Juvenile Custody Services Specialist

Multnomah County; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 43,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice seeks a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist to supervise and support youth in detention, guiding rehabilitative programming and pro-social behavior within a structured, safe environment.

The role emphasizes active supervision, incident documentation, intake support, and collaborative problem-solving with restorative justice partners. Prior youth-facing experience is required, with a strong focus on safety and de-escalation.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate's degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field.
• Required Experience: Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in detention or youth correctional facility.
• Bachelor's degree may substitute for 1 year of the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct behavior observations and assessments of individual youth detainees and groups through active supervision, movement, situational awareness, and pro-social interactions.
• Prepare detailed incident reports, daily behavior summaries, and records for youth, counselors/workers, and court purposes.
• Assist with intake and orientation of juveniles entering the facility and manage youth belongings.
• Support youth with problem-solving conversations and restorative processes in partnership with restorative justice coordinators.
• Deliver prosocial role modeling and facilitate skill-building activities for youth and groups.
• Oversee volunteers and contractors facilitating activities; ensure safety and security of the facility.

Skills

De-escalation skills

Team collaboration

Documentation

Crisis management

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent

Job description

Pay Range: $31.18 - $41.51 Hourly

Department: Department of Community Justice (DCJ)

Job Type: Regular Represented

Exemption Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date: October 01, 2026

Opportunity: Overview

Do you have a passion to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around? Do you thrive when working on a team? If you answered \"yes\" to these questions, we want you to join our team as a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist!

The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Detention is seeking committed, enthusiastic and compassionate Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) to serve a critical, operational role within the Juvenile Detention Facility. As a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist, you will provide vital guidance, supervision, security, and general care for culturally diverse youth facing a variety of behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and intellectual challenges. In this role, you will champion rehabilitative efforts through active group programming, cognitive skill facilitation, and pro-social behavior modeling, all within a safe and secure environment.

Supervision Philosophy

• Behavioral Transformation: Facilitating cognitive restructuring programming and teaching critical life skills.
• Pro-Social Engagement: Guiding youth in positive social development, personal accountability, and healthy peer interactions.
• Daily Wellness & Enrichment: Overseeing meaningful leisure time, personal hygiene routines, and structured enrichment activities.

Your role involves these core duties, as well as general support across the facility as required:

• Conduct behavior observations and assessments of individual youth detainees and groups of detained youth through active supervision, which is the intentional and focused monitoring of youth in custody utilizing the components of movement within the environment, situational awareness, and frequent pro‑social youth interactions.
• Prepare detailed incident reports for incidents that occur, document daily individual behavior summaries of youth, and both verbal and electronically documented daily unit and shift reports, individual youth records, and for juvenile counselors/workers and/or court purposes.
• Assist with the intake process of juveniles into the facility.
• Staff may be expected to collect and secure youth’s personal belongings, supervise and manage juveniles prior to screening to determine if youth will be admitted into the detention facility.
• Support the youth with problem‑solving conversations and restorative processes in partnership with our restorative justice coordinators.
• Ensure the safety and security of the detention facility at all times.
• Deliver prosocial role modeling and facilitate skill‑building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth through skill groups with an emphasis on developing pro‑social behaviors and skills.
• Oversee volunteers and/or contractors while they facilitate skill‑building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth.
• May assist with orientation of newly admitted youth to the juvenile detention facility by explaining facility rules and the facility behavior level system.
• Staff are expected to introduce youth to the structure of daily routines, outlining the expectations for behavior and providing information to youth on available programs and services.
• Staff will also ensure youth understand the importance of their safety, rights, and responsibilities within the detention facility.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Facility Layout: This position operates within a detention facility featuring two‑level housing pods. Candidates must have the physical ability to regularly navigate stairs throughout their shift to ensure proper supervision.

De‑Escalation & Crisis Response: Specialists must possess strong verbal de‑escalation skills to defuse volatile situations calmly and effectively.

Physical Intervention: Candidates must be willing and able to respond immediately to crisis situations. This includes the ability to physically intervene with youth who are violently acting out, which may involve the authorized use of physical restraints to ensure the safety of youth and staff.

Schedule & Availability Expectations

24/7 Operations: Our facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Shift Flexibility: Applicants must be willing and able to work a variety of shifts. This includes overnights, swing shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Essential Personnel Designation: Juvenile Custody Services Specialists are designated as Essential Personnel. You are required to report to work during inclement weather, natural disasters, or facility closures.

Continuous Duty Shifts: You may be on a continuous duty shift. On this shift you must remain on duty and may not be relieved for off‑site breaks during your scheduled shift.

Training and Development

We don’t just hire you—we invest in you. To ensure you feel confident, safe, and fully prepared to make an impact from day one, all new Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) complete a robust training program:

• Classroom & Hands‑On Instruction: Master the fundamentals during an intensive onboarding program, blending theory with practical, hands‑on safety skills.
• On‑the‑Job Training: Transition smoothly into the facility by shadowing designated, veteran trainers who will guide you through real‑world scenarios.

Workforce Equity

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement.

We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion.

Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

Department of Community Justice: Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at: www.multco.us/dcj.

To Qualify

Minimum Qualifications / Transferable Skills

• Education: Associate's degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, sociology, or a related field, AND;
• Required Experience: Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12‑18) in one of the following environments (Bachelor's degree may substitute for 1 year of the required experience): Detention or youth correctional facility,