Youth Detention Specialist

Island County, WA is seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Youth Detention Specialist to join our team. As a key member of our juvenile justice system, you will be responsible for the supervision and care of juveniles detained in our facilities.

• Supervise and Care for Juveniles: Provide a safe and secure environment for juveniles, ensuring their physical and emotional well-being.
• Conduct Intake Procedures: Interview, book, and establish criteria for admittance or release from detention, submitting recommendations to the Detention Supervisor.
• Maintain Visual Supervision: Monitor juveniles in assigned residential units or functional areas, attending to their physical whereabouts, health, and emotional moods.
• Operate Security Systems: Utilize electronic audio/video surveillance equipment and other life support/security systems to maintain facility security.
• Crisis Counseling and Support: Provide crisis counseling and support to juveniles, addressing their conduct, attitudes, and relationships with each other.
• Assist with Visitation Procedures: Process the release of juveniles and assist with visitation procedures as needed.
• Prepare Incident Reports: Document daily activities and submit detailed incident reports to the supervisor on a daily basis.
• Lead and Participate in Activities: Guide, direct, supervise, and train juveniles in indoor activities, games, and arts and crafts sessions.
• Meet Juveniles' Needs: Ensure the general needs of juveniles are met, including health and physical needs, and assist with personal grooming.
• Protect Against Escape and Abuse: Be alert for and protect against escape, illness, sexual activities, and physical abuse on a daily basis.
• Communicate with Colleagues: Communicate effectively with fellow Juvenile Detention officers and/or intake officers on a daily basis.
• Fill Out Reports and Charts: Complete daily observation charts, checklists, room checks lists, and other forms as required, and supervise cleanup details.
• Use Physical Force and Restraint: Use appropriate physical force and restraint techniques to subdue and restrain detainees, and perform interventions as required.
• Transport Juveniles: Operate motor vehicles to escort and transport juvenile detainees to other facilities or institutions as required.

• Age Requirement: Must be 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Criminal Background Check: Must be free of any convictions with sexual motivation, illegal drug-related or alcohol-related crimes, crimes involving the use of a firearm, violent offenses, or a crime involving the commission of domestic violence.
• Valid Driver's License: Must provide a valid Washington State Driver's License or obtain one by the time of employment.
• Education and Experience: High School diploma or GED and experience working with youth, including lived experience and volunteer/employment experience in working with youth.

Island County offers a wide range of employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement, life flight, paid holidays, paid time off, and flexible spending accounts.