Sergeant - MEDC

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice

Columbia (SC)

On-site

USD 42,000 - 65,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Health, dental, and life insurance

15 days annual leave

15 days sick leave

13 paid holidays

State retirement plans and deferred

Discount programs such as Ticket at

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice seeks a Sergeant to assist in directing Juvenile Correctional Officers and sustaining a safe, rehabilitative environment for youth. You will help manage posts, mentor staff, and ensure reporting and daily logs are completed accurately.

The role emphasizes crisis intervention, youth development, and adherence to agency policies, with shift work and potential overtime. A high school diploma is required, with CLEE and supervisor skills highly valued.

Qualifications

High school diploma required; CLEE-certified within 6 months of employment.
80% competency/proficiency exam score and supervisor/teaching skills.
Knowledge of state laws, institutional rules and youth-related statutes.
Ability to supervise and instruct youth and staff in a secure facility.
Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a state vehicle.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

Engage with youth daily to ensure safety, rehabilitation and well‑being.
Mentor and assist new security staff; support shift operations and staffing.
Respond to emergencies and conduct routine security inspections.
Supervise youth movements, headcount, and required reporting.
Provide training and guidance to staff; mediate disputes between youth and officers.
Ensure unit is properly clothed, stocked and hygienic; enforce grooming standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Crisis intervention

Judgment/initiative

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice

Job description

Mission

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

Job Purpose

Under general supervision of the Captain, the Sergeant will assist in instructing and directing Juvenile Correctional Officers in providing 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 posts 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.
Serves as a mentor for new security staff.
Provides support to new staff in maintaining youth headcount and completing all required reporting and daily logs.
Physically responds appropriately to emergency situations.
Conducts routine and unannounced security inspections per agency policy.
Conducts routine and unannounced frisk searches of 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.
Serves on all facility posts including specialized units and in various locations.
Provides training, direction and guidance to staff in an effort to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities.
Provides supervision and control, as well as leadership to the youth and staff in specialized programs, services and activities.
Assists with supervision of shift operation regarding employees and youth as needed.
Assists in maintaining the shift schedule, and coordinates staff coverage when necessary.
Makes routine and frequent inspection of all units to ensure that employees are performing duties in compliance and practices.
Ensures unit has adequate amount of clothing, linen, cleaning supplies and hygiene items for unit.
Ensures proper grooming of youth in unit.
Works to assist directly with any crisis intervention disputes amongst the youth, assist in controlling disruptive behavior.
Refers acute problems to appropriate staff.
Mediates disputes between youth and JCOs.
Provides input on performance evaluations of officers as requested.
Ensures all subordinate staff complies with agency policy and procedure, along with Federal and State law.
Complies with agency policy and procedure to complete required reports concerning youth and/or employee related incidents and any matters pertaining to the safety, security and operation of the facility.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

State minimum: High‑school diploma.
Special requirement: Must be an officer in compliance with and certified under CLEE within six (6) months of employment; must have an 80% rate on competency/proficiency exam and possess supervisor and teaching skills.
Knowledge of state laws, institutional rules, regulations and requirements for the control of youth / child abuse statutes.
Knowledge of purpose/methods/practices of secure facilities.
Knowledge of various methods of instructing / handling / supervising youth in various activities.
Interpersonal skills, patience and both verbal and non‑verbal communication skills.
Ability to exercise good judgment / initiative in a variety of situations.
Ability to build healthy relationships with youth and effectively communicate with them to promote respect and trust, and manage challenging behaviors in a mature and professional way in accordance with training.
Ability to establish / maintain satisfactory working relationships with fellow employees, families and general public.
Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a state vehicle.
Ability to follow a daily schedule, be accountable to facility processes, document events and activities, and supervise multiple youths effectively.

Essential Position

This role requires 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. The position is not sedentary; employees must be mobile and able to bend, lift, interact, and intervene with youth when applicable. Employees 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, and/or holidays) and be subject to mandatory overtime as needed by the facility.

Training

Training will be provided and will consist of completing the agency’s selected Behavioral Management training which includes Primary Restraint and Take‑Down techniques and on‑the‑job functions: handcuffing, prone positions, kicks and strike motions, joint manipulations, bending at the waist and torque motions, lifting hands above the head, breathing techniques for CPR/First Aid/AED, kneeling, walking or standing for extended periods, operating a motor vehicle, etc. Staff will attend and maintain Continuing Law Enforcement Education (CLEE) as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred agency requirements: A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related field with experience supervising, mentoring, and interacting with at‑risk youth.
21 years of age with a valid driver’s license and high‑school diploma or equivalent.
18 months of experience in correctional, security, military, or police work.
Must attend, pass and maintain all required DJJ training courses.

Benefits