JUVENILE DETENTION SPECIALIST

Salary : $40,163.76 AnnuallyLocation : SANFORD, FLJob Type: FULL-TIMEJob Number: 01064Department: FAMILY & COMMUNICATION SERVICESLocation: JUVENILE DETENTION CENTEROpening Date: 01/07/2026Closing Date: 5/12/2026 11:59 PM EasternClassified Service: NoGeneral DescriptionThe Seminole County Sheriff's Office is now accepting applications for the position of JUVENILE DETENTION SPECIALIST ASSIGNED TO THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERThe Juvenile Detention Specialist assigned to the Juvenile Detention Center performs generalized corrections work in the care, custody, and control of juvenile detainees.PLEASE NOTE: SELECTED APPLICANT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A NIGHT SHIFT POSITIONREQUIRED DOCUMENTEach applicant must complete a NOTARIZED Background Investigation WaiverFailure to submit this document will disqualify your application. The waiver must be notarized and submitted with the application. A link for the form has been provided in red above.Applications must be submitted before the closing date of May 12, 2026.Typical DutiesILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES: The duties listed below are in addition to the duties assigned under the associated job description. The omission of specific work statements does not necessarily exclude them from being performed by the position and is for illustrative purposes only. REFERENCE JUVENILE DETENTION SPECIALIST VIA Processes detention intake and releases; responsible for searching detainees. Searches and removes all unauthorized personal articles and contraband from detainees. Exercises reasonable and/or special care or action, as the need dictates or as directed, in handling special or unusual detainees. Escorts detainees using handcuffs, approve physical techniques, and other approved restraints.Effectively control the juvenile admitted to the facility, using maneuvers and techniques taught in training by the approve physical training curriculum.Pursue fleeing detainees and perform rescue operations and other duties which may involve quickly entering and exiting secured areas; lifting, carrying and dragging heavy objects; climbing up to and down from elevated surfaces; jumping over obstacles; crawling in confined areas; and using the approved physical techniques to gain entrance or subdue resisting detainees.Perform rescue functions in accidents within the facility, emergencies and disasters including standing for long periods, administering basic emergency medical aid, lifting, dragging and carrying people away from dangerous situations, and securing and evacuating people from confined areas.Communicate effectively and coherently with other officers, community partners, and juveniles using existing communications systems, and demonstrate communications skills in court and other formal settings as required.May be required to drive Sheriff's Office vehicles in the transportation of juveniles. Must understand and adhere to the standards of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Performs other duties as required or as may be necessary for the efficient and effective performance of the position functions.Minimum QualificationsREFERENCE JUVENILE DETENTION SPECIALIST VIA Applicant must have a High School Diploma/GED; Associate's Degree preferredApplicant must have one (1) year responsible work experience, which involves law enforcement related duties or dealing with youth preferredConsideration may be given to equivalent combination of related training, education and experienceApplicant must be able to complete PAR training within six (6) months of employment or assignment to this positionInternal applicants must have completed the Seminole County Sheriff's Office one (1) year probationary periodApplicant must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's LicenseKnowledge, Skills, Abilities & OtherREFERENCE JUVENILE DETENTION SPECIALIST VIA Regular and prompt attendance is mandatory in the performance of an employee's duties for this position, to include scheduled work hours, and required training activities, calls for mandatory overtime needs and calls for service during times of an emergency.Knowledge of Sheriff's Office rules and regulations as applied to juvenile detention centers; of interviewing and counseling techniques.Ability to work independently without constant supervision; to communicate both orally and in writing; to understand interpret and implement policies, law and procedures in regards to Florida Statute Chapter 985; to plan, organize, prioritize and coordinate work assignments; to analyze information or situations; synthesize information and/or circumstances; solve problems; recall facts and/or information; describe persons, things, and/or events; read and comprehend information; to appropriately wear and operate a self-contained breathing apparatus; to drive a motor vehicle in a safe and efficient manner.WORKING CONDITIONSThe work environment for this position is normally within the confined setting of a Juvenile Detention Facility. The use of a radio and the MCT (Mobile Computer Terminal) may be necessary. This position is required to drive and transport youth to various locations within the County.PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIREMENTS Mobility-Frequent standing and/or sitting for extended periods of time, stooping, bending, climbing stairs, required to drive an agency vehicle and/or transport inmates; constant use of a computerLifting-Able to lift 50 poundsVisual-Constant overall vision; color perception, constant eye-hand coordination; frequent reading/close-up work; constant field of vision/peripheralDexterity-Frequent repetitive motion and reachingHearing/Talking-Constant requirement to hear normal