Director of Juvenile Detention

Position Title: Director of Juvenile Detention

Department: Clark County Juvenile Detention Center / Clark Circuit Court No. 4

Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana

Reports Directly To: Hon. Lisa Garcia Reger, Judge, Clark Circuit Court No. 4

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Position Summary

Under the direct administrative authority of the Honorable Lisa Garcia Reger, Judge of Clark Circuit Court No. 4, the Director of the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center provides executive management, administrative leadership, and operational command of the county's secure juvenile detention facility.

The Director is responsible for maintaining a safe, humane, secure, and rehabilitative environment for detained youth while ensuring absolute compliance with Indiana Code (IC § 31-31-8), Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) juvenile detention standards, local court rules, and federal requirements (including PREA). This role oversees custody personnel, specialized support staff, facility programming, budget management, and interagency collaboration across the local justice system.

Key Responsibilities

Judicial Alignment & Reporting: Maintain regular communication with Judge Reger regarding facility capacity, critical incidents, youth welfare, operational updates, and statutory compliance.

Operational Command & Security: Direct continuous 24/7/365 secure facility operations, control room protocols, emergency action plans, searches, transports, and intake/release procedures.

Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation: Ensure facility policies and practices meet or exceed IDOC Juvenile Detention Standards, state health/sanitation and fire codes, and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

Personnel Management & Culture: Lead, evaluate, recruit, and schedule detention officers, supervisors, and administrative personnel; model trauma-informed, de-escalation-first leadership and oversee required state-mandated training hours.

Rehabilitative Programming & Care: Coordinate with healthcare providers, educators, mental health clinicians, and community organizations to ensure proper youth access to medical services, accredited schooling, recreation, and positive behavioral supports.

Fiscal & Operational Administration: Prepare, monitor, and justify the facility's annual operating budget in coordination with Circuit Court 4 and the Clark County Council; oversee vendor contracts and facility maintenance. Manage payroll, onboarding of new employees and payment of claims.

Interagency Coordination: Work collaboratively with Clark County Juvenile Probation, the Department of Child Services (DCS), public defenders, prosecuting attorneys, local law enforcement agencies, and youth service partners.

Education & Experience Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Public Administration, Social Work, Psychology, or a closely related field required.

Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or Behavioral Science is strongly preferred.

Experience:

Preference of five (5) to seven (7) years of professional experience in juvenile justice, juvenile corrections, juvenile probation, secure youth residential care, or court services.

Preference of three (3) years of direct administrative, managerial, or supervisory experience overseeing personnel, scheduling, and operations within a secure or institutional setting.

Qualifications & Knowledge

Thorough understanding of the Indiana Juvenile Code (Title 31), Indiana Trial Rules, IDOC detention standards, and adolescent cognitive development.

Proven crisis intervention skills, including sound decision-making under high-stress operational conditions.

Valid Indiana Driver's License.

Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting (ISP/FBI), Indiana Department of Child Services Child Protection Index (CPI) check, local record checks, and a pre-employment drug screening.

Clark County is an Equal Opportunity Employer