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What is a juvenile corrections officer and how to become one
Juvenile corrections officers work in facilities that incarcerate minors, ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, fellow officers, and the minors themselves. Although their duties are similar to that of a corrections officer in an adult incarceration facility, the job of juvenile corrections officers focus more on rehabilitating minors than punishing them. Hence, many juvenile corrections officers also serve as mentors to the minors that they manage.
The main duties of a juvenile corrections officer revolve around keeping a close watch on inmates, regularly keeping headcount, conducting searches for contraband, documenting behaviors, and communicating with inmates to provide support and mentorship that will help them lead a better life.
A high school diploma or GED is often the minimum requirement for this role, but some facilities prefer their juvenile corrections officers to have an associate's or bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a similar field. They must also have adequate training (which is usually provided on the job) to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to perform their job duties well. Apart from that, an aspiring juvenile corrections officer must also pass multiple background checks and medical exams before getting hired.
The work environment of a juvenile corrections officer is inherently risky. Hence, this role requires mental alertness, physical strength, and a strong mental state to ensure one's own safety.
What general advice would you give to a juvenile corrections officer?
Jill Myers
Director of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
Avg. Salary $42,103
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.99%
Asian 2.11%
Black or African American 15.74%
Hispanic or Latino 19.33%
Unknown 5.26%
White 56.56%
Genderfemale 42.97%
male 57.03%
Age - 40American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 40Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Juvenile corrections officer career paths
Key steps to become a juvenile corrections officer
Explore juvenile corrections officer education requirements
Start to develop specific juvenile corrections officer skills
Skills Percentages Public Safety 23.71% Behavioral Management 9.19% Crisis Intervention 6.49% General Supervision 5.29% Facility Security 5.28% Complete relevant juvenile corrections officer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New juvenile corrections officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a juvenile corrections officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real juvenile corrections officer resumes.Gain additional juvenile corrections officer certifications
More About CertificationsJuvenile corrections officer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific juvenile corrections officer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for juvenile corrections officers include Certified Corrections Officer/Juvenile (CCO/Juv) and Certified Corrections Manager/Juvenile (CCM/Juv).
Research juvenile corrections officer duties and responsibilities
- Manage behavior modification and offender restoration rehabilitation.
- Present and butts positive role model youth supervision and dorm management skills to dorm JCO staff.
- Enforce policies and procedures of DJJ.
- Provide exceptional customer service to contract venders of DJJ.
Prepare your juvenile corrections officer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your juvenile corrections officer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a juvenile corrections officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable juvenile corrections officer resume templates
Build a professional juvenile corrections officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your juvenile corrections officer resume.
Apply for juvenile corrections officer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a juvenile corrections officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first juvenile corrections officer job
Are you a juvenile corrections officer?
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Average juvenile corrections officer salary
The average juvenile corrections officer salary in the United States is $42,103 per year or $20 per hour. Juvenile corrections officer salaries range between $30,000 and $57,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do juvenile corrections officers rate their job?
Juvenile corrections officer reviews
The pay is not worth what you have to do sometimes
I enjoy working with different officers from many places around the country. Working a 12 hour shift 4 days a week with 2 days off, makes the people you work with all like family. Enjoy seeing I/M's getting released.
I don't like jumping shifts day to night and so forth. it tends to mess up the internal clock.
Updated January 8, 2025
