Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.
Pay Range:
$30.18 - $40.18 HourlyDepartment:
Department of Community Justice (DCJ)Job Type:
Regular RepresentedExemption Status:
United States of America (Non-Exempt)Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
February 16 2026
The Opportunity:
Overview
Do you have a passion to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system
Do you want to make a difference in youths lives and the lives of their families
Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around
Are you passionate about helping others
Do you thrive when working on a team
If you answered yes to these questions we want you to join our team as a Juvenile Custody Services Specialist!
The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Detention is seeking committed enthusiastic and compassionate Juvenile Custody Services Specialists (JCSS) to serve a critical operational role within the Juvenile Detention Facility.
Working with culturally diverse juveniles you will be responsible for the guidance supervision security safety and general care of youth who present a variety of behavioral cognitive emotional and intellectual challenges. This work includes group and recreational programming facilitation of cognitive skill groups and fostering pro-social behavior. Documentation accurate record keeping and report writing are critical to this role.
Detention Facility
Using an interactive model of supervision we place particular emphasis on skill development engaging youth in prosocial development cognitive restructuring programming leisure time activities personal hygiene and enrichment activities.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Conduct behavior observations and assessments of individual youth detainees and groups of detained youth through active supervision which is the intentional and focused monitoring of youth in custody utilizing the components of movement within the environment situational awareness and frequent pro-social youth interactions.
Prepare detailed incident reports for incidents that occur document daily individual behavior summaries of youth and both verbal and electronically documented daily unit and shift reports individual youth records and for juvenile counselors/workers and/or court purposes.
Assist with the intake process of juveniles into the facility. Staff may be expected to collect and secure youths personal belongings supervise and manage juveniles prior to screening to determine if youth will be admitted into the detention facility.
Support the youth with problem-solving conversations and restorative processes in partnership with our restorative justice coordinators.
Ensure the safety and security of the detention facility at all times.
Deliver prosocial role modeling and facilitate skill-building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth through skill groups with an emphasis on developing pro-social behaviors and skills.
Oversee volunteers and/or contractors while they facilitate skill-building activities for individual youth and groups of detained youth.
May assist with orientation of newly admitted youth to the juvenile detention facility by explaining facility rules and the facility behavior level system. Staff are expected to introduce youth to the structure of daily routines outlining the expectations for behavior and providing information to youth on available programs and services. Staff will also ensure youth understand the importance of their safety rights and responsibilities within the detention facility.
Perform other duties as assigned
The detention facility has two-level pods that house youth. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to use verbal skills to de-escalate volatile situations. You must also be willing and able to respond to crisis situations including physically intervening with youth who may be violently acting out; this may involve the use of restraints. All Juvenile Custody Services Specialists must have the ability to regularly go up and down stairs.
The facility operates 24 hours a day seven days a week. Applicants must be willing to work a variety of shifts including overnight swing weekends and holidays. JCSS are Essential Personnel that are required to be at work regardless of inclement weather or building closures and work on a continuous duty shift which means that you may not be relieved of duty during your work day.
The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time part-time regular temporary limited duration and on-call positions.
Workforce Equity:
At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE:
Vision Community Safety through Positive Change
The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Departments commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision sanctions and services for the countys highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. The Department believes that in order to enhance public safety we must work collaboratively with the judiciary law enforcement schools treatment agencies and the community.
The Department shares information with community members partners and staff to keep communities safe by preventing and reducing crime and routinely evaluating which local policies support best practices. DCJ operates 24 hours a day with nearly 650 regular on-call and temporary employees. The Department supervises justice-involved individuals and those defendants requiring pretrial services. DCJs Juvenile Services Division operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility and is responsible for youth on formal and informal community supervision.
More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission vision and strategies can be found at: candidates: After you have applied you will receive an acknowledgement task and the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you complete and submit these tasks in Workday.
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience volunteering education and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.
Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:
Associates degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology sociology or a related field AND;
Two (2) years of responsible experience working with at-risk youth (12-18) in one of the following environments (Bachelors degree may substitute for 1 year of the required experience):
Detention or youth correctional facility
Youth residential setting
Setting that provides programming for at-risk youth
Successful completion of a battery of psychological tests / psychological evaluation.
Physical ability to respond to crisis situations with the youth including violent exchanges and must regularly climb up and down stairs.
Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes but is not limited to a review of applicants criminal civil driving military educational and employment history prior to employment.
Valid drivers license
Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.
Bachelors degree in a relevant field
Group facilitation skills
Experience working with justice involved youth (12-18)
Experience working in an alcohol and drug treatment facility or program
Experience working in a mental health treatment facility or program
Exceptional skill with Google calendar / documents and electronic record keeping
Training or education in trauma informed care restorative justice and adolescent brain development
Bilingual in Spanish and English
*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The Application Packet:
*Please be sure to provide all of the required materials below in your application submission.
Application: A completed online application.
Resume: An uploaded resume covering relevant experience and education. Please include the following for each employer: name of employer location dates of employment your title and a summary of your responsibilities.
The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:
Initial review of minimum qualifications
Phone screen oral exam or written exam may be used to determine the most qualified candidates
Consideration of top candidates/interviews
Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes but is not limited to a review of applicants criminal civil driving military educational and employment history prior to employment.
Psychological Evaluation
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Type of Position: This hourly position is eligible for overtime.
Type: Represented Essential Personnel
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Pay: Pay starts at $30.18 per hour and is not negotiable.
Schedule: 24/7 operation: variable schedules including weekends swing graveyard or relief schedules or a mixture of these.
Location: Onsite at the Juvenile Justice Complex-Detention Center @ 1401 NE 68th Ave Portland OR 97213
Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:
Health insurance (medical dental vision Moda or Kaiser Permanente).
Qualify for a defined benefit pension after five years of vesting; we pick up the employees share of the retirement contribution (6% of subject wages).
Generous paid leave (vacation sick parental bereavement military etc.)
Life insurance short-term and long-term disability insurance
Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
Free annual Tri-met bus pass
Access to wellness resources
Access to Employee Resource Groups
Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County we dont just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability veteran or protected veteran status genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.
Veterans Preference: Under Oregon Law qualifying veterans may apply for veterans preference. Review our veterans preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.
Questions
Recruiter:
Joanne CampbellEmail:
Phone:
1 (971)Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.
Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
Job Profile:
6273 - Juvenile Custody Services SpecialistRequired Experience:
IC
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