Probation Officer I/II

Job Summary

The Probation Officer I works directly with offenders through the entire probationary period to create and implement offender case plans under guidance of supervisor.

Employment Criteria

• This entry-level position requires a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, social work, or related field.

Core Competencies

• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace
• Demonstrates knowledge of probation, the court and community corrections;
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles, techniques, and practices of criminal justice;
• Demonstrates knowledge of community corrections administration methods and practices;
• Demonstrates knowledge of federal and state criminal laws and a broad understanding of the objectives and functions of the community corrections system;
• Demonstrates knowledge of the justice system and economics;
• Demonstrates considerable knowledge of court procedures;
• Demonstrates interviewing skills;
• Ability to investigative materials effectively;
• Demonstrates skill in conceptualizing client needs and translating them into specific case planning goals;
• Demonstrates understanding of family systems;
• and Demonstrates understanding in the differences in individual and group behavior.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Create offender case plans: Interview convicted offenders; Assess individual, victim and community risk levels; Establish and monitor offender goals; Determine appropriate programs; Collaborate with law enforcement, mental and chemical health providers, schools, victims, families, and community agencies; Prepare reports and recommendations for supervisor review; Assess impact of offense on victims; and Attend court hearings and testify as required.
• Implement Offender Case Plans: Monitor offender compliance with probation and supervised release terms; Maintain contact through regular field visits at home, office, school, correctional/residential facilities, and employment sites; Intervene with offenders using basic evidence based practices principles that include motivational interviewing; Co-facilitate group interventions for offenders; Work with community resources to support offenders' successful program completion; Maintain contact with victims to restore financial losses and address safety concerns; and Complete accurate and timely case management documentation.
• Transport offenders as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Work is sedentary in nature and may be performed at the Government Center, satellite offices, offenders' homes, schools, correctional/residential facilities, courtrooms, and employment sites and may include hostile and unsanitary conditions.
• Lifting requirement of up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Equipment used may include, but is not limited to: computer, calculator, telephone, and copier/scanner/fax machine.
• Work interruptions are frequent. There is some pressure associated with dealing with individuals who may be emotionally charged and with project or activity deadlines and details.
• Work includes contact with high-risk offenders who may be mentally ill or chemically dependent, making field visits and appearing in court.
• Exposures may include: communicable diseases, weapons, bodily fluids such or animals that bite.
• Additional physical/mental requirements that may occur, may not be listed above, but are inherent performing the position's essential functions.
• Must have own means of reliable transportation for business purposes. Individuals operating a motor vehicle for County business must possess a valid driver's license.

Benefits

Washington County offers a comprehensive benefit package including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance. For a more detailed overview of our Probation Officers benefit package, click here.

Qualifications

• This position requires a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, social work or related field.

• Please indicate below whether you possess these minimum qualifications:

• If you indicated meeting the minimums by having an equivalent combination of education and experience, please briefly describe the combination and explain why you feel it is equivalent.

• If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.

• Do you have training in Evidence Based Practices for the field of Corrections?

• If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience.

• If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.

• Do you have paid experience working for a Probation Department (non-institutional setting) in a County, State, or Federal Agency?

• If you checked any of the boxes above, you must provide a brief summary of your experience, your years of experience, and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience.

• If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.

• Do you have experience facilitating a cognitive skills education program?

• If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. Please include the names of curriculum(s), as well as when and where facilitated.

• If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box.

• Do you have experience handling culturally sensitive communication with identified minority populations?

• If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box).

• Do you have multilingual abilities in any of the following languages?

• (Check all that apply)

• Spanish

• Somali

• Hmong

• Other

• None of the above

• If you selected "other" to the above question, please indicate the languages(s) you speak and your proficiency level.

• Do you have Internship or volunteer experience in Washington County Community Corrections?

• If you answered "Yes" to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience, indicate how many years of experience you have, and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered "No" to the above question, enter "NA" in the text box).