Juvenile Detention Officer

Judicial-Branch-of-Arizona-in-Maricopa-Count; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Life insurance

Disability insurance

PSLF loan forgiveness

Job summary

The Juvenile Detention Officer position within the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is responsible for maintaining custody and security of detained youth, ensuring the safety of youth, staff, and the public. The role requires vigilance, teamwork, and decisive action during emergencies.

Shifts include day, evening, and night on a rotating basis at the Durango Detention Center in Phoenix. Applicants must meet health and background requirements and be willing to work assigned shifts,

Qualifications

• High school diploma is required.
• Must be at least 21 years old at detention academy.
• Background/reference check, polygraph, and pre-employment psychological evaluation required.
• TB testing required for detention positions.

Responsibilities

• Maintain custody, control, and security of detained youth and protect youth, staff, and public.
• Respond rapidly to emergencies, alarms, and safety signals in a detention environment.
• Provide clear verbal commands and document interactions for routine operations and crisis situations.
• Coordinate with staff to ensure safety, order, and crisis de-escalation.

Skills

Integrity

Teamwork

Critical thinking

Observation

Stress management

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Posting Date09/14/26Application Deadline10/04/26Pay RangeMin - 1st Quartile - Mid - Max$27.00 - $29.63 - $32.25 - $37.50**** $3,000.00 Sign-On Bonus! *****The above salary range is the expected starting pay for this position. Successful applicants will typically be compensated at a rate of $27.96/hr. Placement at a higher starting salary rate within the range may be considered depending on prior comparable, directly related law enforcement or corrections experience.This position is Non-Exempt under the FLSA.What We OfferWe offer generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and 10 paid holidays! We have affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance, and our employees are entitled to coverage by one of several State-sponsored retirement pension plans, our employee assistance program, and wellness incentives. Additionally, our employees have the option of life insurance, disability, a group legal plan, and pet insurance. Under the current guidelines for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, the Maricopa County Superior Court is a qualifying employer. Therefore, any full time Judicial Branch employee, who meets other eligibility criteria may be eligible for loan forgiveness under this program. Click here to learn more!Job TypeClassified – Judicial JMRDepartmentAbout the Position**** $3,000.00 Sign-On Bonus! *****The Juvenile Detention Officer (JDO) operates under the belief that all youth and families have the capacity for change while striving to provide a safe and secure environment in an institutional setting. Successful Juvenile Detention Officers have integrity, use teamwork and critical thinking to teach skills and to encourage youth offenders towards positive change while promoting accountability, responsibility, and positive values. This position is designated as safety sensitive.A JDO is responsible for maintaining custody, control, and security of detained youth and for protecting the safety of the youth, staff, and the public. This position requires continuous situational awareness and the ability to respond immediately and appropriately to unpredictable and potentially dangerous circumstances.To view our informational video about the position, Click here !Day, evening, and night shift work is required on a regular and rotating basis, and you must be available to work holidays and weekends. Applicants will work five (5) eight-hour shifts and will be hired for the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift or the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. shift, subject to staffing needs and availability. Assignments are at the Durango Detention Center located at 3131 W Durango, Phoenix, Arizona 85009.All Candidates will be required to complete a Candidate Assessment Day as part of the hiring process. The Assessment Day will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and consist of a tour of the detention facility and operations, screening assessments, and an interview. The following date is the last available Assessment Day for 2026. Please check your availability to attend prior to applying.Next Candidate Assessment Date:Wednesday, September 30thWednesday, October 7thTuesday, October 13thTo view our informational job page, Click here!About The Juvenile Probation Department:The Juvenile Probation Department of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is dedicated to providing innovative and efficient juvenile justice services grounded in evidence-based practices and research. These services improve the safety of our community, hold youth accountable through developmentally appropriate orientation, and ensure the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. Join our Juvenile Probation Department in its mission to promote public safety through positive change as we connect youth to the community and provide opportunities that are delivered with fairness, dignity and respect.Position QualificationsWe recognize your time is valuable, so please apply if you meet the following required qualifications :Education:High school diplomaOther Requirements:Pursuant to the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration Section 6-311: Juvenile Detention Standards, applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time they complete the detention academy.Candidates will be required to successfully complete a background/reference check, polygraph, and pre-employment psychological evaluation prior to hire.Positions in Detention are subject to Tuberculosis (TB) testing. All offers of employment are subject to successful completion of new employee processing and a negative TB result prior to the start date.Candidates must be able to safely and effectively perform the essential functions of this safety-sensitive position, with or without reasonable accommodation including but not limited to the ability to:Receive, interpret, and respond appropriately to verbal communications, emergency alerts/alarms, radio transmissions, and other safety signals in a detention environment.Maintain continuous situational awareness by observing youth behavior, movement, and environmental conditions in order to detect security risks, medical distress, contraband or threats of harm.Accurately identify individuals, actions, and objects at varying distances and in different lighting conditions sufficient to ensure the safety and security of detained youth, staff, and the public.