Govt. Law Enforcement - Detention Officer - Closes: 07-13-2026

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Detention Officer, under the direction of the Lead Detention Officer, is responsible for providing for the safety, welfare and security of the residents, staff, and visitors within the Sault Tribe Youth Facility and for the security of the facility itself. The position is responsible for supervising, guiding, and counseling residents through daily activities within the established framework of the detention setting and enforcing rules with a behavior management setting by providing positive and negative reinforcements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Supervises facility residents to ensure that adequate security measures are met and that order is maintained.
• Conducts security checks, takes resident counts, performs room inspections, and monitors video and audio systems.
• Observes, confronts, and redirects residents’ behavior within a behavior management setting.
• Enforces rules by providing positive and negative reinforcements.
• Organizes and directs recreational activities, including physical education, games, gym events, outdoor events, and other activities.
• Intervenes as necessary in crisis situations.
• Follows policy and procedural guidelines for physical and mechanical restraints, room confinements, and other appropriate actions.
• Performs room checks as required when residents are secured in rooms, searches for prohibited items on residents, in rooms, and throughout the facility, and performs regular counts of potentially dangerous items.
• Transports youth to activities outside of the facility, court appointments, and medical and dental appointments.
• Ensures that appropriate behavior is adhered to and that safety and security are maintained.
• Assists therapist in the development and implementation of the planning and goal-setting process for the individual youth if needed.
• Acts as a positive role model and utilizes accepted principles when conducting individual counseling to assist residents in decision-making.
• Ensures that residents follow proper health and hygiene practices.
• Instructs and supervises youth in the performance of daily housekeeping, chores, and cleaning duties, including light maintenance work.
• Reviews logs and reports to identify resident needs and behaviors.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Prepares and dispenses prescribed medications.
• Refers youth to appropriate healthcare providers for any health-related problems.
• Completes injury/illness forms as needed and notes any physical or other health-related problems.
• Performs intakes of residents and gathers information.
• Searches for contraband during the initial resident intake process.
• Assesses the residents’ potential for suicide or health concern.
• Notes any physical health problems and reports suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Prepares various reports and documents summarizing resident progress, observations, incidents, behavior and adjustment problems, and other required information for use by the Probation Officers, Therapists, Judges, and other related officials.
• Ensures youths are provided nutritious meals daily, including those with special dietary needs.
• Performs drug testing, urinalysis, and breathalyzer testing as required.
• Attends meetings and mandatory training.

CONTACTS:

Immediate peers, peers in other departments, immediate manager/supervisor, managers in other departments, customers, and outside vendors/service providers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position medium with a maximum lifting of 50 pounds and frequent lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. Physical factors include frequent standing, walking, carrying, use of hearing, near/midrange/far vision, depth perception, color/field of vision; driving, typing, bending reaching; occasional sitting, lifting/pushing/pulling, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crawling, manual handling and use of smell. Working conditions include occasional exposure to weather, extreme heat/cold, wet/humidity, noise, and air quality. Potential hazards include frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts, client contact, infectious exposure to computer use; occasional exposure to chemicals, insecticides/pesticides, infectious exposure, exposure to needles/syringes and equipment; exposure to physical and emotional behavior of youths and various states of cleanliness and hygiene of youth and; exposure to various bodily fluids. Visual acuity to sufficiently monitor control cameras and security panel, to distinguish colors and provide forms of other resident supervision. Must be able to restrain youths physically. Personal protection equipment provided by the employer includes items such as but are not limited to, gloves, gowns, face shields, masks, eye protection, mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, pockets masks, ventilation devices, and other equipment as needed. Immunizations, including the Hepatitis B vaccination series, will be offered to a team member at no cost. Must have visual acuity skills and be able to monitor cameras and security panels and distinguish colors. TB vaccinations are rare and required yearly and are provided to a team member at no cost.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: High School diploma or equivalent required.

Experience: Minimum of one year of experience working in Corrections or Law Enforcement field preferred.

Certification/License: Certification in Corrections or Law Enforcement is preferred. Must be able to successfully complete a 6-½ week Juvenile Detention Officer Training Academy. Must meet BIA standards and be a minimum of 18 years of age. Will be required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Sault Tribe Insurance Department. Must comply with annual driver’s license review and insurability standards with the Sault Tribe Insurance Department. Must comply with the Sault Tribe's Drug-Free Workplace Policy which may include random drug tests.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Must be able to work in possible hostile and/or adversarial conditions. Must have working knowledge and be able to use word processing and spreadsheet and database software. Must have excellent communication skills and be able to communicate clearly in person, in writing, and by telephone and email. Must have excellent public relations customer service skills and be able to establish and maintain effective communication with co-workers, supervisors, and guests. Must be flexible and available to work various shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays. Native American preferred.

This job description outlines the general scope and level of responsibilities associated with the position. It is not intended to be an employment contract, nor does it represent a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians reserves the right to modify, add, reassign, or combine job duties or positions, in whole or in part, at any time.