H-1B Visa Detention Officer Jobs
Detention Officer roles present a real H-1B specialty occupation challenge: most positions are government-run, and public agencies can't petition for H-1B workers. Private corrections contractors and detention facility operators are the employers to target, since they file LCAs with DOL and can sponsor H-1B petitions under the standard cap.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Functions as an entry level Juvenile Detention Officer providing direct supervision to youths in a 24-hour detention facility.
Responsibilities
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Provides day-to-day direct supervision to youths in a 24-hour detention facility in a manner that ensures the health, safety and welfare of each youth is in compliance with departmental policies and procedures and all applicable standards.
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Provides individual and group counseling to all youths to promote and increase personal awareness of responsibilities and alternatives.
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Makes critical and sound judgments and decisions during crisis or potentially dangerous situations, only in the absence of the supervisor; informs supervisor of problems or situations encountered and actions taken; and documents actions.
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Disciplines youths by enforcing the rules of the facility, documents behavior and other specific information and forwards to appropriate personnel.
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Serves as back-up to staff and assumes all duties as necessary, i.e., administering medications, transporting youths to appointments, processing intake assessments or discharges, and disciplining youths.
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Must be physically able to perform “handling with care techniques, including takedowns, chasing and restraining youth” as outlined in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) requirement.
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Conducts inspections, rounds and drills which includes room checks and physical searches of youths.
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Transports youths to and from appointments.
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Coordinates and provides daily educational and entertaining programs and activities.
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Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited high school/GED program.
Special Requirements/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
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Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, departments and the general public.
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Must obtain First Aid/CPR Certification within 90 days of hire.
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Must be certified as required by applicable standards for the facility/department assigned within six months of employment. Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license, with a good driving record.
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Must pass an extensive background investigation.
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Mandatory drug testing prior to employment and will be subject to random, unannounced drug and/or alcohol testing during employment.
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The employee will also be subject to shift changes.
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“Position requires working with juveniles who may have committed dangerous/aggressive acts; should possess a high tolerance for working in an emotionally demanding/stressful work environment.”
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An employee may be transferred to another department, shift, location, or facility based on the needs of the Department.
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Working in a 24-hour facility may make the employee subject to working mandatory overtime or remaining on duty and working all, or a part of, an additional shift (“double shift”).
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The incumbent is/may be considered to be ‘essential personnel’ subject to being held over or called back to a work location or alternate site at all times. When required, you will be notified by your supervisor.
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Must be at least 21 years of age (for applicable positions) and must pass all portions (physical/written) of the Juvenile Academy to continue employment or all standards related to PREA and Ethics for specific positions.
Physical/Environmental Requirements:
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Works inside a secured facility with potential exposure to hepatitis, tuberculosis, lice and other diseases.
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Ability to restrain and/or chase youths.
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May be required to utilize vehicle to transport youths.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Detention Officer
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
H-1B approval for Detention Officers requires demonstrating specialty occupation status. Pull the O*NET profile for this role and document how your bachelor's degree in criminal justice, psychology, or a related field directly ties to the duties listed in the job description.
Target private detention contractors specifically
Federal and state-run detention facilities can't sponsor H-1B visas. Focus your search on private operators like GEO Group and CoreCivic, which file LCAs through DOL and have established H-1B sponsorship infrastructure for facility-based roles.
Check LCA filings before applying
Use Migrate Mate to filter Detention Officer roles by employers with verified LCA filing history. This tells you which private contractors have actively sponsored H-1B workers in this job category, so you're not guessing at sponsorship willingness mid-process.
Confirm prevailing wage level before negotiating
DOL's OFLC Wage Search shows the prevailing wage for Detention Officers by location and experience level. Your H-1B petition requires the employer to certify they'll pay at least that wage, so knowing the Level I through IV range before your offer letter protects you.
Account for security clearance timing in your H-1B window
Many detention facilities require background investigations that can run 60 to 90 days after hire. Confirm with USCIS that your H-1B start date gives you enough runway to clear the investigation before your authorized status lapses.
Detention Officer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Detention Officer JobsDetention Officer H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a government-run detention facility sponsor an H-1B visa?
No. Federal, state, and county agencies that operate detention facilities are not eligible to file H-1B petitions because government entities are excluded from the program under USCIS rules. Only private employers can sponsor H-1B workers. If you're targeting Detention Officer roles, your focus should be on private corrections and detention contractors, which are the employers with active LCA filing history.
Does a Detention Officer role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the employer structures the role. USCIS requires that the position normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Detention Officer jobs with clearly defined requirements in criminal justice, behavioral science, or psychology have a stronger case. Generic security officer postings with no degree requirement won't qualify. Review the O*NET profile and make sure the job description your employer uses matches specialty occupation standards before filing.
How do I find private detention employers who sponsor H-1B visas?
Search Migrate Mate for Detention Officer roles filtered by H-1B sponsorship history. This surfaces employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications with DOL for this job category, which is the clearest indicator of genuine sponsorship capability. Approaching employers with a documented filing track record is more effective than cold-applying and asking about sponsorship later.
What happens to my H-1B status if my detention facility employment ends?
You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new H-1B sponsor, change to another nonimmigrant status, or depart the U.S. USCIS established this grace period under the 2017 DHS rule. If you find a new employer within that window, they can file an H-1B transfer petition with a request to maintain your status while it's pending.
Do security clearance requirements affect the H-1B petition timeline for Detention Officers?
Security clearance investigations run separately from USCIS processing and aren't part of the H-1B petition itself. The employer can file your I-129 petition before the clearance is complete, but you typically can't start in the role until both are resolved. If you're using premium processing through USCIS, your petition can be adjudicated in as few as 15 business days, but clearance timelines are controlled by the employer's vetting process and vary by facility.
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