Pros and Cons of a Juvenile Corrections Officer Career
A juvenile corrections officer spends the majority of their time guarding and transporting prisoners. Check out the following pros and cons to discover if this is the right career for you.
| Pros of a Juvenile Corrections Officer Career |
|---|
| Minimal education requirements* |
| May find personal rewarding to helping youth strive for positive change** |
| Most facilities will allow you to begin work at age 21* |
| Jobs available in all states* |
| Cons of a Juvenile Corrections Officer Career |
|---|
| One of the highest non-fatal, on-the-job injury rates * |
| Slower than average job opportunity increase (5% between 2012-2022) * |
| High stress levels at work * |
| Job may require long and/or irregular hours * |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **California Division of Juvenile Justice
Career Information
Job Description and Duties
One of the main duties of a juvenile correctional officer is to ensure that the rules of the institution are enforced. This may entail tasks such as searching inmates and their cells for contraband or ensuring that situations remain calm and under control during visits from family and friends. You'll need strong communication skills to deal with the prisoners, as well as to write conduct reports. You should also be able to balance empathy with the need for structure, and in crisis situations, you may be required to display negotiation skills.
Salary and Employment Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for correctional officers in general were expected to increase by only 5% between 2012 and 2022. This refers to additional jobs being created, and you may still find many job openings due to a high turnover rate in personnel. The BLS also noted that as of May 2014, correctional officers in general earned an annual mean wage of about $44,910.
What Are the Job Requirements?
Usually, you must have a GED or high school diploma for an entry-level position, but federal prisons are now requiring applicants to have a bachelor's degree. You may need to prove that you're physically fit and healthy to meet the challenges of this job. Correctional officers must also be at least 21 years old and be able to pass criminal background checks as well as drug screenings.
What Do Employers Look for?
Most employers stress the need to meet the minimum requirements for this job while others seek extra skills or knowledge. Below are overviews of three job postings for juvenile correctional officers from November 2012.
- A Kansas facility was looking for a juvenile corrections officer to supervise residents and visitors. You must be 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. You must also be able to pass a drug screening, criminal background check and meet physical fitness standards.
- A youth corrections officer position in Montana required you to have a high school diploma (or GED) and one year of any type of work experience. You must be able to physically restrain inmates in crisis situations and interpret group dynamics and behavior. Communication skills are essential and the ideal candidate will be a role model for incarcerated young men.
- An interim facility in Ohio sought a juvenile corrections officer with the ability to handle crisis intervention situations. You'll need to be able to qualify for CPR and first aid certification, have the equivalent of a high school education and a valid driver's license. An ideal candidate will have experience working with youthful offenders in a correctional setting. Experience in behavioral science or criminal justice settings is also desirable.
Standing Out in the Field
Finding ways to bring experience or knowledge to an entry-level position might seem difficult. There are a few ways you can accomplish this goal and gain some insight into the field before you begin your career search.
Earn a Degree
Schools offer a variety of programs that can help you get ahead. There are programs in criminal justice, psychology, behavioral science and even juvenile justice. You can earn a certificate at some schools that requires less time and money, or you can earn a general education associate's degree that allows you to fill your curriculum with courses that you feel might help you in your work. Some schools offer you access to internship programs that allow you to work in juvenile correctional facilities under the guidance of an experienced staff member.
Volunteer
Another way to get a head start is to do volunteer work in a related field. Some juvenile correctional facilities welcome volunteer workers to help with various tasks, ranging from tutoring inmates to helping out with special events. Organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters need volunteers to become mentors and friends to at-risk children all across America.
Get Certification
The American Correctional Association offers Juvenile Justice Staff certifications. There are four levels of certification offered through this institution. You might find these certifications helpful when you advance in your career.
Alternative Careers
Careers that allow you to work with the same type of troubled youth in a more positive way are probation officers and correctional treatment specialists. The jobs can be stressful while you're working with potentially dangerous offenders and difficult family members, but many people receive personal satisfaction by helping some offenders turn their lives in positive directions. Hours can be long and irregular. The jobs usually require a bachelor's degree in an area such as criminal justice, psychology or a related field. The BLS noted that probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned an annual mean wage of over $52,000 as of May 2011 and predicted an employment rate increase of 18% in these areas during the 2010-2020 decade.
You can work with underage minors before they are incarcerated by becoming a police officer. The education requirements range from 12th grade education to a bachelor's degree, depending on the employer, but federal positions require a minimum of a bachelor's degree. Academy training is also required and on-the-job training periods follow. According to the BLS, employment opportunities for police and detectives should increase by 7% between 2010 and 2020, which is lower than average. The annual mean wage earned by police and sheriff's patrol officers in May 2011 was about $56,000 and the highest salaries being offered were in New Jersey and California.
