Juvenile correctional officers are responsible for maintaining peace, order and security inside the correctional facility where they work. Aside from these three main functions, they also provide secure transportation, assist in therapy treatments, and maintain all the required reports, logs and records. They must be physically and mentally prepared to handle the challenges that correctional facilities may bring which include suicide and escape attempts, riots, fights and other emergencies.

Just to give you an idea of the specific duties pertaining to this position, here are some of the examples:

1.Serve as youth supervisor in charge of safety, personal conduct, care and rehabilitation.

2.In charge of contraband search; head counts, feeds and supervision in dormitories, classes, and other areas as well as performs security duties where needed.

3.Develops professional and effective relationships with youth, co-workers and other employees within the facility.

4.Assists youth in personal problems and refers these issues to the proper personnel within the facility for assessment and further assistance.

5.Performs "pat" and "strip searches" if necessary to insure security and safety for everyone within the facility.

Juvenile correctional officers can work at drug treatment centers or youth correctional facilities. They may also be requested to participate in special community programs from time to time. Although most correctional facilities do not really require formal educational requirements beyond a high school diploma or GED, training is still needed. If you are interested in getting into this line of work, here are some of the requirements that you need to have:

a.Pre-employment drug testing must be accomplished

b.Finger printing, criminal records check and driving records check must be completed

c.Fitness-for-duty assessment to determine suitability for the job

d.Must pass full physical exam

e.Is 18 years of age or older

f.US Citizen

g.A psychological exam may also be required depending on the corrections facility and position that you are applying for.

The requirements mentioned are generalized and may differ from one facility to the next. Once selected, you will be required to take up additional training. This may last anywhere between three to ten weeks and is designed to prepare you for the job. The duration of the correctional officers training will depend on the facility itself and must be completed satisfactorily.

Additional requirements may require previous work experience related to the position being applied for. Some jobs may require between two to four years of college education in criminal justice or law enforcement. So if you are really interested in advancing your career as a juvenile correction facility officer, getting a degree in criminal justice will be helpful.

If you want to know more about the additional duties and specific requirements to be a juvenile correctional officer, try checking the internet to learn more and see which facilities near you are hiring. It is very likely that they will tell you what they are looking for. They may also provide downloadable forms to help you get started quickly.

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