Youth Corrections Sargeant - Phoenix Arizona

Address: 2800 W. Pinnacle Peak Road

Phoenix, Arizona 85027

Salary: $63,425.23 

Grade: DJ17B

Closing Date: 08/30/2026

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) is seeking applicants who are passionate about their profession and who will be committed to making a difference in the lives of Arizona’s underserved youth. The Youth Correctional Sergeant will work under the direction of a Lieutenant/Youth Program Supervisor at our secure care facility, Adobe Mountain School. Under the general supervision, this position will supervise the work of Youth Corrections Officers in the safe custody, management, discipline and welfare of confined youth in an assigned area or during an assigned post.

-Maintaining facility security and ensuring that assigned areas (living units, educational buildings, programming areas and grounds) are safe, secure and free of contraband
-Ensuring that direct reports follow all facility rules, procedures, and specific post duties
-Ensuring that youth are monitored and supervised, both in one-on-one situations and in groups, in a manner that ensures safety, complies with established security measures and promotes therapeutic relationships and learning
-Ensuring the proper use of all youth behavior management tools and approved youth interventions, including the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, Crisis Intervention and De-escalation, Exclusion, Separation and the Handle with Care Program
-Ensuring all direct reports have met training requirements
-Coaching, teaching, mentoring and supervising direct reports
-Monitoring direct reports’ work hours, including but not limited to annual leave, sick leave, compensatory time and holiday accruals; preparing and completing performance evaluations
-Training new staff to ensure a safe and secure environment and acts as a role model to staff and youth
-Ensuring adequate post and sift coverage
-Reviewing and completing required reports in compliance with agency policies, procedures and best practices
-Conduct GAR/QA (Quality Assurance) Inspections and completion action plans to improve and correct deficiencies
-Attending, conducting and coordinating training
-Performing other duties as assigned

Knowledge of:
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) agency goals, policies, procedures, programs and systems to include, but not limited to:
Security and housing unit practices
Emergency preparedness and critical incident response and reporting
Youth behavioral management systems, including PBIS, therapeutic crisis intervention and Handle with Care Program
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
Proper methods and circumstances regarding uses of force and radio communication
Basic life support
Youth treatment, education and rehabilitative programs
Staff scheduling

Skills in:
-Crisis management situations
-Verbal and written communications and the proper use of the English language, including correct grammar and spelling
-Techniques of training and leadership including, but not limited to active listening and performance improvement
-Monitoring behavior of youth
-Applying appropriate restraint techniques
-Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
-Resolving conflict

Ability to:
-Provide leadership and role model expectations
-Direct, supervise, train, and evaluate subordinate workers including, but not limited to coaching and mentoring employees in one-on-one settings
-Value and motivate employees
-Multi-task and prioritize responsibilities and complete duties timely
-Facilitate meetings and manage conflict amongst employees
-Maintain a professional demeanor in stressful and/or difficult situations
-Learn and apply methods, techniques, and correct practices of security as they pertain to the youth in secure care
-Participate in rehabilitation and treatment activities
-Maintain a structured and secured environment
-Recognize when something is wrong or likely to go wrong
-Respond to emergency situations and provide crisis intervention, and first aid/basic life support, if needed
-Respect authority of supervisors, administrators, and other agency staff and work collaboratively with all agency staff
-Adhere to a daily schedule, maintain daily attendance, and follow expected guidelines
-Endure long periods of walking and standing while monitoring youth
-Follow instructions and ensure compliance with institutional policies
-De-escalate youth behavior
-Work closely with adjudicated youth in a secure institutional setting

Internal candidates require one year of experience as a YCO 2; OR one year as a YCO 1, plus one year of previous supervisory experience; with a Promotional Recommendation Form signed by the direct supervisor and up-line manager.

External candidates require one year of correctional experience plus one year of supervisory experience.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function on the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license records checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked or suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.010).

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a comprehensive background investigation, drug screening, pre-employment assessment and physical.

Current State of Arizona employees: In order to be considered for this position, it requires acceptable performance history as demonstrated by not have been issued a letter of suspension or have been involuntarily demoted within one year preceding this job posting close date, and have an overall rating of “meets expectations” or higher on the most recent employee performance evaluation.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
-Affordable medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability plans
-Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
-10 paid holidays per year
-Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
-Sick time accrued at 3:42 hours bi-weekly
-Deferred Compensation Program
-Wellness Plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

This position participates in the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP).

CORP Tier 3 is a Defined Contribution, 401 (a) retirement plan:
New members have the opportunity to define their contribution amount
Employer contributes a dollar-for-dollar match equal to 5% of a member's salary
Employees are fully vested after 3 years of service

Attention Current State of Arizona Employees: Please contact our Human Resources Office if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.