Juvenile Institutions Officer I Monterey County

The Probation Department is a law enforcement agency within the County of Monterey, with 5 major divisions: 4 operational divisions (Adult, Juvenile, Juvenile Hall, and Youth Center), and one infrastructure division, Administration, which includes Finance, Personnel, Training, Grants and Contracts, and Technology.  The Department has about 290 permanent positions (with the majority being sworn officers), in addition to temporary staff and interns. Probation is a fast-paced environment which requires excellent customer services skills, personal initiative, adaptive thinking, strong ethics and commitment while maintaining a sense of family and camaraderie.

Position Summary
The Monterey County Probation Department is seeking qualified individuals to fill vacancies for Juvenile Institution Officer I. The Juvenile Institutions Officer is responsible for the safety and well-being of youth referred to the Juvenile Hall detention center.  The primary function of a Juvenile Institution Officer is to direct and supervise the routine daily activities of detained youths – e.g., school, yard work, meals, and recreational activities.  Other duties of the position include providing situational counseling according to individual and group needs, explaining and participating in the enforcement of facility rules and regulations, providing transportation to and from the institutions, and preparing written reports and evaluations.  Juvenile Institution Officers must have the ability to maintain consistent and regular attendance as well as the ability to work well with others.  

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will possess a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness, strong written and verbal communication, excellent command presence, good moral character, integrity, flexibility, and credibility.

The eligible list established by this recruitment may be used to fill permanent or temporary vacancies as they arise.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

Examples of Duties

• Maintains security for all staff and minors; conducts searches on clients upon entry into the facility or as required; and conducts required area searches; conducts intake and release procedures.
• Maintains discipline; orients youth to juvenile facilities by distributing rules, demonstrating certain procedures, and explaining both legal and custodial procedures appropriate to situation(s) of detained juveniles.
• Maintains proper health measures for all minors; may be required to dispense prescribed medication and document the information in medical logs; administers CPR and First Aid as necessary; makes visual checks of minors for health and security purposes.
• Assesses behavior of clients, and prepares individual reports on progress and behavior which are submitted to the Juvenile Court; completes incident reports and other documents and notations for departmental files.
• Organizes and conducts recreational activities; may develop, teach and conduct recreational or work skill programs; oversees work programs, i.e., routine cleaning and maintenance; performs and/or instructs minors in maintenance and housekeeping, including laundry and kitchen assistance.
• Physically intervenes in physical confrontations between minors or between minor(s) and staff; physically restrains minors who are behaving in a violent manner until able to control their own behavior.
• Transports and supervises minors out of the facility in secure custody to medical appointments, court appearances, hospital, etc.
• Monitor daily activities of minors.

To view the complete job description, visit the Monterey County website: Juvenile Institutions Officer I (Download PDF reader)

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

Some Knowledge of: 

• Physical and psychological development patterns of children and adolescents.
• Factors contributing to delinquent behavior and attitudes of juveniles and adults, such as peer pressure, family environments, and role modeling. 

Skill and Ability to:  

• Maintain objective attitude and relationships with delinquent juveniles and probationers.
• Interview and counsel individuals from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Model appropriate behavior and attitude.
• Recognize health and behavioral problems in minors.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is: 
 
Experience:
Approximately three months experience working with youth and/or adults in an institutional
setting providing custodial care.

Approximately three months experience as a group leader planning and organizing recreational activities of youth and/or adults.

Approximately six months experience providing general counseling to youth and/or adults, in
either a group or one-to-one situation.

Education:
Approximately 30 units of college course work in Administration of Justice, Psychology,
Recreation or related fields.

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 
The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Work flexible hours, including shift work, weekends and holidays as required by assignment.
• Wear a uniform, carry a firearm and use officer safety equipment as required by assignment.
• Possess a valid California Class C Driver’s License at time of appointment and have and maintain a satisfactory driving record.
• Possess or obtain within sixty days of employment, Basic First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificates.
• Complete required training for California Standards and Training for Corrections (S.T.C.) and become certified by the Corrections Standard Authority within one year from date of appointment.
• Juvenile Institution Officer I must successfully complete, as demonstrated by satisfactory level of proficiency or relevant achievement tests, the Probation Officer core training course in Standards and Training for Corrections Program within one year from date of appointment.
• Satisfactorily meet the standards of Monterey County Probation Department Hiring Authority, including: Background Investigation, Pre-employment Drug and Alcohol Test, Physical Agility Test, and Psychological Evaluation.
• BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS: May come in contact with infectious organisms such as body fluids, blood, airborne contagions, or contaminated water. May come in contact with plant, animal or food material or waste.

Probation Officer positions have Peace Officer status, and the following requirements in
Government Code 1029, 1029.1, 1031 and Penal Code 830.5 shall apply. Please note:

• Must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High School diploma or GED (average standard score of 45, with no score less than 35).
• No felony convictions.

BENEFITS:
Monterey County offers an excellent benefits package. To view the M Unit Benefit Summary please visit our website M Unit Benefit Summary Sheet This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

Martin Rivera