Correctional Case Managers

Juvenile Correctional Case Managers

Daily duties of a juvenile case manager consist of counseling of juvenile offenders who have been placed in a form of administrative segregation. In some facilities, this is designated as a “security” unit and is in essence a jail inside the jail. The case manager will counsel youths who have violated program rules and thus have been assigned to the case manager's caseload. Examples of violations that may lead a juvenile to being placed in a security unit include cursing at staff, fighting, stealing from staff members, assaulting staff members, lying, being in possession of contraband, escaping or attempting an escape, masturbating, and indecent exposure. While the youth is in security, it is the case manager's responsibility to review incident reports on the youth to determine whether he or she needs to be admitted into the security unit or sent back to the dormitory or educational setting. Many security [Page 86]units have a full-time case manager who solely works admissions into the unit. If a youth is admitted into the security unit, the case manager will be responsible for conducting administrative hearings on the youth. An administrative hearing is a process whereby the youth goes through a hearing and is assessed consequences for whatever rule violation put him or her in the security unit. Along with the administrative hearings, the case manager is responsible for all the paperwork that ensures the youth's due process rights.

Case managers are responsible for conducting certain administrative hearings. These hearings are conducted with youths who participated in major rule violations. The case manager is responsible for conducting the investigation of the allegation of the rule violation, preparing the paperwork on the hearing, contacting family members to inform them of the hearing, contacting attorneys, and at times advocating for youths during a hearing. Moreover, a case manager serves as the hearing manager, somewhat like a judge. Following the conclusion of a hearing, the case manager prepares a hearing summary to send to the central agency office for review. After a youth is released from a correctional setting, if he or she continues to violate parole rules or commit crimes, community corrections will be responsible for conducting administrative hearings to recommit the youth back into state custody.

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