What Is a Juvenile Correctional Officer?

A juvenile correctional officer is typically hired to work in a youth detention center, where he has several responsibilities. Juvenile correctional officers enforce safety and help with rehabilitation and record keeping.

Safety Enforcement

Juvenile corrections officers must be aware of all of the rules of the facility in which they work. They must also supervise and help with drug and weapon inspections.

Educational Requirements

To be well-qualified for this job, an individual should have a bachelor's degree in psychology or criminal justice. Some states hire recruits with a high school degree who have passed a basic skills test.

Paperwork

Juvenile correctional officers must do a lot of paperwork, such as documenting information about patients' health and their progress with a given program.

Helping

The primary job of a juvenile correctional officer is to be a role model to the youths with whom they are working and teach them coping skills.

Training

Once they are hired, juvenile correctional officers go through boot camp training to gain the skills they will need. Training includes learning about juvenile rights, health screening and alcohol and substance abuse.

References

• Education-portal.com: Juvenile Corrections Officer

Resources

• Degreedirectory.org: Juvenile Corrections Officer Job Duties and Requirements