there is a significant change in leadership and management. The pay is inadequate when compared to the mental and physical toll the job takes. Investing time and energy in an environment that doesn't prioritize its staff is not worth the impact on one's overall well-being. The organization needs a complete overhaul to create a workplace that values and safeguards the interests of its employees.

I worked for only 3 months in NVJDC. It has been the worst experience ever. People got promoted with new jobs out of the blue due to lack of staff and were not qualify to even run a program nor did not know how to run a program. Dentention Specialist were called to residents the "aunties' of the unit and the residential manager the "mother of the unit". Detention Specialist are not appreciated enough, they are put through a lot with no support. Everyone talks about each other. Everything is a competition, Upper management is a joke, there's no respect, Upper management would slam doors at detention specialist whenever they are stress or feel some type of way. Co-workers were removed or have resigned, there is not enough staff. In my experience within three months I ended up doing more than 12 hours a day, which is totally bad. The environment at work is not the best because there is not clear management and the training I received was probably not the required for this type of job. The communication between staff and residents was not very healthy and there is lack of support in the staff.

JUST RUN AND DON'T APPLY. YOU WILL REGRET IT!

In my personal experience as working in the administration portion, this is a rewarding place to work for people who are passionate about making a difference in youths' lives. Every day, you have the opportunity to positively influence the lives of youth facing significant challenges, which gives the work a strong sense of purpose.

Prospective employees should be aware of expectations. Telework is not an option, and staff are expected to report in person even during inclement weather. Work-life balance can be challenging, as long hours may be needed (with overtime pay), but benefits are comprehensive.

The mission of this facility is meaningful, and the impact on residents and the community is important. If you are committed to serving residents, their families and the community, you will likely find the work rewarding. I am proud to work here and 

NVJDC used to be a place where staff enjoyed coming to work and interacting with/helping the residents.  Over the past two years or so, the work environment became difficult emotionally, job security, and personal safety.  Management seemed to not really care about the staff, which is unfortunately, because they are the heart of the work that is done.  So many good staff have been fired or have resigned because of the unfortunate changes.  It got to the point where staff and resident safety became a concern because the staff did not have the proper supports in place to address resident behaviors.

If you are looking to be ripped off from your salary and to be under appreciated, this is the place for you.

A typical day:
Come in at 8am or 9am, get complained about you not doing your job. When it is your time to present for staffing or whatever may it be, they award you with the most condescending, "good job."

What Have I learned:
People are cruel. People use other people for their own gain. 

Management:
Terrible. People in the Management position are backstabbers. Hence, me getting fired. They use you to get the information that they need, come up with a story, disclose it to the director, and have that person fired with no explanation. There is no transparency. No room for growth. 

Work Culture:
What work culture?

Hardest Part of this Facility:
Entering at 8am or 9am. Everything

Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:
4pm or 5pm: Leaving the Place

As someone with direct insight into this organization, I can say the community—especially the children—have been deeply underserved due to consistent mismanagement and poor internal conditions. The high staff turnover, toxic leadership, and lack of accountability have created an unstable environment for both employees and those they serve. There is clear cause for further investigation into how this organization operates and the impact it's having on the very people it claims to support. The mission deserves better, and so does the community.

Typical day at this company is really great working with different kind of people and the youth it makes a wonderful day at the facility.
 I learned so many different skills such Microsoft Suite Applications. The management are well educated. There is a diversity of culture.  The hardest job is dealing with these teenagers that were gang members or they never have a father figure or mother to raise them and sometimes they end up stealing, robberies or break the law and this program is to offer them a better future. The most enjoyable job is overtime and be a part of their life to see them grow.

Upper management is a joke, a lot of he said she said.  Always have to document what is being told because of all the flip flopping.  This place is very retroactive. A lot of favoritism.  If your not part of the circle than your looked down upon.  Minimal resources, .major turnover due to the lack of respect that its given to its staff.  If you want to be disrespected and spoken yo like your a child t hc an this os the place.  The deputy director attempts to undermine the Executive Director and hide certain things.  Really is a toxic environment.  T

This place is very unorganized and unprofessional. The upper management staff don’t care at all about it’s employees, all they care about is having full staff to keep the facility running but we can NEVER keep staffs because people quit once they see the bs this place has to offer. Lack of communication, There’s no support for staff especially the DS as they are the heart of the facility. OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID!!!! And no appreciation at all smh just save your time applying here you’ll regret it I promise.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Juvenile correctional officer 6 salaries reported	$25.50 per hour
Shift manager 2 salaries reported	$69,544 per year
Registered nurse 1 salary reported	$44.00 per hour
Human resources manager 1 salary reported	$85,197 per year
Training coordinator 1 salary reported	$63,493 per year

Working at Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center: Company Overview and Reviews

Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center Ratings

Popular jobs at Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected