Probation Program Assistant

About the role

This position supports the probation program in a youth probation department. It involves performing initial assessments, community service coordination, restitution monitoring, and youth education.

Responsibilities

• Performs initial assessments of youth offenders after normal working hours.
• Determines the seriousness of the situation and contacts appropriate individuals if necessary.
• Tracks juvenile offenders on house arrest or curfew.
• Develops new community service work sites for individual placement.
• Schedules community service projects for those on probation.
• Explains community service requirements to probationers in conjunction with other staff members.
• Provides direct supervision to those completing community service commitments.
• Maintains records of hours worked and provides activity reports.
• Facilitates or presents programs for youth such as an alcohol awareness program.
• Maintains records and databases pertaining to program(s) presented.
• Recruits, screens, and trains members of the community who serve on task forces.
• Investigates, implements, and evaluates community youth task force and identifies appropriate subcommittees.
• Initiates contact with victims to determine the amount of restitution to be paid.
• Sets up payment schedules with probationers and tracks the amount of restitution owed and paid.
• Contacts probationers about payment problems and initiates the paperwork needed to pay victims.
• Monitors and records dispositions assigned to youth.
• Tracks and records compliance or non-compliance.
• Prepares reports on status of compliance and submits to probation officer or supervisor.
• Provides instruction to youths in a classroom setting.
• Evaluates student progress based on work output, test scores, and classroom observations and behavior.
• Maintains order in the classroom.
• Provides feedback to parents and guardians.
• Prepares reports, educational records and other records required by supervisor.
• Aids in the development of a case plan for youths.
• Provides after-school tutoring to youth and tracks progress.
• Maintains database dealing with program and/or financial aspects of the assigned program.
• May provide courtroom testimony when requested.
• May also prepare legal documents such as petitions, orders, and summons as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of the general principles of youth probation work and related court procedures.

Knowledge of youth behavior and family dynamics.

Some knowledge of the operation of a personal computer with a word processing application.

Some knowledge of the provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act dealing with probation programs such as community service and restitution.

Ability to read, understand, and apply department probation policies and procedures and provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act pertaining to the job.

Ability to establish and maintain records systems and databases used to track compliance with probation requirements, restitution payments, and other data related to the work.

Ability to operate a personal computer with a word processing application.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the youth and their families, school personnel, supervisor, chief probation officer and probation staff, and the public.

Ability to be perceptive, versatile, flexible yet firm and matter of fact when necessary.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally or in writing.

Ability to write clear and concise activity reports.

Ability to deal with upset, angry, and emotionally charged people in a calming manner.

Ability to prepare legal documents such as petitions, orders, and summons if required by the position.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an approved high or vocational school.
• Approved college-level course work in the behavioral sciences and experience working with youth preferred.

Skills

Knowledge of the general principles of youth probation work and related court procedures.

Knowledge of youth behavior and family dynamics.

Some knowledge of the operation of a personal computer with a word processing application.

Some knowledge of the provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act dealing with probation programs such as community service and restitution.

Ability to read, understand, and apply department probation policies and procedures and provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act pertaining to the job.

Ability to establish and maintain records systems and databases used to track compliance with probation requirements, restitution payments, and other data related to the work.

Ability to operate a personal computer with a word processing application.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the youth and their families, school personnel, supervisor, chief probation officer and probation staff, and the public.

Ability to be perceptive, versatile, flexible yet firm and matter of fact when necessary.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally or in writing.

Ability to write clear and concise activity reports.

Ability to deal with upset, angry, and emotionally charged people in a calming manner.

Ability to prepare legal documents such as petitions, orders, and summons if required by the position.

Benefits

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of benefits including work/life balance, family-friendly policies, dedicated and caring colleagues, health coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays (combination of up to 38 per year), opportunities and room for professional growth, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility for employment with the State of Montana.