speech; constant hearing on telephone and radio; constant talking on telephone/radioEmotional/PsychologicalPotential contact with hostile individuals; direct inmate contact, exposure to emergency situations; may be exposed to trauma, grief and death; frequent public contact; decision-making and concentrationSpecial Requirements-Ability to behave respectably and with utmost integrity even when off duty. Shift work (days or nights) with rotating days off including working weekends, nights, holidays, and/or overtime; May be required to respond for any critical incident, manmade or natural; must be able to appropriately wear and operate a self-contained breathing apparatusEnvironmentalExposure to varied weather conditionsUnclassified PositionPlease direct any questions to:Seminole County Sheriff's OfficeHuman Resources Division100 Eslinger WaySanford FL 32773kstapp@seminolesheriff.org(407) 665-6839External applicants for employment will submit to a thorough background investigation, which includes, but not limited to, past employment/education verification, driver license review, credit history, prior drug use history, arrest/conviction record, and computerized voice stress analysis (CVSA) testing. A certified examiner administers the CVSA with questions addressing illegal drug use and general questions of honesty and criminal history. Any dishonesty or deception on the Employment Application will disqualify your application.The background investigation process may take 3-6 months depending upon the complexity of the applicant's background and position for which you've applied. Applicants selected for employment will be provided a conditional offer and required to submit to a medical examination with drug screening.Candidates must also comply with the Agency's current Tattoo and Body Ornamentation Policy. A copy of General Order 28 - Dress and Appearance can be accessed here. An applicant's tattoos and body ornamentation must be disclosed at the time of application and will be documented as part of the agency's review process, even if otherwise meeting the Agency's policy.Applicants not selected for employment will receive notification from the Human Resources Division, to include justification based on the following disqualifiers: negative background, failure to meet minimum qualifications as outlined in the specific job description, or any additional information discovered during the interview process. Applicants will be eligible to reapply with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office after one year from date of notification.The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is committed to a diverse work force, is a drug free workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly support our military veterans and their families, and encourage them to consider applying to agency job announcements for which they may qualify. Preference-Eligible Applicant service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled. Additionally, certain Preference-Eligible Applicants may also be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements in employment. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees, including:Paid Time Off and HolidaysFull-time employees accrue 200 hours of PTO per year, which increases over time based on length of service with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), and is utilized for both sick and vacation leave. Full-time employees receive eleven (11) paid holidays plus a paid personal day off annually.Medical, Dental, Vision and Supplementary Insurance PlansSCSO pays 100% for full-time employee-only Medical and Dental coverage through UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Full-time employees can also cover themselves and eligible dependents under one of three options of comprehensive Medical and Dental insurance for an additional charge. One of the Medical options is a Health Savings Account (HSA) Compatible Plan, which offers a tax-advantaged way to save and pay for qualified medical expenses. SCSO also offers Vision and supplementary UHC Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospitalization coverages at an additional cost to the employee.UHC creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. To link to the Machine-Readable Files, please click on the URL provided: Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)SCSO provides for full-time employees' Basic Life insurance at no cost to employees, which includes Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, with coverage equal to one time the employee's annual salary. SCSO also offers Voluntary Life insurance for employees, spouses, and/or children at a minimal cost to the employee. Sworn and certified personnel are provided with additional Line-of-duty Death benefits at no cost.Temporary Disability (TDB) and Long-term Disability InsuranceSCSO pays for Long-term Disability coverage for all full-time employees. In lieu of Short-term Disability insurance, employees are provided a Temporary Disability Benefit (TDB) leave designed to assist employees who are unable to work due to certain defined circumstances such as Maternity/Paternity Leave, Catastrophic Medical Conditions, or a serious Minor Child Illness. The TDB benefit provides employees 65% of their normal pay for a limited time in order to protect their standard of living in a time of need. Employees may choose to utilize their accrued PTO to make up the other 35% of their normal pay while on approved TDB Leave.Flexible Spending Account (FSA)SCSO offers a Medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for various, qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses. FSA accounts can pay for medical expenses the employee or the employee's dependents incur even if they are