Agency Information
We are committed to transforming lives and building safter communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.
Job Description
Provides supervision and direct care for youth in a residential correctional facility. Works to help youth to achieve progress in learning and applying methods to identify and manage reactions to stress and trauma and react in more socially appropriate ways. Uses appropriate intervention methods in response to behavioral issues that seeks to aid in learning and correcting behavior. Maintains a consistent effort to ensure safe environments and employs security measures when youth, staff, or others are in danger. Interacts and engages with youth in ways that both maintain appropriate structure and exercise understanding of brain development in youth with complex trauma. Maintains healthy relationships and boundaries with youth and consistently recognizes progress and good choices made by youth.
Work involves facilitating youth rehabilitation, supervising youth, and coaching their personal development in accordance with individualized treatment plans. Works assigned shift, is subject to being on-call, and may be required to work in excess of 40 hours per work week. Occasional travel may be required.
Career Ladder Promotion Opportunity: This position is in the approved TJJD career ladder for Juvenile Correctional Officers. Personnel in this career ladder have the working title of Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO). JCOs receive career ladder salary adjustments upon meeting established eligibility criteria per agency policy (PRS.15.08) until they reach the top level of the ladder. Placement on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and education. Progression to the highest pay level on the career ladder is dependent upon experience and performance.
: Newly hired JCOs or rehired JCOs who have been separated more than 18 months will be required to attend the pre-service training academy and complete on-the-job training on a full-time basis. JCOs who have worked for TJJD and return to employment within 18 months of their separation date are not required to attend the pre-service academy and will be placed in full-time status on their date of employment.
Levels of Work Performed by Career Ladder Level:
Juvenile Correctional Officer II: Performs moderately complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Juvenile Correctional Officer III: Performs complex (journey-level) work under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Juvenile Correctional Officer IV: Performs highly complex (senior-level) work under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Duties
Engages in competency-based training in the techniques and capabilities needed to coach youth under the Texas Model of trauma-informed corrections.
Holds youth accountable in ways that fit the level of behavior, seeking to help youth to learn socially acceptable responses and approaches.
Uses good judgment in determining when safety is at risk and higher levels of intervention are required.
Helps youth to identify their responses to stress, fear, and other triggers and works with the youth to learn ways to increase emotional self-regulation skills.
Practices and models appropriate self-regulation skills and is able to remain calm during times of stress and crisis.
Gain a basic knowledge of each youth¿s treatment plan and provide support in learning the skills needed to meet those goals.
Coaches youth on how to resolve conflict with other youth and staff as appropriate.
Participates in the Youth Service Team and provides input into each youth¿s treatment plan; and is a responsible and supportive team member, who understands that an effective team is composed of reliable people who provide backup and support for their fellow team members and the facility as a whole.
Provides for a predictable schedule for youth that is transparent to them and provides warnings and prompts for all movements and transitions; and exercises independent judgment when the need arises to alter a schedule (while still maintaining transparency and warnings).
Implements and monitors youth activities, programs, and behaviors on an individual and group basis, to ensure healthy youth engagement and to provide appropriate role modeling for all youth.
Observes and keeps staff informed daily of significant behavioral and treatment-related conditions and events known about a youth and/or the group.
Provides services to potentially aggressive/combative youth in a correctional setting with a wide variety of temperaments (volatile, mentally ill, suicidal) and specialized needs (chemically dependent, sexual offenders, emotionally disturbed, etc.).
Physically restrains and secures, if necessary, sometimes aggressive youth and participates in follow up debriefing conversations to assess the relationship and determine alternative strategies to avoid future physical restraints.
Maintains security in buildings, grounds, and other posts; intervenes during emergencies or altercations to prevent escapes and protect the safety of all youth.
Conducts searches for contraband and health/safety hazards; performs room, property pat, and strip searches of youth as required.
Supervises assigned youth during all of their daily activities, including on the dorm, at school, during meals, and other activities; manages all movements between activities; conducts periodic headcounts; ensures youth engage in required activities; and transfers and transports youth, on foot, in vehicles, and other forms of transportation.
Maintains privacy and follows all policies, regulation, and laws in regards to youth records.
Completes and maintains required records, files, and forms in a timely and accurate way.
Performs a variety of related duties not listed, to be determined and assigned as needed.
Performs all duties in compliance with agency safety policies and procedures:
- Reports safety hazards and corrects hazards when possible.
- Completes required documentation in the event of an accident/injury within requested timeframes.
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency attendance and leave policies.
Will be required to travel up to 25% of the time.
Actively embody and support the Texas Model by demonstrating its core values in daily tasks and interactions with others.
Qualifications
Must be at least 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Preferred Qualifications
- College degree or coursework.
- Experience supervising or providing rehabilitation/treatment services to youth or adults in a treatment program, correctional program, or a residential setting (e.g., correctional officer, juvenile detention officer, case manager, counselor, probation officer, or parole officer).
