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Detention Counselor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NSD Counselor (1505)

Corning, NY · On-site

$20 - $21.50/hr

The Per Diem Non-Secure Detention Counselor plays a vital role in ensuring the safety, well-being, and positive development of at-risk youth in a short-term residential detention facility.

NSD Counselor Per Diem (1305)

Albany, NY · On-site

$21.50 - $22.75/hr

The Non-Secure Detention Counselor plays a vital role in ensuring the safety, well-being, and positive development of at-risk youth in a short-term residential detention facility. Responsible for ...

Assists with selection process, training, development, counseling, disciplinary, and performance evaluations of assigned detention staff. Conducts in-service training on current detention facility ...

The Secure Detention Counselor II position's primary responsibility is to serve as a member of the rapid response team and ensure facility safety and security protocols are being adhered to ...

Detention Officer

Newton, NC · On-site

$48K/yr

Detention Officers with advanced degrees and specific law enforcement certificates will receive ... Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home.

Detention Deputy

Laramie, WY · On-site

$53K/yr

Occasionally performs service functions such as arranging tutors, mental health counselors, and ... The Detention Division has a Lieutenant as the Jail Administrator, a Sergeant as the Assistant Jail ...

Occasionally performs service functions such as arranging tutors, mental health counselors, and ... The Detention Division has a Lieutenant as the Jail Administrator, a Sergeant as the Assistant Jail ...

Detention Deputy

Laramie, WY · On-site

$53K/yr

Occasionally performs service functions such as arranging tutors, mental health counselors, and ... The Detention Division has a Lieutenant as the Jail Administrator, a Sergeant as the Assistant Jail ...

Showing results 21-40

Detention Counselor information

See salary details

$22.5K

$60.4K

$96K

How much do detention counselor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for detention counselor in the United States is $60,409.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,000.00 and $69,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a detention counselor?

Detention Counselors are professionals who work in juvenile or adult detention facilities, providing supervision, guidance, and support to individuals in custody. Their main responsibilities include ensuring the safety and security of detainees, facilitating rehabilitative programs, and helping detainees develop skills for successful reintegration into society. Detention Counselors often act as mentors, enforce facility rules, and work closely with other staff to address the emotional and behavioral needs of those in their care.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a detention counselor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Detention Counselor, you need a background in criminal justice, psychology, or social work, often supported by a relevant degree and experience working with at-risk youth. Familiarity with case management software, incident reporting systems, and state or federal regulations is typically required. Strong interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and emotional resilience are vital for building trust and maintaining order within the facility. These skills ensure the safety, rehabilitation, and positive development of youth in detention environments.

What are some common challenges faced by detention counselors, and how can they effectively manage them?

Detention Counselors often encounter challenges such as managing behavioral issues among youth, maintaining safety in high-stress situations, and balancing empathy with enforcing facility rules. Effective communication, de-escalation techniques, and strong interpersonal skills are key to addressing these challenges. Regular collaboration with other staff members and ongoing professional development can also help counselors stay prepared to support residents while fostering a positive environment.

What cities are hiring for Detention Counselor jobs?

Cities with the most Detention Counselor job openings:

What states have the most Detention Counselor jobs?

States with the most job openings for Detention Counselor jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Detention Counselor jobs?

For Detention Counselor jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Detention Counselor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 95% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $60,409 per year, or $29 per hour.

JUVENILE DETENTION COUNSELOR I (CLASS CODE 6028)

New Orleans, LA • On-site

City of New Orleans
Public Administration • 5 - 10K employees

$40K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


City Of New Orleans rating

5.5

Company rating: 5.5 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Kind of Work This position is responsible for the direct supervision of juvenile offenders in detention and provides for the safety, security and transportation of those offenders within a highly structured environment. Work includes performing intake interviews, searching, transporting, restraining and escorting detained youth to medical, criminal justice, social services and judicial facilities. Work also includes responsibility for institutional security patrol and checks.

The position is considered an essential position and is expected to report to duty during storms and other emergencies. This position also requires shift work and tolerance to stress in moderate to considerable degrees and related work as required. Ability to obtain a Commercial Driver's License is required during the probationary period.

Minimum Qualifications Minimum age of twenty-one (21).* High school graduation or GED Equivalency Diploma.** 18 months of paid, full-time experience in one or more of the following: a correctional or detention facility; a youth mentoring program; a residential group home; a mental health or substance abuse treatment center; as a school floor monitor; as a school resource officer; as a probation or parole officer; as a teacher, including paraprofessional or alternative education**; security guard (private or public); law enforcement; in a social service position with responsibility for at least one of the following: case work, victim advocacy, family engagement, trauma recovery, child abuse investigation, or court liaison; or, military in a position with major responsibilities in at least one of the following: counseling, social work, human services, teaching, military police, or security. *** Alternative Education includes private schools, home schooling, General Educational Development (GED) services, or gifted and talented programs. NOTE: Appropriate volunteer or internship experience working with youths in a juvenile detention setting which can be documented by a recognized agency will be accepted at the rate of 40 hours of experience for each week of work

Applicants must submit a written statement from the volunteer agency specifying the number of hours worked and describing the duties of the job. A working, available telephone is required throughout employment. Some positions with the Human Services Department require employees to obtain a Chauffer's License during the probationary period; failure to do so may result in termination.

