Agency

Safety

Division

70000075 Dept of Public Safety

Job Classification Title

Juvenile Court Counselor (S)

Position Number

Grade

NC09

About Us

The Department of Public Safety's mission is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through preparation, prevention, and protection with integrity and honor. Our agency houses many public safety divisions, including Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Samarcand Training Academy, and the North Carolina National Guard. Join us along with our more than 3,000 employees and 12,000 National Guard members in providing exceptional public safety services to the citizens of North Carolina.

Description of Work

We are looking for candidates who have a passion for helping court-involved
youth. We are Working Together to Strengthen North Carolina’s Youth and
Families!

The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is committed to the reduction and prevention of juvenile delinquency by effectively intervening,
educating and treating youth in order to strengthen families and increase public
safety. If you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of North
Carolina's youth, we welcome you to be part of the team.

The State of North Carolina provides work/life balance, a team-oriented culture,
opportunities for advancement, and interesting work. If you are looking to serve
others, this is the place for you

Job Duties:
Juvenile Court Services provides intake and supervision services for
undisciplined and delinquent juveniles within a continuum of services that
provides care and control.

Juvenile Court Services staff members:

Receive and process allegations of delinquent and undisciplined behavior.

assess the risks and needs of the juvenile in order to provide for the security of
the community and the juvenile's well-being.

Divert from court those youth whose risk levels and needs can be met through

diversion plans without formal court intervention.

Make recommendations to court based on assessments that can include secure detention, if warranted.
Provide case management as part of supervision, for youths on probation to

assure the delivery of appropriate services while assuring compliance with court orders

Provide aftercare, case management and post-release supervision to juveniles

returning to the community following a commitment to a youth development
center.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

This event is VIRTUAL and for SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS ONLY. Qualified applicants will be sent a link to schedule an interview prior to April 23/April 24.

This posting is for multiple positions in District 29 (Henderson & McDowell county) located in the Western Region of the State of North Carolina.

Salary Range: $39,671-$69,426

DPS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.

The Minimum Education and Experience (E&E) is REQUIRED to qualify for this position. Management Preferences, including Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), are not required but may be used to determine the pool of most qualified applicants. Managers may also choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.

All work history and education (including accurate dates of employment/attendance) must be documented on the application. Transcripts may be attached to supplement education and work experience may include internships, volunteerism, and full and part-time work. Supplemental Questions are also a required part of the application: answers must reference education or work experience listed on the application. A complete, all-inclusive application maximizes an applicant’s potential to qualify for the position, as well as receive the highest possible salary if selected for the position. Salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations for the advertised position. Click here for more information and application resources .

Resumes may be attached as a supplement to the application but are not a substitute for a complete application.

Management Preference: These skills are not required but managers may choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.

Experience navigating complex family dynamics in support of family-centered care.
Experience with case management documentation in accordance with professional organizational standards.
Experience working with socioeconomic psychosocial issues that contribute to at-risk juveniles.
Experience using the System of Care approach that addresses factors that may contribute to juvenile delinquency.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position. Work hours for this position are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, however, candidates must be able to work on-call hours, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis and be able to work a variable work schedule to meet the needs of juveniles and their families.

We offer great Benefits!

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits , including paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid holidays, retirement, and health insurance. To view an example of total compensation, please click here NC OSHR: Total Compensation Calculator .

Referral Bonus Program:

This job classification qualifies for the employee referral bonus program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current DPS employee, and you are hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

NEW STEP PAY PLAN!

Juvenile Court Counselors enjoy annual salary increases with a step pay plan! Your initial salary is based on your total months of related education and experience above the minimum requirements for this position (Master's degree and 12 months or Bachelor's degree and 24 months). Please list all work experience in order for you to receive maximum credit. This will help determine the correct salary and step for potential candidates. Candidates will only receive credit for experience documented on the state application. Once hired, your pay will continue to increase as you gain more related experience up to step 6 and you may also qualify for other promotional opportunities. There are many opportunities for promotional advancement within Juvenile Justice!