Note: Any degree, diploma, high school equivalent, or course hours required to meet minimum qualifications must be obtained from an accredited educational institution.
Applicants with the following will not be considered:
- Convicted or received deferred adjudication for any felony.
- Convicted or received deferred adjudication for domestic violence involving a family member (including non-spouse partners).
- Convicted or received deferred adjudication for official oppression.
- Current requirement to register as a sex offender.
- Arrested for a disqualifying offense that was not expunged before the statute of limitations expired.
- Outstanding warrant.
Applicants with other arrests, deferred adjudications, and convictions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine suitability for employment.
Pre-employment conditions require acceptable results from mandatory:
- pre-employment drug test;
- finger printing, criminal records check, and driving record check;
- Fitness-for-Duty Assessment which may include both physical and behavior evaluations.
Requirements for Continued Employment:
- Obtain and maintain certification in TJJD¿s Use of Force techniques, which requires physical restraint of juveniles.
- Obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR.
- Failure to maintain required certification will result in termination of employment.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Knowledge of safety and security procedures and practices.
- Knowledge of general counseling and guidance techniques with adolescents.
- Knowledge of facility rules and regulations.
- Knowledge of individual and group behavior.
- Knowledge of child development and the role of the family.
- Knowledge of causes of juvenile delinquency and current methods of juvenile offender treatment.
- Ability to remain calm and regulate one¿s own behavior while helping to serve as a role model for youth who are learning to self-regulate their own behavior.
- Ability to maintain healthy and engaging relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries important for healthy development.
- Ability to work with youth in an empathetic and understanding manner with sustained positive interactions.
- Ability to communicate effectively with youth to foster youth cooperation in the treatment process.
- Ability to plan and implement youth programs.
- Ability to facilitate group discussions and activities.
- Ability to set limits on youth behaviors when appropriate in a consistent, firm and fair manner.
- Ability to intervene and redirect behavior.
- Ability to appropriately respond to abusive language and behavior in a manner consistent with instructions received in training.
- Ability to remain alert, observant, and physically able to respond appropriately to work situations or emergencies including, but not limited to, physical restraint of youth.
- Ability to learn verbal and physical crisis intervention/de-escalation techniques and emergency treatment procedures.
- Ability to maintain order and discipline.
- Ability to physically restrain youth, when necessary, in a manner consistent with instructions received in training.
- Ability to explain the progress of the youth to their family members and other treatment staff.
- Ability to interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Ability to accept and adapt to changes in assignments, methods, policies, etc.
- Ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and maintain a professional, courteous demeanor.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
- Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; and meet deadlines.
- Ability to process information logically, make decisions, and demonstrate the soundness for those decisions.
- Ability to document observations and incidents and maintain written files and records.
- Ability to transport youth and travel as necessary.
- Ability to work a variety of shifts, weekends, holidays, and be on-call.
- Ability to work more than 40 hours per workweek, and travel, when required.
Physical Requirements
- The following physical demands and working conditions are representative of those encountered when performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Analyzing
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
Ability to see
Ability to hear (with or without aid)
Ability to perform tactile discernment
Identifying colors
Depth perception
Operate motor equipment
Heavy lifting, 45 lbs. & over
Heavy carrying, 45 lbs. & over
Restraining combative youth
Pushing
Pulling
Repeated bending
Reaching above shoulder
Prolonged standing and walking
Walking
Standing
Sitting
Crawling
Twisting
Kneeling
Stooping
Manual/finger dexterity
Dual simultaneous grasping
Climbing stairs
Climbing ladders
Military/Veteran Information
In order to receive veteran¿s preference, a copy of your DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), VA disability rating (if applicable), or a DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) must be attached to your application.
Go to https://texasskillstowork.com/, https://www.onetonline.org/, or http://www.careeronestop.org/ for assistance translating your military experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets.
Additional Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk information is available from the Texas State Auditor¿s Office at Administrative Support
Information Technology
Planning, Research, and Statistics
Education
Accounting, Auditing, and Finance
Inspectors and Investigators
Program Management
Human Resources
Information and Communication
Property Management and Procurement
Engineering and Design
Safety
Employment
Legal
Medical and Health
Criminal Justice
Social Services
Public Safety
Custodial
Maintenance
Library and Records MOS Codes.
Law Enforcement MOS Codes.
Additional Information
If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview. Whenever possible, please give the hiring representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. If you submitted your application through the CAPPS Career Center (https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant.), you may also check the status of your application by accessing your profile and selecting My Jobpage and selecting My Submissions.
Thank you for considering employment with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.
SPONSORSHIP
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.
How to Apply
Your job application must be completely filled out and include all employment, do not limit employment to the past 10-15 years. Your application must contain complete job histories, which include job titles, name of employer, dates of employment (month & year), supervisor¿s name and phone number, and a description of duties performed, and whether it was full-time or part-time and hours per week. If any of this information is not provided, your application may be rejected as incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login:https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant.
Pay: $4,568.72 - $5,561.91 per month
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