This position requires a one (1) year probationary period. NOTE: An additional shift differential premium will be paid to Human Services Department employees working 3pm-11pm or 11pm-7am shifts. * Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify applicant is at least 21 years of age.

If selected for hire, applicants must provide a state issued identification card, driver's license or birth certificate to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this classification. ** Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification.

Kind of Examination A qualifying review of training and experience. Applicants who are given conditional offers of employment must undergo a urinalysis to test for illegal drug use and must successfully complete a psychological/psychiatric evaluation. This is a non-competitive original entrance examination.

Note: All applicants are required to assist and cooperate with the Civil Service Department and the Department of Human Services in obtaining past employment records and personal history records. Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification. Felony or numerous misdemeanor convictions are disqualifying.

Applicants must be fingerprinted before being hired. Note: Employees with the Department of Human Services, as a condition of employment, are required to pass both phases of safety training, which includes a physical requirement. Employees must maintain certification as a condition of continued employment.

General Information THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CREED, CULTURE, OR ANCESTRY. REQUESTS FOR ALTERNATE FORMAT OR ACCOMMODATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SHANA PARKER AT (504) 658-3516 OR TTY/VOICE AT (504) 586-4475 or (504) 658-4020. DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT: Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application.

However, all new full-time employees hired into this classification on or after January 1, 2013, must be domiciled in Orleans Parish within 180 days of hire. Public safety employees such as commissioned law enforcement officers hired by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), firefighters hired by the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), emergency medical technicians hired by the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the recruits for these positions hired by these departments are excluded from this provision. Airport employees are excluded from this provision if the actual domicile of the employee is nearer to the employee's job site than the distance from the job site to the nearest point of Orleans Parish.

Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process. DOMICILE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT (SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD): Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application**.

Residency requirements are waived for all Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans positions vacant and advertised for at least 90 days. Employees hired under this waiver remain exempt from the city's residency requirement for the duration of their employment at the Sewerage and Water Board. (La R.S

33:4076). **Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

BACKGROUND CHECK: The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will not be accepted if received after the closing date or after the stated maximum number of applications has been received, as specified on this announcement. All minimum qualification requirements for examinations must be met by the final filing date unless otherwise specified on this announcement. DELAY IN THE MAIL: The Department of City Civil Service cannot be responsible for failure of the applicant to receive an admission slip to an examination or for failure of the Department to receive material mailed by the applicant.

Applicants should notify the Department of City Civil Service in writing of any address changes The minimum age limit is 18 years for any class of work requiring hard physical labor, operation of or proximity to hazardous machinery, exposure to hazardous chemicals, or participation in any other processes or procedures which are prohibited or limited by the Louisiana State Child Labor Law. WORKING TEST PERIOD: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing.

Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period. For further information, see Civil Service Rule V, Section 9.

A MEDICAL EXAMINATION is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to ACTIVE classifications, and may be required for re-employment, promotions and/or transfers. A MEDICAL SCREENING, which may result in a medical examination, is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to non-active classifications. GOOD MORAL CHARACTER is required of all applicants.

Any applicant may be disqualified if his/her character or past employment record is found to be unsatisfactory as determined by the Department of City Civil Service. Forgery, misrepresentation of facts, or cheating on examinations is punishable by disqualification, fine and other penalties. IMPORTANT: Applicants who are licensed to drive should have a current license on their person for purposes of identification during all phases of an examination.

In lieu of such license, the Department of City Civil Service may require that applicants have some form of picture identification. VETERANS PREFERENCE: On original entrance examinations, veterans (as defined in Article X, Section 10(2) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana), disabled veterans, certain spouses and parents of veterans shall receive additional credit if claimed as provided on the Veterans Preference claim form which can be obtained in this office. To obtain credit, this form must be submitted with the required proof (at the minimum, a DD214) before the final filing date.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED) must be issued by a state Department of Education or an institution recognized by a state Department of Education. Certificates of completion, high school diplomas and GED from institutions not recognized by a state Department of Education are not acceptable. High School diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service.

A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (www.naces.org). ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: An accredited college or university is an institution that is accredited by an organization that is recognized by the USDE (United States Department of Education) as an Institutional Accreditor. College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service

A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (www.naces.org). EXPERIENCE: Applicants will not receive credit for unpaid work unless specified on the job announcement. Partial credit only will be given for related part time employment

Civil Service reserves the right to determine which degrees, education, or other credentials are related or closely related. Experience credit will be granted for related provisional appointments (internal applicants). PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE: The Civil Service Department defines this experience as experience gained in a position that required a Bachelor's Degree upon entrance.

OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT OR PROMOTION: Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education, driver's license, and/or professional licenses/certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification. Offers of employment or promotion are required to be withdrawn for applicants who are found to have misrepresented their credentials during the application process.

Revised 1/91, 4/03, 7/05, 2/07, 8/10, 2/12, 8/15, 6/16, 1/17, 1/19, 2/23, 8/23, 3/24, 6/24, 2/25, 3/26.


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