How to become a juvenile corrections officer

College degrees are not always necessary for pursuing a career as a juvenile corrections officer (JCO), as one of the minimum requirements is simply a high school diploma or GED diploma. 

However, many facilities prefer their JCOs to have an associate or bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as criminal justice, criminal justice administration or correctional program support services.

Naturally, there are background checks, medical exams and physical assessments that aspiring JCOs need to pass. Many facilities also require specific training, which is usually provided by employers. The duration of training varies depending on which programs are used, but it can take from six to 12 weeks.

In addition to training, aspiring JCOs may want to consider enhancing their interpersonal communication skills, seek education on multiculturalism to properly assist inmates from different backgrounds and improve their public speaking skills. Most classes or programs will help with this.

By obtaining industry certifications, future JCOs can prepare themselves with greater knowledge and experience for handling a variety of situations that may arise on the job. Most certification programs can be completed within one to two years at any local community college or university. 

Some useful certifications for juvenile correctional officers are:

• First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor
• Certified Corrections Officer (CCO)
• Certified Corrections Manager/Juvenile (CCM/Juv)
• Security5 Certification
• Medication Aide Certification (MACE)

Some certifications require written or oral exams, certain work experience and regular renewal.

As of May 2023, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned an annual wage between $41,700 and $105,220, with a median of $61,800, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

BLS also notes the number of employees working in the correctional and probation field is projected to grow 3%, from 2022 to 2032. The average number of career openings in this decade is expected to be about 7,400 per year, likely due to the need to replace workers who transfer occupations or retire. In general, employment growth depends on the amount of state and local government funding for correctional departments. 

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Although employment growth and career enhancement depend on state and local government funding and can subsequently vary geographically, they are also impacted by your experience and the time you dedicate to a given role. As you gain experience, you’ll have more responsibilities, which may lead to advancement opportunities. 

There may be the potential to pursue managerial positions, such as warden. These positions typically require further education in criminal justice as well as leadership and managerial skills.

In general, the duties of a juvenile corrections officer focus on supervising and protecting juvenile inmates. Examples include:

• Filling out daily reports, which may include detailing inmate behavior and updating the population count of the facility
• Transporting inmates when necessary, including taking them to court hearings or medical facilities
• Monitoring the correctional facility so that it stays clean and safe
• Enforcing the facility’s rules
• Filling out incident reports in the case of altercations
• Providing proper security for inmates, especially those deemed high risk
• Reporting security breaches or other inappropriate behavior to their supervisors

Aside from security and supervision, juvenile correctional officers will work with therapists to assist them during any group or other counseling sessions.

They also teach the inmates skills for rehabilitative purposes, including behavioral management and problem-solving. 

Of course, a JCO may also be responsible for other tasks depending on the facility and the JCO’s rank. 

As in many careers, professional development is beneficial for career growth as the market changes. This is the case for JCOs, especially during a time when prison reform is being discussed and considered. 

Even though correctional officers receive a lot of training, sometimes it’s beneficial to learn new skills or understand how to mitigate new risks. To stay safe, remain up to date and limit liability, in other words, it’s important for correctional officers to keep up with training.

Sensitivity training

Sensitivity training allows correctional officers to properly assist inmates from different backgrounds and cultures. Educating themselves enables officers to make the best decisions for inmates who have a different sexual orientation or who come from a different ethnic background.

De-escalation techniques are essential for ensuring the safety of inmates and staff. Various training programs teach dozens of effective de-escalation techniques.

Scene management, team tactics and individual engagement are all part of de-escalation training. These tactics use time, distance and shielding to reduce the risk of harm to individuals involved. The goal is to promote thoughtful resolutions to the situations.

It's not uncommon for inmates to enter prison with underlying mental health conditions or develop such conditions during their sentence, so JCOs are taught how to identify the warning signs of and prevent inmate suicide. 

As a result, JCOs are also taught how to properly report a suicidal inmate. This training, in combination with suicide identification tactics, helps JCOs create and maintain a safer prison environment. 

Working in juvenile corrections is an important and rewarding career path with the potential to change lives for the better.

If you’re ready to start your career as a juvenile corrections officer or you work in the criminal justice field and are interested in enhancing your career opportunities, University of Phoenix (UOPX) can help. The University offers an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice that prepares graduates for a career in criminal justice and corrections. Graduates will learn foundational skills like how to apply interpersonal and collaborative skills that can be applied on the job direct from graduation.

The University also offers a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (CJA) and a Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services (CPSS). In the CJA program, students learn administrative practices and research procedures and how to apply those skills in criminal justice administration. In the CPSS program, graduates are armed with the skills to