About the role
Requisition No: 885290
Agency: Juvenile Justice
Working Title: JUVENILE JUSTICE DETENTION OFFICER I - 80037066
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 80037066
Salary: $1,676.76 Bi-weekly
Posting Closing Date: 10/24/2026
Total Compensation Estimator Tool
The Department of Juvenile Justice salutes our heroes.
We are honored to have the opportunity to support our nation’s veterans and their families.
We value the service given to our country and support the hiring of service members and military spouses.
The Right Service, the Right Way, at the Right Time
THIS POSITION IS A POOL ANNOUNCEMENT
MULTIPLE POSITIONS WILL BE HIRED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
At DJJ our focus is to enhance public safety through high-quality effective services for youth and families delivered by world-class professionals dedicated to building a stronger, safer Florida.
Working as a juvenile justice detention officer is one of the most rewarding and challenging career opportunities in the State of Florida.
As an officer, your primary responsibility is to ensure public safety by providing a safe and secure environment for troubled youth in a structured setting.
At DJJ, we expect youth to be accountable for their criminal actions while striving to sustain a culture that promotes dignity and respect.
Our goal is to treat each youth in our care as an individual by providing the right services, at the right time, in order to shape youth to become productive citizens in society.
As a detention officer, you are most often the first DJJ employee to interact with juvenile offenders. Therefore, leadership, coaching, mentoring, and a desire to work with youth are qualities that are essential.
For a complete description of duties and responsibilities, please click here.
Excellent Benefits Package:
104 hours of paid vacation annually.
96 hours of paid sick leave annually, with unlimited accrual of unused hours.
9 paid holidays, and 1 personal day each year.
6 paid credit hours per term at Florida’s colleges and universities.
Eligible for participation in student loan debt forgiveness program - affordable payments and possible balance elimination.
Participation in one of the best group health insurance and dental plans offered by any employer.
One of the most secure pension/investment plans available.
And so much more. For additional benefit options and information, please click here.
LOCATION, CONTACT AND SALARY INFORMATION:
Location Information: Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 5255 140th Ave N., Clearwater, FL 33760
Contact Person: Sarah Donnelly – AA II – 727-373-0325, email: Sarah.Donnelly@fldjj.gov
Minimum Biweekly Rate of Pay: $1,676.67 (In accordance with current spending restrictions, if the appointment is an internal promotion, the position will be filled at the minimum of the pay grade or up to 5% of the employee’s current rate, whichever higher.)
985.66 FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIREMENT:
Be at least 19 years of age.
Be a high school graduate or its equivalent as determined by the department.
Not have been convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any person, who after September 30, 1999, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement is not eligible for employment, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subparagraph, any person who pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement before October 1, 1999, and who has had such record of that plea sealed or expunged is not ineligible for employment for that reason.
Abide by all provisions of s. 985.644 (1), regarding fingerprinting and background investigations and other screening requirements for personnel.
Execute and submit to the Department an affidavit-of-application form, adopted by the Department, attesting to his or her compliance with subparagraphs 1-4. The affidavit must be executed under oath and constitutes an official statement under s. 837.06. The affidavit must include conspicuous language that the intentional false execution of the affidavit constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree. The Department shall retain the affidavit.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
Department policies and procedures and procedures for the care, custody and control of youth.
Facility Operating Procedures.
Safety procedures and conducting strip searches.
Good hygiene and housekeeping tasks relating to maintaining the sanitary conditions of the facility.
Skills in:
Recognizing signs of potential suicide or depression and changes in youth’s behavior.
Addressing issues of youth who are experiencing problems.
Ability to:
Determine appropriate level of use of force.
Provide constructive feedback to correct behavior and use of conflict management skills.
Prepare and maintain reports and records relating to the supervision of youth.
Add, subtract, multiply and divide rational numbers.
Communicate both orally and in writing and to effectively work with youth, co-workers, supervisors and the public.
SPECIAL NOTES:
DJJ Detention facilities operate 24/7/365 and positions require shift schedules. Staff members must be agreeable to working shift schedules, including rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays with varying days off. There may also be times when unplanned overtime or unscheduled double shifts are necessary.
All prospective candidates will be subject to a sex offender check, criminal background checks (state, local, and national) and pre-employment drug screening for direct care positions.
DJJ participates in E-VERIFY (Employment Eligibility).
When identified on a position description, a valid driver’s license is required. If initially hired with an out-of-state license, the Florida resident must obtain a valid Florida state driver’s license within 30 days of hire. Licenses suspended or revoked for any reason, work permits (Business purpose/Employment/education only licenses) and some types of restricted licenses are not acceptable. Licenses that have Corrective Lenses Restriction are acceptable, provided the driver wears corrective lenses while operating the vehicle.
Positions that include the transportation of youth while performing any work or work-related functions on behalf of DJJ, require: (1) a valid driver’s license; and (2) three-years acceptable driving record as defined in FDJJ Policy 1920.
Successful candidates must be certified in accordance with the Department direct care training policy and must obtain such certification within 180 days of employment.
For those candidates, not currently in the state system as a direct-care worker for DJJ at the time of application, the top-ranking candidate(s) after the interview phase will be required to take and pass an Ergometric’s IMPACT Assessment and Training Test in order to be considered for the direct-care employment opportunity. This test will be used to measure the candidate’s overall suitability for working with juvenile justice involved youth. Test results will be used for a period of six months after initial testing for candidates who reapply during that period for another position for which testing is required.
Pursuant to Florida law, the Florida Administrative Code, and in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations, the general staffing of a facility must be in an accordance with the male and female ratio of the juvenile population. The decision to hire a male or female employee based on a bona fide occupational qualification does not constitute discrimination, disparate treatment and/or a violation of civil rights.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.