Youth Specialist; Juvenile Correctional Officer

Starting pay is over $50,000 per year. By working just two (2) overtime assignments per week, new staff can add an additional $30,000 salary per year. New Youth Specialists receive their first pay increase after six (6) months of employment.

DYS is seeking a Youth Specialist [Juvenile Correctional Officer] to join our diverse team. This person will oversee facility functions while providing mentorship, experience, and knowledge to the youth in our care. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a solid background and a passion to habilitate youth.

• Provide safety, security, custodial care, & surveillance of assigned youth
• Utilize provided training to observe, intervene, and de-escalate youth behavior and conflicts
• Manage and maintain security and positive interaction during and after family visits
• Complete all required documents (reports, logs, evaluations, etc.)
• Oversee movement on facility grounds and during outside trips
• Monitor and instruct youth on general housekeeping duties
• Maintain awareness of unusual behavior and crisis situations
• Collaborate and provide information to division leadership

• High school diploma or GED; valid driver’s license; must successfully complete Juvenile Correctional Officer assessment
• Must be 21 years of age at time of application
• Or equivalent of minimum class qualifications for employment noted above
• Probationary period is 365 days

Juvenile Corrections, Security, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Conflict Management, Reasoning, Observation, Attention to Detail, Situational Awareness

Youth Services - Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility

Cally Gilliland
, Cally.

Gillilando.gov

Feb 3, 2026, 11:59:00 PM

Circleville Juvenile Correctn

United States of America-OHIO-Pickaway County-Circleville

$24.16 - $31.78

Full-time

Classified

OCSEA

Juvenile Corrections

Criminology/Criminal Justice, Juvenile Corrections, Security

Attention to Detail, Conflict Management, Reasoning, Situational Awareness, Observation

JOIN OUR TEAM! CHANGE LIVES WHILE BUILDING YOUR CAREER!

We are transforming and saving lives at DYS!

A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.

DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here.