Captain - MEDC

State of South Carolina

Richland (AL)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 90,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

PSLF program

EAP

Health, dental and life insurance

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Paid holidays

Retirement plans

TicketatWork discount

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) seeks a Correctional Captain to lead security staff in our facilities and ensure safe, orderly operations aligned with rehabilitation goals.

The Captain will supervise Lieutenants, Sergeants, and JCOs, enforce policy, respond to emergencies, and coordinate inspections and training. This role requires strong leadership, crisis management, and commitment to youth development within a secure setting.

Qualifications

High school diploma and supervisory experience; Bachelor’s degree may substitute for supervisory experience.
Strong knowledge of state captive facility rules, DJJ practices, and safety procedures.
Ability to respond to emergencies and supervise staff in a secure facility.
Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a state vehicle.
Willingness to work various shifts and overtime as needed.

Responsibilities

Direct and coordinate all security staff actions in the facility.
Provide guidance to shift supervisors and manage Lieutenants, Sergeants and JCOs.
Ensure safety and orderly operation of the facility and rehabilitation goals.
Conduct routine security inspections and frisk searches.
Maintain proper control of security keys, radios, and equipment.
Develop and implement staff training and performance evaluations.
Prepare operational and security reports and participate in committees.

Skills

Leadership

Crisis management

Staff supervision

Interpersonal skills

Policy compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred (Criminal Justice or Human Services)

Job description

Posting number: 187115

Department: Department of Juvenile Justice

Division: Security & Operations

Job classification: Correctional Captain

Posting type: Open

Categories: Corrections

Summary

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

MISSION:

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under limited supervision of the Assistant Facility Administrator, the Captain plans, directs, and coordinates the actions of all security staff in the assigned facility, while maintaining compliance with agency policy and procedures along with Federal and State Law. The captain provides direction and guidance to shift supervisors to ensure the safety and orderly operation of the facility. The captain manages Lieutenants, Sergeants and JCOs to provide youth with a safe and secure environment that fosters healthy decision-making and is conducive to rehabilitation of at‑risk youth. This position is assigned to specific facilities to ensure orderly facility operations and the safety and well‑being of all youth and staff. This position plays an essential role and the responsibilities directly impact the youth and the ability of the agency to provide safe and secure rehabilitative opportunities for youth. This position's purpose is to contribute positively to the youth's overall rehabilitative process through positive youth development framework and a positive facility culture.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Engages with youth throughout the day to ensure the safety, security, rehabilitation, and well‑being of youth.
Ensures frequent and helpful communication with youth throughout the day.
Physically responds appropriately to emergency situations.
Conducts routine and unannounced security inspections per agency policy.
Conducts routine and unannounced frisk searches of the youth after all youth movement.
Ensures that each youth has their basic needs met.
Remains knowledgeable and informed of the security status of all youth assigned.
Develops, directs, and implements an inspection program to detect and correct deficiencies according to policy in a secured facility to include safety, sanitation and maintenance needs in the assigned facility.
Ensures that all officers assigned to their shifts are given proper training in all operations.
Makes unscheduled and unannounced inspections to determine if staff are properly performing assigned duties of custody, supervision, and security.
Ensures proper control of all security keys and security equipment; to include but not limited to radios, handcuffs, leg irons, vehicles, keys, etc.
Responds to and handles situations of concern to include making notifications, giving directions, responding in person and by phone, mediating conflict and ensuring safety.
Assist in the creation of facility schedule and ensures staff and youth adhere to facility schedule.
Ensures proper staffing to youth ratios facility wide.
Evaluates staff's performance, instructs and counsels staff on required performance standards and when necessary, initiates/supervises/administers appropriate corrective or disciplinary actions for violations of laws, rules, regulations, policies and standards procedures.
With assistance from the training department, ensures all staff are current on all required trainings and certifications.
This includes collaborating with leadership on other shifts and facilities to allow staff to be released from coverage to attend training.
Directs responses and responds to youth expressed problems, grievances and complaints and, when necessary, refers them to appropriate staff members for assistance or necessary actions.
Mediates disputes between youth and JCOs.
Ensures annual EPMS planning stages and reviews of supervised staff are prepared and submitted to the Office of Human Resources (OHR) in accordance with OHR standards.
Attends team members meetings to discuss youth issues, treatment, and security and participates with employee recognition selection committee.
Ensures that all assigned officers are informed about youth who require special supervision or pose a threat to the security and safety in the assigned facility.
Oversees facility operations by supervising formal/informal headcounts, supervising unscheduled and/or scheduled shakedowns, attending random security briefings, supervising agency and PREA standards, and other security related duties when required by the supervisor, division or agency.
Supervises/administers appropriate disciplinary actions for violation of laws, rules, regulations, policies and standard operating procedures.
Supervises the preparation of and prepares recurring and special operational and administrative reports as well as security-related correspondence.
Serves on various institutional committees and serves as a member of treatment staffing team and local team meetings.
Participates and conducts interviews of applicants seeking employment as new security staff or seeking a promotion.
Performs other security-related duties when required.
Serves as a member of the on-call management team and responds to the needs of the facility.
Performs other duties and tasks as assigned by a supervisor to further support the agency's mission and values.

STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A high school diploma and relevant supervisory experience. A bachelor's degree in a human services or criminal justice field may substitute for the required supervisory experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Substantial knowledge of state law secured facility rules, regulations, requirements for youth control, and compliance with SC Child Abuse Statutes.
Substantial knowledge of the purpose, methods, and operational practices of DJJ facilities.
Substantial knowledge of various methods of instructing/handling/supervising youth in various activities.
Ability to exercise good judgment/initiative in a variety of situations.
Ability to build healthy relationships with youth and effectively communicate with them in order to promote respect and trust with them and manage challenging behaviors in a mature and professional way and in accordance with training.
Lead and develop new officers' ability to complete required reports to include daily ERS Reports.
Ability to establish working relationships with employees.
Ability to maintain a valid state driver's license, and ability to operate a state vehicle.

Essential Position:

Performs work within a secure facility relating to the custody, control and transportation or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Position is not sedentary; employees must be mobile and able to bend and lift, interact, and intervene with youth when applicable. Must be able to respond physically to emergency situations including physically intervening and/or restraining youth according to agency policy. Required to work shift hours (day, evening, night, weekend, &/or holidays) and be subject to mandatory overtime stay as needed by the facility. Training applicable to these duties will be provided and will consist of physically and successfully completing the agency’s selected Behavioral Management training which includes the Primary Restraint and Take Down techniques and on-the-job functions but not limited to: Handcuffing (hands extended behind back), prone positions (flat on stomach and/or back), Kicks and Strike Motions, Joint Manipulations, bending at the waist and torque motions. Lifting hands above the head, repeated breathing (inhaling/exhaling) techniques for CPR/First Aid/AED.

Kneel on knees (together and individually) unsupported.

Work in extreme heat/cold/ humidity/inclement weather.

Safely operate a motor vehicle to include having a valid state issued driver’s license.

Walk and/or stand for extended periods of time, sit in a desk chair for up to eight hours per day at least 5-7 days per week, visually distinguish subjects at distances of up to 75 yards, wear protective equipment in case of emergencies.

Attend training and maintain certification required by the Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE).

This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.

PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

Must be 21 years of age with a valid driver's license and a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must also have 5 years of experience in correctional, security, military, or police work to include at least 1 year of supervisor experience.
Must attend, pass and maintain all required DJJ training courses.
Special requirement: Must be an officer in compliance with and certified under CLEE (Continuing Law Enforcement Education) within six (6) months of employment.
Must have an 80% rate on competency/proficiency exam and possess supervisor and teaching skills.
A bachelor's degree in human services or criminal justice field accompanied with experience supervising, mentoring and interacting with at-risk youth preferred.
A bachelor's degree in a human services or criminal justice field may substitute for the required supervisory experience.

Supplemental information

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes: