Juvenile Detention Officer - Sierra Vista

About the Department

NATURE OF WORK: Under general supervision, performs work of average difficulty in the care, welfare, and transportation of youth detained in the Cochise County Juvenile Detention, subsequently transported to Pinal County Youth Justice Center; performs related duties as assigned.

Position Duties

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.

TYPICAL DUTIES: (Illustrative Only) Monitors and maintains a structured, caring, safe, healthy learning environment for detainees; controls and supervises the movement and activities of detainees; transports detained youth to and from the detention facility in and out of county; works a rotating shift work schedule including weekends and holidays and a regular rotating on-call schedule, which may require reporting to the transport facility during non-business hours; maintains security of the facility; provides effective role modeling and mentoring to youth in the transport facility; conducts inspections, security checks, and searches to include personal, cell, and area searches for contraband; initiates verbal and physical strength when necessary; performs routine clerical functions such as data entry while conducting screening intakes and releases of detainees; observes, monitors, and supervises the youth while in the transport facility; prepares and maintains written reports/records; delivers various programming and curriculum to youth designed to address youths’ risks and needs, which may include traveling to outlying areas within the county; maintains records and produces reports of all activity in the facility to include daily shift logs and incident reports; escorts youth to and from courtrooms and throughout the facility; transports detained youth to scheduled appointments in and out of county; serves as a dispatch for the Probation Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week; attends required trainings and meetings; provides information and limited instruction to new detention officers assigned to perform routine tasks in the facility; coordinates and facilitates various in-service education, officer safety trainings, and special projects; testifies at court hearings when necessary; assists in developing and implementing special plans to include program curriculum and mentorship to address youths’ risk and needs.

Minimum Qualifications

A minimum age of 21 years and must be a United States citizen or have legal resident status AND a high school diploma or equivalent.  Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license and the ability to be covered by county insurance.  Must complete a physical examination and successfully complete the Arizona Detention Officer Certification Academy, and other mandatory training.  Must obtain First Aid/CPR certification within the first three months of employment.   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preference may be given to individuals who read, write, and speak Spanish. Preference may also be given to those applicants who possess at least one (1) year experience in a related field, such as but not limited to, criminal justice, social work, and/or counseling.

Other Qualifications

Considerable knowledge of:

• the proper methods of restraint and juvenile control;
• the principles, practices, and procedures of confidentiality as related to informational databases, a detention facility, and physical security.

Considerable skill in:

• self-control, patience, initiative, courtesy, tact, and diplomacy;
• operating office equipment such as communications equipment, a desktop computer, and client database.

Ability to:

• adhere to the Arizona Code of Conduct for judicial employees;
• exercise sound judgment in personal and professional matters;
• work impartially with individuals of various socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds;
• communicate with youth and the public in general in a courteous and respectful manger;
• maintain a neutral attitude toward all youth regardless of the reason for their detention;
• respond to stressful situations calmly, quickly, and decisively;
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, other employees, other agencies, and the public with demonstrated ability to work closely and effectively with coworkers in a team structure;
• maintain confidentiality of youth information;
• adapt quickly in a fast-changing environment;
• read, write, and speak English;
• communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed under general supervision in a secure facility with appropriate climate controls where the possibility of violence and harm exists.   Travel and driving required.  May require working evenings and weekends.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Essential functions of this position require: manual dexterity, ability to communicate, lifting, kneeling, squatting, climbing, crawling, stooping, turning/twisting, balancing, reaching, and handling with varying frequencies.  

Medium work:  Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, involves sitting, walking, and standing regularly.  Incumbents may be required to kneel, crouch/squat, crawl, climb, stoop, turn/twist, balance, reach, feel, or manipulate with hands.

Mental application:   Utilizes memory for details and verbal instructions, requires emotional stability, critical thinking, and adaptability; creative problem-solving skills.  

Reasonable accommodations will be made for those able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.

Cochise County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerCochise CountyAddress Cochise County 1415 Melody Lane, Building G

Bisbee, Arizona, 85603 Phone(520) 432-9700
Website http://www.cochise.az.gov