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Job Description
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
UNION STATUS: Non-Union
SALARY: Competitive
COMPANY OVERVIEW
The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development.
As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents.
Job Summary
Physical Requirements
[This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.]
STATE OF ILLINOIS
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY
JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER
JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER
1100 S. HAMILTON AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60612
Attorney
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
UNION STATUS: Non-Union
SALARY: Competitive
COMPANY OVERVIEW
The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development.
As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents.
Job Summary
The Attorney performs legal duties and ensures compliance with the application of the JTDC policies and procedures. It also represents JTDC Management in employee pre-disciplinary meetings, arbitrations, hearings, grievance meetings, and unemployment hearings as well as gives legal advice to administration. This position reports to the General Counsel.
Typical Duties
Typical Duties
- Conducts legal research and writing on employment/labor issues and issues affecting juvenile detainees.
- Reviews documents and prepares cases for administrative, grievance, and arbitration hearings.
- Drafts legal responses and other written documents and reports as needed.
- Responds to subpoenas and other legal filings.
- Knowledge of statutes, ordinances, court rulings, legislation, regulations, litigation, and policy that impacts the operation of a juvenile detention facility.
- Communicates on behalf of the JTDC with other governmental agencies and departments, including the Cook County Juvenile Court and the Office of the Chief Judge as well as outside agencies, such as DCFS and Chicago Public Schools.
- Represents the JTDC in administrative hearings, arbitrations, and collective bargaining negotiations.
- Counsels’ management on legal issues, drafts legal documents, and assists in drafting policies and procedures.
- Maintains knowledge of statutes, ordinances, court rulings, legislation, regulations, litigation and policy that impact on the operation of a juvenile detention facility.
- Completes administrative tasks as needed, including data collection and responding to subpoena and other document requests.
- Manages and advises on the Resident Information System.
- Collects data including but not limited to conditions of confinement and resident quality of life.
- Provides legal analysis and interpretation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003;
- Collaborate as necessary with appropriate law enforcement agencies, as well as external agencies and the Courts.
- May potentially provide oversight and direction to other JTDC departments.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited law school.
- Candidate must be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.
- United States citizenship.
- 21 years of age at the time of application submission.
The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics
- Ability to make sound decisions and follow up in a thorough and timely manner relative to unresolved Government and Labor Relation issues.
- Must maintain strict professionalism and confidentiality in dealing with sensitive information.
- Ability to effectively understand and communicate in English (verbally and in writing).
- Previous administrative law experience preferred, specifically experience with arbitrations and other administrative hearings.
- Ability to organize and manage in a timely fashion multiple tasks of varying priorities and to make efficient use of time and resources.
- Knowledge of federal and state statutes, regulations, and policies affecting juveniles.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Bilingual communication skills preferred.
Physical Requirements
[This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.]
- Ability to sit at a desk for a large portion of the day.
- Extensive reaching, bending, and moving of objects up to 20 pounds to organize and place in files.
- May require periods of walking throughout the facility.
- May require periods of standing.
- Ability to effectively operate and utilize a computer.
- Must be able to work longer hours based on departmental needs.
Working Conditions
- Exposure to resident behavior problems that may include physical acting out and require safe physical management skills.
- Exposure to residents with complex mental health issues and/or disorders.
- Exposure to youth with various states of cleanliness and hygiene.
- Exposure to various health related conditions or residents of a communicable nature which requires precaution and adhering to medical instruction.
- Exposure to communicable diseases of youth.
Hiring Requirements
- Illinois residency obtained within 90 days of date of hire.
- Pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check including but not limited to LEADS, CANTS, and professional references.
- A result of negative from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Abuse Registry.
- Must pass Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) screening requirements.
Benefits Package
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
- Basic Term Life Insurance
- Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
- Competitive Salaries
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
