OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: SUPERINTENDENT, JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER
DEPARTMENT: JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER (JTDC)
GRADE: 24
SALARY: $225,000 OR COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
LOCATION: COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
**POSTING CLOSES: 5PM JULY 17, 2026**
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) is one of the largest juvenile detention facilities in the country, providing temporary secure housing for youth awaiting adjudication. Under the direction of the Director of Juvenile Services, the Superintendent is the chief executive of the JTDC and bears full operational responsibility for the facility — including custody and security, medical and mental health services, social services, education, programming, fiscal management, human resources, and physical complex operations.
The Superintendent is not only a facility administrator — this role is a reform leader. The JTDC has been the subject of significant external scrutiny, including the 2022 Blue Ribbon Committee evaluation, and is expected to implement its recommendations alongside broader best-practice reforms in trauma-informed care, youth behavior intervention, PREA compliance, and developmentally appropriate detention practice. The Superintendent must be equally capable of running a safe, well-managed facility and driving sustained culture and practice change within it.
The Superintendent reports to the Director of Juvenile Services and is accountable for performance, compliance, reform progress, and outcomes for youth in the facility's care.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Facility Operations and Safety
1. Directs all aspects of JTDC operations, including custody and security, medical and mental health services, social services, education, programming, food service, maintenance, and administrative functions, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across all departments.
2. Develops, implements, and maintains a comprehensive safety and security plan for the facility; ensures staff are trained and equipped to maintain a safe environment for youth, staff, and visitors; and leads the facility's response to critical incidents with timely reporting to the Director of Juvenile Services and court leadership.
3. Ensures the facility operates in compliance with all applicable statutes, court orders, judicial directives, state regulations, and nationally recognized standards of best practice for juvenile detention, including Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) standards, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) requirements, and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
4. Maintains accurate records of daily population, resident incidents, program participation, and all required statistical data; provides regular reports to the Director of Juvenile Services and court leadership in compliance with state and local standards.
Reform Implementation and Best Practices
5. Leads implementation of the 2022 Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations and other applicable reform directives; develops implementation plans with clear milestones, accountability mechanisms, and progress metrics; and reports regularly to the Director of Juvenile Services on reform status.
6. Embeds nationally recognized best practices into all aspects of facility operations, including trauma-informed and trauma-responsive approaches, positive behavioral intervention and supports (PBIS), restorative practices, and developmentally and culturally appropriate responses to youth behavior.
7. Drives culture change within the JTDC among staff and youth to shift from a purely custodial model to a rehabilitative, strengths-based approach that prioritizes youth dignity, safety, and well-being while maintaining security and accountability.
8. Ensures PREA certification and compliance across all facility operations, including policy development, staff training, incident reporting, and resident education; maintains readiness for external audits and reviews.
9. Maintains active awareness of research and emerging best practices in juvenile detention nationally; translates relevant developments into facility policy, programming, and staff practice; and participates in peer learning networks and professional convenings.
Programming, Reentry, and Youth Services
10. Designs, implements, and continuously improves programming within the facility — including education, vocational training, behavioral health services, recreation, and restorative programming — to support youth development, reduce idleness, and prepare youth for successful reentry.
11. Develops and maintains robust aftercare and reentry systems that connect youth to community supports, services, and opportunities upon release; collaborates with Juvenile Probation, community organizations, and families to ensure continuity of care.
12. Ensures programming is culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with the individual needs and aspirations of youth and their families; establishes mechanisms for youth and family input into facility programs and policies.
Staff Leadership, Accountability, and Development
13. Leads a large, complex workforce across multiple departments and shifts; establishes clear performance expectations; conducts or oversees routine formal evaluations; and requires timely corrective action when standards are not met.
14. Directs recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention of qualified staff and leadership; builds a workforce that reflects the communities served and demonstrates commitment to the facility's reform mission.
15. Develops and implements a comprehensive staff training program that builds competency in trauma-informed care, youth development, de-escalation, cultural responsiveness, and professional conduct; ensures training is ongoing and tied to performance expectations.
16. Promotes a workplace culture of professionalism, accountability, and genuine commitment to youth well-being; addresses staff misconduct promptly and consistently; and models the values and behaviors expected of all staff.
Policy, Data, and Continuous Improvement
17. Develops and implements data-driven policies and procedures that meet the needs of youth and families, comply with applicable law and standards, and reflect best practices; reviews and updates policies regularly to reflect evolving standards and reform commitments.
18. Establishes and maintains a performance management framework for the JTDC, including key metrics for safety, programming, compliance, staff conduct, and youth outcomes; uses data to drive continuous quality improvement.
19. Monitors facility performance against established benchmarks; identifies deficiencies; develops and implements corrective action plans; and reports performance data and improvement progress to the Director of Juvenile Services.
