Juvenile Detention Officer Jobs
Juvenile Detention Officer jobs are open across county jails, state correctional facilities, and youth residential programs, at every level from entry-level officer to senior corrections specialist, with specializations in youth counseling, security operations, and case management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 38+ Juvenile Detention Officer jobs
Overview
As a Juvenile Detention Home Nurse, you’ll provide attentive, age-appropriate nursing care to young people in a secure residential setting. You’ll assess health needs, respond to urgent concerns, administer medications, and coordinate follow-up care while protecting each resident’s privacy and dignity. Your impact: Timely assessment and clear care coordination help residents receive appropriate support and help the care team make informed decisions.
Responsibilities
- Conduct intake screenings, patient assessments, physical examinations, and triage; document vital signs, findings, and care in electronic health records (EHR).
- Administer medications, injections, first aid, and treatments within your scope; provide catheter care, tube-feeding support, or IV infusion when indicated and authorized.
- Recognize changes in physical or behavioral health, respond to emergencies, and coordinate referrals, diagnostic evaluation, and discharge planning.
- Communicate with residents, caregivers, families, and the clinical team while following infection-control practices, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, and clinical confidentiality policies.
- Maintain accurate medical records and support continuity of care across shifts.
Qualifications
- Required: Current nursing license appropriate to the role and jurisdiction; current Basic Life Support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification as required.
- Required: Sound patient assessment, medication administration, medical documentation, and client communication skills.
- Preferred: Experience working with children or individuals with developmental disabilities; background in pediatrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health, acute care, or triage.
- Preferred: Familiarity with Epic or other electronic medical record (EMR) systems, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and infection control.
- Additional experience in hospital, nursing home, long-term care, or memory care settings is welcome.
Pay: From $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20.0 – 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Overview
As a Juvenile Detention Home Nurse, you’ll provide attentive, age-appropriate nursing care to young people in a secure residential setting. You’ll assess health needs, respond to urgent concerns, administer medications, and coordinate follow-up care while protecting each resident’s privacy and dignity. Your impact: Timely assessment and clear care coordination help residents receive appropriate support and help the care team make informed decisions.
Responsibilities
- Conduct intake screenings, patient assessments, physical examinations, and triage; document vital signs, findings, and care in electronic health records (EHR).
- Administer medications, injections, first aid, and treatments within your scope; provide catheter care, tube-feeding support, or IV infusion when indicated and authorized.
- Recognize changes in physical or behavioral health, respond to emergencies, and coordinate referrals, diagnostic evaluation, and discharge planning.
- Communicate with residents, caregivers, families, and the clinical team while following infection-control practices, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, and clinical confidentiality policies.
- Maintain accurate medical records and support continuity of care across shifts.
Qualifications
- Required: Current nursing license appropriate to the role and jurisdiction; current Basic Life Support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification as required.
- Required: Sound patient assessment, medication administration, medical documentation, and client communication skills.
- Preferred: Experience working with children or individuals with developmental disabilities; background in pediatrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health, acute care, or triage.
- Preferred: Familiarity with Epic or other electronic medical record (EMR) systems, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and infection control.
- Additional experience in hospital, nursing home, long-term care, or memory care settings is welcome.
Pay: From $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20.0 – 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 38 Juvenile Detention Officer Jobs
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Find JobsJuvenile Detention Officer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in juvenile detention officer jobs.
- High school diploma or GED with some employers requiring an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice
- Valid state-issued driver's license with a clean driving record
- Completion of a state-certified juvenile corrections or law enforcement basic training academy
- CPR, first aid, and AED certification current at time of hire
- Demonstrated experience or training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, or trauma-informed care
- Ability to pass a comprehensive background check, psychological evaluation, and pre-employment drug screening
Tips for Your Juvenile Detention Officer Job Search
Tailor your resume to facility type
County juvenile halls, state detention centers, and private residential programs each emphasize different skills. Highlight direct-supervision experience for government postings and de-escalation and counseling techniques for private or nonprofit facilities. One generic resume will not perform well across both.
List every relevant certification upfront
Employers screen fast, so put CPR, first aid, and any state-mandated juvenile justice certifications in a dedicated section near the top of your resume. If you completed a correctional officer basic training academy, name the academy and your graduation year explicitly.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists juvenile detention officer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by specific facility classification
Use terms like 'youth correctional officer,' 'juvenile corrections officer,' and 'detention counselor' in addition to the standard title. Many facilities post the same role under a state-specific job classification that differs from what you'd expect, and searching only one title will cause you to miss openings.
Prepare a scenario answer for each core duty
Interviewers for juvenile detention roles rely heavily on behavioral and scenario-based questions about restraint, de-escalation, and reporting incidents. Before your interview, write out a concrete example for each scenario: managing a youth in crisis, documenting a use-of-force incident, and handling a contraband discovery.
Follow up after a background check delay
Hiring timelines for juvenile detention officer roles stretch longer than most jobs because of mandatory background checks, psychological evaluations, and medical screenings. If you haven't heard back in three weeks after your final interview, send a brief written follow-up confirming your continued interest and asking for a status update.
Juvenile Detention Officer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most juvenile detention officers?
The most active employers for juvenile detention officers right now are The Aptus, Travis County, and Porter County Juvenile Services, and the most openings are in California, Ohio, and Idaho, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. County and state government agencies account for the largest share of open positions nationally.
How many juvenile detention officer jobs are remote?
About 10% of juvenile detention officer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most facility-based roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include case management coordination, training development, and administrative oversight positions within larger corrections agencies.
How do you become a juvenile detention officer?
Start by earning a high school diploma or GED, then pursue an associate or bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field to strengthen your application. Apply to openings at a county or state juvenile facility, complete the required background check and psychological screening, and finish any state-mandated basic training academy before beginning your first assignment.
Can you get hired as a juvenile detention officer with no experience?
Many county and state facilities hire entry-level candidates with no direct corrections experience as long as you meet the minimum education and fitness requirements. Volunteering at youth programs, completing an internship through a criminal justice degree program, or working in a related field such as youth residential care or social services strengthens an entry-level application considerably.
What does the juvenile detention officer interview process look like?
Most agencies conduct an initial application screening followed by a written exam or skills assessment, then one or more in-person interviews that include behavioral and scenario-based questions. Final candidates typically complete a physical fitness test, psychological evaluation, polygraph in some jurisdictions, and a thorough background investigation before receiving a conditional offer.
Where can I find and apply to juvenile detention officer jobs?
You can find and apply to juvenile detention officer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your location, experience level, and facility preference, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 38 Juvenile Detention Officer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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