Step 0- $45,422

Step 1- $48,374

Step 2- $51,520

Step 3- $54,868

Step 4- $58,435

Step 5- $62,223

Step 6- $66,278

If you are interested in becoming a Juvenile Court Counselor but do not yet meet the Education and Experience Requirements, consider becoming a Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee! Applications for BOTH Juvenile Court Counselor and Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee positions will be accepted within this posting.

As a Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee, work will include:

Gaining progressively complex exposure to the juvenile justice field, court proceedings, case management, system(s) of care. and areas related to juvenile and family dynamics and wellbeing.
Opportunities to receive certifications in the trainee's field of work.
Shadowing other Juvenile Court Counselors performing their duties and working on their caseloads.
Coordinating services for juveniles and families.
Preparing and presenting court recommendations.
Developing skills and confidence to carry a caseload and perform the job duties of a Juvenile Court Counselor independently.

Trainee appointments include participating in a 6 to 24-month training progression, in which trainees are assigned to a progressive career development program under supervision which is designed to ensure trainees develop an overall understanding of their role and its impact over time. The trainee appointment for the Juvenile Court Counselor follows a step progression pay plan. Pay increases follow the following timeline:

Minimum starting pay (Bachelor's degree only)- $41,000

6 Months into training program- $42,025

12 Months into training program- $43,075

18 Months into training program- $44,099

24 Months into training program- $45,422

Once fully qualified, trainees will be eligible for continued professional development, in-service trainings and workshops, and a salary increase. It is expected that Juvenile Court Counselor Trainees that perform successfully during their Trainee appointment will be moved into a permanent position as a Juvenile Court Counselor.

Supplemental Information:

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are committed to full inclusion of qualified applicants and will review requests for reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions during the hiring process or while on the job.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

For applicants with student loans, becoming a state employee may include eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program . Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

Transcripts

Attaching transcripts is optional, however, we recommend applicants attach unofficial transcripts to assist in providing credit for education including in substituting education gained for experience. Additionally, qualifying for some positions may require validating hours of coursework in a specific field of study and transcripts are crucial to awarding credit. Degrees and transcripts must be achieved from an appropriately accredited college or university.

Applicants who earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, must attach an unofficial transcript to receive credit for education.

International degrees and transcripts must be evaluated for accreditation by a recognized evaluation service by the closing date of this posting. Failure to provide documentation may result in ineligibility. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options to provide credential verification: https://www.naces.org/members .

Military Experience

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that includes Character of Discharge - Member 4 or Service 2 form) to the application.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference:

A current member of the North Carolina National Guard in good standing must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS).

A former member of the North Carolina National Guard who served for at least 6 years and were discharged under honorable conditions, must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

The NC Dept. of Public Safety must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape." PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions Selected applicants for positions which are subject to PREA will undergo a PREA-specific background check. Our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved and we invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. Due to the nature of work performed in our agency, prior convictions and/or charges may prohibit employment for positions which are subject to PREA or other position-specific background checks.

If applying for a Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division, please click this link for specific certification requirements: Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification .

Per NC General Statute 143B-1209.54, applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (“RAP Back”) . This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application. Please log in to Workday to check the status of your application. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the hiring manager. If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification when the position is filled.

If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Ariana Garcia at ariana.garcia@ncdps.gov

#JJ

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Master's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of experience in counseling or working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human service case management experience; or Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in counseling or working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human service case management experience.

Minimum Education and Experience for a Trainee Appointment Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution.

Click here to learn more about the requirements for Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification

Necessary Special Requirement: Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.

EEO Statement

T he State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Ariana Alyse Garcia

Recruiter Email:

ARIANA.GARCIA@NCDPS.GOV

State of North Carolina - Public Safety jobs

Virtual Hiring Event - District 29 (Henderson County & McDowell County)** Juvenile Court Counselor/Juvenile Court Counselor Trainee - April 23 & April 24, 2026 9:00AM - 4:00PM