Job Specification 40808
SENIOR CORRECTION OFFICER, JUVENILE JUSTICE
DEFINITION
Under general supervision of a supervisory officer in the Juvenile
Justice Commission, assumes responsibility for and is in charge of
appropriate care, well-being, security, and custody of convicted
juvenile offenders assigned to various institutions, facilities, and
boot camps throughout the state; utilizes a balanced approach of
supervision and instruction to encourage juvenile offenders'
self-involvement and personal esteem to participate in
rehabilitation/educational programs; interacts with law enforcement
agencies in the search, apprehension, and arrest of escaped juvenile
offenders from custody; does other custody related duties as required.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform
all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties
performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Exercises all powers and rights of enforcement to function as a law
enforcement officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, custody,
and prosecution of offenders against the law.
Ensures enforcement of and adheres to rules, regulations, policies,
directives, practices, operational methods, procedures, and processes
related to juvenile correctional institutions, facilities, boot camps,
and satellite locations.
Conducts and leads military style training and regimented activities
associated with close order drill and physical fitness conditioning
and training for juvenile offenders.
Interacts and reenforces program objectives developed for the
social/emotional habilitation initiatives of juvenile offenders.
Participates in programs to assist juvenile offenders gaining access
to privileges and specialized programs.
Attends demonstrations and training courses on proper methods of
utilizing available institution equipment, accessories, and
programming initiatives.
As member of an assigned group, attends formal training/classes for
instruction of specialized program awareness needs addressing the
practices, principles, and procedures designed to implement custody
directives and correctional methods utilized in juvenile institutions,
facilities, and boot camps.
Performs military style inspections of juvenile offenders' clothing
attire, living quarters, and hygiene practices on a regular daily
basis.
Supervises the well-being, care, inspection, and maintenance of
juvenile offenders' living quarters to ensure that a safe, clean, and
secure environment exists.
Performs regular patrolling and surveillance activities of assigned
areas, grounds, buildings, and living quarters, and renders regular
periodic reports via telephone or electronic communications of
whereabouts of all assigned juvenile offenders.
Interacts and directs juvenile offenders in development of acceptable
conduct/behavior in accord with established directives and assertive
mannerisms to prevent disturbances and attempted escapes from custody.
Reports violations and discrepancies of facility's rules/regulations
to superiors. Issues disciplinary charges to juvenile offenders that
violate stated rules, regulations, directives, policies, and
procedures.
Oversees and maintains appropriate discipline in living quarters,
recreation areas, grounds, school classrooms, hospitals, theaters,
churches, eateries, trade shops, and other areas/places where juvenile
offenders gather in groups.
Conducts searches and surveillance activities to identify and prevent
stated contraband and unauthorized articles from entering the
facility's grounds, buildings, and living quarters.
Conducts regular periodic inspections and denotes conditions of living
quarters, secured areas, door and window locks, and other restricted
areas of the facility and surrounding grounds.
Escorts juvenile offenders to/from living quarters to various areas of
the facility and other authorized locations.
Notifies superiors immediately of differing or suspicious actions
displayed by juvenile offenders or visual contact of suspicious
persons/conditions that warrant review/investigation, and makes note
and records changing conditions to determine possible dangerous or
hazardous situations to ensure a safe, orderly environment.
Drives and escorts juvenile offenders to job/training sites which are
off grounds and to courts of law and other formal proceedings which
may require issuance and carrying of a firearm.
Transports juvenile offenders to/from other jurisdictions and
facilities as required which may require issuance and carrying of a
firearm.
Engages in searches and apprehending of escaped juvenile offenders
which may require issuance and carrying of a firearm.
When assigned to a medical area of treatment, assists civilian
employees in performance of their duties.
When assigned to boot and/or institution camps and other outside
assigned details, is responsible for safety, security, well- being,
and custody of juvenile offenders under said charge.
Prepares reports.
Maintains records and files.
Attends training classes/seminars in preparation of specialized and/or
specific programming requirements to record for report preparation.
Performs various types of investigations and prepares detailed reports
reflecting determined findings.
Adheres to facility's procedures for monitoring enforcement programs
and ensures juvenile offenders' rights are not violated.
Prepares program incident reports of recorded juvenile offenders'
violations to stated rules/regulations and the investigation process
required to complete reports thereon.
Composes memoranda and other communications and statistical reports
related to custody responsibilities and program activities.
May be required to testify as a witness for the State before formal
hearings, Grand Juries, Courts of Law, administrative hearings, or
other judicial bodies. Recognizes and rapidly evaluates potentially
dangerous/hazardous situations involving juvenile offenders' safety
and well-being; exercises caution and good judgment in identifying
these circumstances quickly to avoid personal injury or to prevent
endangerment to the general public, serious personal injury to
juvenile offenders, and/or property damage.
Interacts with juvenile offenders' parents and/or guardians,
coworkers, superiors, and other assigned employees to develop/maintain
desired team leadership initiatives of positive reenforced values,
incentives, and sanctions to address each juvenile's assessment needs,
treatment, and educational requirements the facility can offer for
rehabilitation objectives and goal attainment.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency,
office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Possession of a High School Diploma or its equivalent.