not enrolled in SCSO's medical insurance plan.Educational AssistanceSCSO's Educational Assistance Program is designed to financially assist full-time employees in good standing who have completed their initial new hire probationary period and are pursuing a college-level degree (i.e. Associates, Bachelors, Graduate Certificate, Masters, Professional Graduate and Doctoral). The program provides up to a $4,000 annual allowance on a reimbursement basis for college-level courses when grade requirements are met.Nationwide Deferred Compensation PlansEmployees can choose to participate in a Nationwide 457(b) deferred compensation plan, which allows employees to put aside pre-tax money from each paycheck toward retirement. Contributions are tax-deferred, meaning employees do not pay income taxes on the contributions or earnings until they retire and/or begin to take payments from the account. An after-tax Nationwide Roth contribution plan is also available.Retirement PlansSCSO participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS), which offers two plans for all full-time and part-time employees: The Pension Plan and the Investment Plan. Under each plan, employees contribute a small percentage of their gross salary toward the plan and the SCSO contributes, as well. These contribution percentages are subject to change annually based on the FRS guidelines and are not determined by the SCSO. For more details, please visit The Pension Plan is a traditional defined benefit retirement pension plan. Employees are vested after reaching a certain number of years of service at any age (currently eight years of service) or after reaching a pre-designated age with a minimum number of years of service. The benefit an employee receives at retirement is calculated using a formula based on the employee's age, FRS membership class, years of FRS service, and an average of the highest years of salary. The State Board of Administration invests all Pension Plan assets. At retirement, distributions are made in monthly installments and are guaranteed for the employee's lifetime.The Investment Plan is a defined contribution retirement investment plan with the employee fully vested after one year of service. The employee utilizes the FRS Plan's list of funds to determine their investments of contributions. The benefits an employee receives are based on the account balance at retirement, which depends on the amount of funds the employee and employer have contributed, the investment earnings of the funds selected, and any fees or expenses charged by those funds. The distribution can be paid in a lump sum, a roll-over to another qualified plan, a customized payment schedule, lifetime guaranteed payments, or any combination of these.Employee Assistance Program (EAP)SCSO has an Employee Assistance program through Magellan Healthcare available to its employees, which includes six (6) no-cost visits per life event with our agency. This benefit covers both full-time and part-time agency employees, along with their immediate family members (identified as their beneficiaries or dependents). This benefit provides access to a wide range of assistance, including but not limited to:• Digital Emotional Wellbeing Program• Lifestyle Coaching• Financial Wellbeing, Legal Services, and Identity Theft Resolution• Work-Life Services• Appointment AssistWellness CenterEmployees are provided with access to the Seminole County wellness center that has treadmills, free weights, and stationary bicycles. There is no charge to access the Center. Employees are also provided with access to an on-site fitness center at our agency's main location.Veterans' AssistanceEligible veterans who are in training as deputy sheriffs, detention deputies, or communications specialists are eligible to receive compensation of up to $1,000 per month through the GI Bill.Civil ServiceNon-Probationary Classified Service employees are entitled to certain rights under the Civil Service Act. For more information, please see the Please note that not all positions within the Seminole County Sheriff's Office are considered Classified Service Positions.Note: Information on employee benefits is current as of March 2026.Applicants are encouraged to confirm benefit details prior to accepting employment.01 Have you been convicted for a DUI within the last five (5) years prior to today? YesNo02 Have you used or purchased any type of illegal or controlled substance, excluding marijuana, (i.e. cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, prescription medications not prescribed to you, steroids) within the last seven (7) years prior to today? NOTE: This question pertains to outside the realm of law enforcement. Do not answer "Yes" to this question if you dealt with controlled substances in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer. YesNo03 Have you sold any type of controlled substance (i.e. marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, prescription medications) to others within the last seven (7) years prior to today? NOTE: this question pertains to outside the realm of law enforcement. Do not answer "Yes" to this question if you dealt with controlled substances in the line of duty as a law enforcement officer. YesNo04 Have you ever been convicted of a felony crime (including but not limited to where adjudication was withheld) or participated in a pretrial diversion program for any felony offense? YesNo05 Have you been convicted of a misdemeanor (including but not limited to where adjudication was withheld) or participated in a pretrial diversion program for any offense involving false statements, perjury or domestic violence within the last five (5) years prior to today? YesNo06 Do you have one (1) year of responsible work experience? YesNoRequired Question