Budget and Fiscal Management
20. Prepares and administers the JTDC's annual budget, subject to the approval of the Director of Juvenile Services; ensures expenditures are aligned with mission, strategic priorities, and fiscal accountability standards.
21. Manages contracts with vendors and service providers within the facility; works collaboratively with the Office of the Chief Judge Director of Procurement and Chief Juvenile Probation Officer to maximize available resources; monitors contract performance; and reports on service delivery quality to the Director of Juvenile Services.
22. Identifies resource needs and gaps; develops proposals for addressing them; and ensures effective utilization of available resources to minimize disruption to service delivery.
Collaboration and External Relations
23. Demonstrates consistent proactive communication with the Director of Juvenile Services, centering alignment between the JTDC and Juvenile Probation
24. Works collaboratively with the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and Juvenile Probation leadership to ensure coordinated, seamless services for youth across the detention-to-community continuum; participates in joint planning, shared programming, and cross-system initiatives.
25. Works collaboratively with, and promptly responds to concerns raised by, the Presiding Judges of the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions; escalates issues requiring Director-level attention.
26. Builds and maintains cooperative relationships with juvenile justice judges, court leadership, Chicago Public Schools, community agencies, advocacy organizations, and system partners; represents the JTDC in relevant convenings and forums.
27. Engages youth, families, and community stakeholders as partners in the facility's reform and improvement efforts; establishes accessible and consistently available mechanisms for raising concerns and providing input.
28. Identifies and in collaboration with the Director of Juvenile Services, acts upon proactive opportunities to enhance public transparency regarding JTDC operations, programs, engagement of youth and families, and outcomes
29. Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Juvenile Services consistent with the executive operational scope of this role.
The duties listed above are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
As established by the Illinois Supreme Court through the AOIC, the minimum qualifications are as follows:
1. A master's degree in management, public administration, criminal justice, social services, or a related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in youth detention, juvenile probation/court services, or community residential services, at least three (3) of which are at a supervisory or administrative level, with at least two (2) of those years in juvenile detention or residential services.
OR
2. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social services, or a related field, and at least seven (7) years of experience in youth detention, juvenile probation/court services, or community residential services, with at least four (4) years at a supervisory or administrative level, including at least two (2) years in juvenile detention or residential services.
AND
3. Completion of an approved leadership course of study or training related to youth and juvenile confinement within one (1) year of employment.
4. United States Citizenship.
5. Primary residence in the State of Illinois within 90 days of the date of appointment.
6. Pass a pre-employment medical exam, drug screen, and background check (LEADs and CANTS), and professional references.
7. A negative result from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services child abuse registry.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Demonstrated experience leading reform implementation in a juvenile detention, residential, or correctional setting, including culture change initiatives and adoption of trauma-informed, restorative, or developmentally appropriate practices.
2. Demonstrated experience with PREA compliance, including audit preparation, staff training, and policy development.
3. Certification in restorative justice or demonstrated familiarity with restorative justice principles and practices.
4. Demonstrated familiarity with Cook County and/or Circuit Court administrative policies, budgeting processes, and labor relations frameworks.
5. Experience implementing recommendations from external reviews, consent decrees, or oversight bodies.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES-
Comprehensive knowledge of nationally recognized standards and best practices in juvenile detention, including trauma-informed care, positive behavioral intervention, developmentally appropriate practice, and PREA compliance.
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Demonstrated executive leadership experience overseeing complex, multi-department operations and large workforces under challenging circumstances.
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Proven ability to lead reform and culture change in an institutional setting — including developing implementation plans, holding staff accountable, and sustaining change over time.
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Strong data literacy and ability to use performance data to drive operational decisions, identify deficiencies, and demonstrate progress.
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Demonstrated knowledge of juvenile justice law, statutes, court rules, regulations, and policy, including applicable state and federal requirements governing juvenile detention.
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Ability to lead and manage a large, diverse staff; build a culture of professionalism and accountability; and develop staff capacity through training and coaching.
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Ability to work effectively with youth and families from diverse backgrounds; demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive, equitable practice.
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Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to make sound decisions quickly in high-stakes situations, including crisis management.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to communicate with court leadership, staff, youth and families, elected officials, advocates, and the public.
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Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions, including with judges, community partners, and oversight bodies.
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Knowledge of budgeting, fiscal management, and contract oversight in a public-sector setting.
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Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) and ability to leverage technology to support facility operations, communication, and data management.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS-
Ability to sit or stand at a desk and view a computer screen for extended periods.
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Ability to move around the facility, office suite, courthouse, and other locations as required.
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Ability to intermittently twist to reach equipment and supplies.
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Ability to perform simple grasping and fine manipulation.
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Strength to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
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Ability to use a telephone and computer.
This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.
Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.
Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page. Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page.
THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To: Director of Juvenile Services
Directs Work Of: All JTDC staff
Key Peer Relationship: Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
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