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Knowledge of:Effective time management and organization techniques.Principles of positive youth development and engagement.Skill in:Critical analysis of individuals and situations to problem solve and make sound decisions.Seeing and paying attention to details.Demonstrating a rational and objective demeanor when faced with stressful or emotional situations, and acting objectively rather than impulsively or emotionally.Balancing and defusing tensions and stresses.Ability to:Apply principles and methods of correctional casework.Follow department policies, procedures, and protocols.Demonstrate a positive, open, and objective attitude towards others.Demonstrate flexibility by readily modifying, responding to, and integrating change with minimal personal resistance.Engage others in a constructive two-way conversation, to demonstrate patience, tact, courtesy, empathy, and tolerance.Appropriately engage in, establish, and maintain relationships with diverse populations of co-workers and detained youth.Provide continuous visual and auditory supervision of youth, recognize behaviors or conditions that may present a risk of harm, and intervene or initiate response procedures as appropriate.Maintain ongoing situational awareness.Ensure safety by effectively recognizing and responding to various signals, such as verbal communication, emergency alerts/alarms, radio communications, and other safety signals.Perform duties that require close attention to detail, as well as the ability to identify and respond to potential safety concerns in a detention environment.Essential Job Tasks(Candidates/employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. This is not an all-inclusive list of all job duties that may be required; employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned.)Maintains constant observation of youth behavior, movement, and environmental conditions in order to detect security risks, medical distress, contraband, or threats of harm.Receives, interprets, and appropriately responds to officer communications, emergency alerts, radio transmissions, and other safety signals in real time.Responds rapidly and effectively to emergencies, including fights, medical incidents, self-harm attempts, disturbances, and evacuation situations.Identify individuals, actions, and objects accurately in varied lighting conditions and distances sufficient to maintain safety and security within a detention environment.Provide clear verbal commands and written documentation during routine operations and crisis situations.Coordinate responses with other staff in dynamic and potentially life-threatening situations.Supervises all juveniles in a fair and respectful manner regardless of admission reason.Maintains order and safety through positive engagement, rapport building, and crisis de-escalation techniques.Restores and maintains security, order, and schedules of activities; takes appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions.Determines and applies approved restraint techniques to control and mitigate disturbances.Knows and adheres to all department policies and standard operating procedures and instructs juveniles on rules, procedures, and expectations.Performs crisis intervention functions to include counseling, suicide prevention, recognizing abnormal behavior, and takes appropriate actions.Searches people, clothing, mail items, and objects capable of concealing contraband; searches buildings and large outdoor areas; inspects juveniles with reasonable. suspicion; confiscates and properly logs and disposes of contraband.Transfers and transports youth on foot, in vehicles, or other forms of transportation.Maintains the safety and security of detained youth in all areas of the detention facility, on the facility grounds, and when escorting youth outside of the secured detention facility.Develops, presents, and engages youth in meaningful transitional programming to provide skill development.Establishes, monitors, and maintains detailed case files, ensuring accurate and complete documentation of juvenile’s behaviors, attitudes, and actions; prepares thorough and detailed reports and maintains records as necessary.Develops and maintains effective and appropriate professional relationships with youth, co-workers, treatment team members, and outside agencies.Controls access to and from the facility; maintains active visual and auditory supervision of youth for extended periods of time; operates and monitors surveillance and electronic security equipment as assigned.Performs, as needed, basic first aid procedures, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Assists, as needed, in courtroom sessions.Working Conditions:Work will be conducted in a secure detention facility. Work regularly requires climbing stairs, standing, maintaining focus and active visual and auditory supervision of detained juveniles and may include noisy, crowded areas. It may include exposure to disruptive people, uncomfortable physical conditions, including heat, cold, wetness, strong odors, dust, pollen, and blood borne pathogens. May include kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, lifting, grasping, hearing, seeing (including ability to clearly distinguish and identify colors), and repetitive motions. Requires frequently exerting force up to 20 pounds, and occasionally 50 pounds of force to move objects. Requires sufficient strength and coordination for restraining and/or carrying the weight of adults, may require driving.Must be willing to work any shifts as assigned that may include nights, weekends, and holidays.An applicant must be able to perform the above essential functions in a manner that does not pose a direct threat, defined as a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the employee or others.The Judicial Branch will evaluate applicants on an individualized basis consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act to determine whether any reasonable accommodation would enable safe performance of essential functions.Additional InformationJudicial Branch Human Resources reserves the right to move forward candidates based on the information provided directly on the application. The hiring authority will select the successful candidate based on departmental needs.Typically, successful candidates are hired at a salary rate up to the midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience, internal equity, and budgetary allowances.All Judicial Branch offers of employment and continued employment are contingent upon passing a thorough background and/or fingerprint check. Applicants must completely and fully answer any questions regarding felony and misdemeanor convictions including any convictions that have been expunged or set aside. Failure to include criminal history information is grounds for termination of an offer and employment. A conviction may not automatically disqualify an applicant.The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County participates in the State Retirement systems ASRS or PSPRS. As such, mandatory membership for all full-time employees includes payroll deducted contributions consistent with each retirement system's requirements. The current contribution rate for ASRS is 12.27% and the current contribution rate for PSPRS is 5.84% and up for the defined contribution plan and 8.82% for the defined benefit plan. For more information about contributions and benefits of these plans visit https://www.azasrs.gov/ or https://www.psprs.com/corrections-officer/Judicial Branch facilities are located throughout Maricopa County. This position may be reassigned to other locations. Assignments will be made based upon the needs of the department.The Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.