EXPERIENCE:
One (1) year of experience in the supervision, care, and custody
of convicted juvenile and/or adult offenders assigned to a
correctional institution, facility, and/or boot camp.
LICENSE:
Appointees must possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey.
NOTE: The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the
required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type
of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.
AGE:
Minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.
CITIZENSHIP
Must be a United States' citizen at time of appointment.
NOTE: At time of appointment, eligible candidates for this
position must submit acceptable proof of meeting the above indicated
requirements.
NOTE: Appointees must have successfully completed the NJ Police
Training Commission and agency training course standards for custody,
supervision, investigations, and related law enforcement requirements,
and shall have qualified in the use of firearms and be able to
requalify on a semiannual basis.
NOTE: Appointees will be required to have successfully completed
all aspects of the one (1) year training program and have met all of
the stated requirements of a Correction Officer Recruit, Juvenile
Justice to be an eligible candidate for appointment to the Senior
Correction Officer, Juvenile Justice title. Selected eligible
candidates shall meet the qualifications for juvenile corrections
officers and shall be employed as juvenile corrections officers
pursuant to section 6 of PL 1995, c. 284 (NJSA 52:17B-174).
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the care, usage, security, and integrity of firearms and
other restraints and defense equipment.
Knowledge of electronic communications equipment and database software
utilized in the performance of assigned duties.
Knowledge of surveillance methods and procedures.
Knowledge of administrative procedures for reporting violations to
applicable rules, regulations, policies, and program procedures.
Knowledge of methods/techniques for performing investigations of
recorded juvenile offenders' inappropriate actions and violations to
stipulated rules/regulations.
Ability to exercise all powers/rights of a law enforcement officer in
criminal matters and function as an officer for the detection,
apprehension, arrest, custody, and prosecution of offenders against
the law.
Ability to interpret problems/circumstances likely to be encountered
in a working environment involving the social rehabilitation, care,
well-being, and custody of juvenile offenders detained and deprived of
specific freedoms throughout a custodial supervision period of
confinement.
Ability to perform techniques of assertiveness methods utilized
properly in a confined work environment with persons of varying ethnic
and language backgrounds, education, abilities, economic levels, and
personalities.
Ability to recognize/identify potentially dangerous/hazardous
situations involving juvenile offenders and to evaluate available
options and when/how to exercise independent judgment in handling
these circumstances and procedures on warranting caution.
Ability to communicate with juvenile offenders to foster self-
assurance attitudes and esteem for themselves and toward others.
Ability to interpret administrative procedures for reporting
incidents/violations to defined directives.
Ability to establish/maintain cooperative relationships with juvenile
offenders, their family members, coworkers, and superiors.
Ability to adhere to aspects/techniques of positive reenforcement
methods to gain confidence/respect of juvenile offenders to assist and
provide direction with their personal development and emotional
stability during their period of incarceration.
Ability to recognize/utilize varying levels of supervision over
juvenile offenders to be applied and instances when to recommend and
enforce sanctions and/or loss of privileges.
Ability to lead military style training and regimented activities.
Ability to lead and conduct rigorous physical fitness activities.
Ability to participate and lead calisthenics, exercises, and close
order drill activities.
Ability to perform military style inspections of living
areas/quarters, proper clothing/uniform attire, appropriate self
hygiene habits, safety issues, and liabilities of juvenile offenders.
Ability to apply principles/practices of Commission directives as they
apply to custody related juvenile delinquency problems/issues.
Ability to interpret what types of circumstances/events may be
encountered in closely following prescribed rules/regulations.
Ability to interpret, remember, follow through, and carry out
oral/written directions and to learn oral and written explanations
from classes/demonstrations as they apply to custodial
responsibilities.
Ability to utilize firefighting equipment and adhere to stipulated
emergency procedures.
Ability to recognize specific occurrences and differing instances
learned in classes and workshop demonstrations for
comprehending/utilizing essential facts/data gleaned useful for
specialized custody work and programming reenforcement initiatives
utilized in an institution or facility housing juvenile offenders.
Ability to recognize suspicious persons/events by taking suitable
action and reporting requirements to supervisor in a very timely
manner.
Ability to address and analyze custodial problems, organize assigned
duties, and develop effective work methods.
Ability to perform repetitive work assignments without loss of
equanimity, patience, or courtesy, to remain calm/decisive in
emergency situations and retain emotional stability.
Ability to follow instructions and render to others clear, accurate,
and explicit directions to follow.
Ability to utilize and instruct others in use of electronic
communications, computer information systems, other types of recording
equipment, devices, and manual recordings used by the agency,
institutions, facilities, satellite locations, and other related
units.
Ability to prepare detailed correspondence, reports, and
communications on custody issues/problems and other program issues.
Ability to provide instructions to Correction Officer Recruits,
Juvenile Justice.
Ability to gather, collect, maintain, collate, and interpret
statistical information.
Ability to make decisions and determine when circumstances should be
referred to superiors for appropriate action.
Ability to qualify with firearms on a semiannual basis.
Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording
and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English
sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign
Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as
they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable
accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation
cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship,
such persons may not be eligible.
CODES: 17/L18 - 40808 RKR/mk 5/11/98
