What are the responsibilities and job description for the JUVENILE JUSTICE SPECIALIST 1/2/3 position at Office of Juvenile Justice?
About this Job
The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) is committed to protecting the public by providing safe and effective individualized services to youth, who will become productive, law-abiding citizens. We are seeking compassionate, committed, and resilient individuals to serve as Juvenile Justice Specialists at levels 1, 2, or 3 depending on qualifications and experience. These frontline professionals play a vital role in supervising youth in secure care facilities, promoting rehabilitation, and ensuring a safe and structured environment. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people while advancing public safety and community well-being.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a high school diploma or GED; OR
One year of experience in any field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
An applicant who has been convicted of a felony or who is under indictment on a felony charge will be disqualified until relief from disabilities imposed by state and federal laws is granted.
In accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) (Part 115:17) of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations an applicant who has been found to have engaged in any form of sexual abuse; engaged in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable or refused will be disqualified.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
Supervise youth and help create a safe, structured, and treatment-focused environment.
Support therapeutic goals by modeling positive communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills for youth and staff.
Maintain accurate records on youth behavior, incidents, assessments, and daily activities, and prepare required reports.
Participate actively in treatment team meetings, sharing observations and recommendations to support youth progress.
Assist clinical staff with group activities, therapeutic programming, and crisis intervention when needed.
Conduct regular security checks of buildings, grounds, doors, gates, and fences to ensure safety and compliance with policy.
Monitor youth movement, maintain youth counts, and follow all procedures related to contraband control and emergency response.
Escort youth inside and outside the facility while maintaining appropriate security measures.
Participate in required training to enhance knowledge, skills, and job performance.
Perform related duties as assigned, including responding to emergencies, working shift schedules, and remaining available for 24-hour call.
Position-Specific Details:
Work Location: This vacancy is located at the Hammond Regional Office in Hammond, LA.
Appointment Type: Full-time, Probational
Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Juvenile Justice Specialist 1,2, or 3.
Compensation:
The Juvenile Justice Specialist 1 (pay grade level PS-105) has a Special Entrance Rate of $1,400.00 biweekly.
The Juvenile Justice Specialist 2 (pay grade level PS-106) has a Special Entrance Rate of $1,504.00 biweekly.
The Juvenile Justice Specialist 3 (pay grade level PS-108) has a Special Entrance Rate of $1,608.80 biweekly.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Garilyn London
OJJ/ Human Resources
Garilyn.London@la.gov
In the supplemental questions section, applicants must authorize the HR Office of Juvenile Justice to contact prior employers to check references under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) to be considered for employment.
The Office of Juvenile Justice is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment-related resources available for those with disabilities, refer to the Louisiana Employment Resource Guide.
If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you will need special accommodations.
NOTE: Prior to an appointment, the selected applicant must take and pass a drug screening test, possess a valid Louisiana Driver's License, and clear a background check.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/
Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx
Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
- Mardi Gras,
- Good Friday,
- Memorial Day,
- Independence Day,
- Labor Day,
- Veteran's Day,
- Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement – State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):
- Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
- Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
- Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others
Salary : $3,033 - $4,819