Correctional Officer, Juvenile - Juvenile Detention Center

Full Job Description

As a Juvenile Correctional Officer, you are responsible for the health, welfare, and programming of pre-adjudicated youth in a secure detention setting. The Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) is a Minnesota Department of Corrections licensed facility for youth ages 10 to 18+. Residents are not sentenced but are pending disposition of their court cases. If you have a passion for working with this population in this setting and have great adaptability skills, then this position may be for you.

Effective December 31, 2025, there will be a general salary adjustment of 4% to the minimum and maximum of the range.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.

Find us here at upcoming career fairs!


About these position types:
These are full-time, part-time (benefit or non-benefit earning) positions.
These positions are internally classified as a Correctional Officer, Juvenile.
Click here to view the job classification specification.

To remain in compliance with OSHA, candidates hired into Juvenile Correctional Officer positions are required to fit test annually for the use of a respirator. At any time, Juvenile Correctional Officers may be required to be in compliance with facial hair styles that do not interfere with the proper fit of a respirator. In these positions, you will:

• Directly supervise the daily activities of a diverse population of youth including school attendance, gym/recreation, programs and activities, visitation/phone calls, daily hygiene and cleanliness, and monitoring sleep hours.
• Serve as a mentor for residents by establishing healthy relationships, modeling respectful interactions, and helping youth to engage in prosocial behavior and decision-making.
• Foster a respectful group environment/dynamic among youth.
• Implement case plans related to identified therapeutic goals and behavioral plans.
• Set and maintain limits for youth related to the rules and expectations of the facility.
• Be responsive to the issues affecting this population including, trauma histories, cognitive and developmental delay, chemical dependency, and mental health.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of residents and staff by using motivational interviewing and verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Respond to emergency calls in the building and employ the appropriate use of restrictive procedures, when needed, to manage dysregulated youth.
• Accurately document resident activities and behaviors in log notes and critical incident reports.
• Uphold the safety and security policies of the facility including those related to resident counts, searches, contraband control, and resident well-being checks.
• Deliver Evidence Based Practices by co-facilitating cognitive behavioral groups, problem-solving and skills groups, and monitoring residents during volunteer or contracted programs/services.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of professionals including other JCOs, supervisors, managers, social workers, school staff, medical staff, probation officers and justice partners.
• Receive and release juveniles from facility; transport residents as needed with a Hennepin County vehicle.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Two years or more (90 quarter/60 semester credits) of college or vocational/technical coursework in corrections, a related criminal justice or behavioral/social science field, or law enforcement.
  • Related education and/or experience to equal two years or more.
  • The Evidence Based Practice Corrections Professional Certificate from an approved school may be substituted for one year of relevant coursework or one year of relevant experience.
  • Active military duty with an honorable discharge.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit.
• Ability to stand, stoop, bend, reach, run, and walk both inside and outside with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice to have:

• Experience:
  • Serving the needs of youth in group residential setting such as DOC or DHS licensed group homes, shelters, or treatment programs.
  • Serving the needs of youth in the community such as in secondary school settings, outpatient counseling/day treatment programs, or community-based services or youth outreach programs (e.g. Boys and Girls Clubs/YMCA, etc.)
  • Working in a correctional or detention setting which involved the direct care, supervision and control of residents.
  • Working with customers or clients from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
  • Writing electronic documentation in various formats (i.e. reports, progress notes) in a timely and efficient manner.
• Commitment and dedication to the needs of adolescents and their families.
• Completion of an internship and/or have paid work experience for Hennepin County's Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) or similar jurisdiction.
• Professional goals related to corrections, probation, counseling, or law enforcement.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing, both by hand and through electronic means.
• Knowledge of:
  • Drivers of individual and interpersonal behavior in social systems.
  • The impact of personal and collective trauma on individuals and communities.
  • The juvenile justice system and its key stakeholders.
  • Correctional Evidence Based Practices and programs.
  • Cultures and customs of Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, American Indian, African American, new immigrant, and/or other diverse communities.

Candidates with bilingual skills in Spanish, Somali, and/or Hmong are encouraged to apply. Bilingual candidates who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.

About the department:
The Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCCR) works to enhance community safety, promote community restoration, and reduce the risk of re-offense. Department staff and volunteers serve Hennepin County at more than 20 service locations ranging from correctional facilities to probation reporting offices and occupational training centers. The department delivers sustainable correctional services to more than 26,000 adult and juvenile clients. It is the largest community corrections organization in Minnesota. Learn more at www.hennepin.us/corrections.