How To Become A Juvenile Detention Officer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a juvenile detention officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A juvenile detention officer primarily works in a juvenile detention facility, ensuring the security of the premises and the well-being of inmates. They work with minors who have been charged with delinquency or crimes as well as incarcerated minors.

Some of their more specific responsibilities include processing documents of new and outgoing inmates, monitoring inmate behavior and activity, and performing perimeter and interior security checks.

This job position may entail exposure to potential danger and physical harm, so a juvenile detention officer is required to undergo at least six months of training from a police or military academy and complete the on-the-job training that goes with it. They also have to be knowledgeable about the legal guidelines of a state or county.

A juvenile detention officer may work non-traditional hours, since a detention facility needs staff 24 hours per day. They are also expected to be on-call to respond to emergency situations.

Their skills include good communication skills, physical stamina, ability to cope with stressful situations, and deep understanding of law enforcement procedures and policies.

ScoreJuvenile Detention OfficerUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $49,263

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate -10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.94%

Asian 2.02%

Black or African American 15.91%

Hispanic or Latino 18.85%

Unknown 5.25%

White 57.02%

Gender

female 40.52%

male 59.48%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a juvenile detention officer

Explore juvenile detention officer education requirements

Most common juvenile detention officer degrees

Bachelor's

55.8 %

Associate

20.8 %

High School Diploma

11.8 %

Start to develop specific juvenile detention officer skills

Skills	Percentages
Detention Facility	12.27%
Direct Supervision	10.31%
Juvenile Detention	8.46%
CPR	7.52%
Incident Reports	4.03%

Complete relevant juvenile detention officer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New juvenile detention 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 detention officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real juvenile detention officer resumes.

Gain additional juvenile detention officer certifications

Juvenile detention 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 detention officer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for juvenile detention officers include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and Certified Corrections Officer (CCO).

More About Certifications

Research juvenile detention officer duties and responsibilities

Manage booking area and process all non-English speaking detainees; streamline process and reduce confrontational situations through effective communication and leadership.
Attend regular training and maintain appropriate certifications such as CPR, first aid, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention.
Provide counseling, guidance, and assessment services for juvenile rehabilitation in a youth detention facility.
Operate and log information into JIS data system.

Prepare your juvenile detention officer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your juvenile detention 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 detention 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 detention officer resume templates

Build a professional juvenile detention 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 detention officer resume.