Juvenile Probation Officer

Starting hourly wage: $21.00 - $24.99, DOE

General Statement of Duties

Interviews, counsels, guide, and supervise juvenile offenders to assure adherence to court orders; performs related work as required.

Classification Summary

The principal function of an employee in this class is to perform court-ordered probation/parole monitoring work for the reform of offenders and protection of the community. Work includes conducting pre-sentence investigations, referring offenders to appropriate mental health and substance evaluations and treatment as required, monitoring compliance, compiling and maintaining case files, recommending further conditions of monitored probation/parole or initiating petitions to revoke probation/parole. Caseloads may include some specialization, such as low or high risk offenders, electronic monitoring, mental health offenders, substance abusers, or sex offenders. The work is performed under the supervision of a Division Supervisor, but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office environment with field work that includes exposure to physical and possible health hazards.

Examples of Work (Illustrative Only)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (may vary with specific positions):

• Manages an assigned caseload of juvenile offenders, ranging from low to high risk;
• Supervises individual offenders for compliance with court orders, including home, office, detention, work, and school visits;
• Prepares referrals for mental health, counseling, substance abuse, or other evaluations and treatments and monitors progress of treatment;
• Conducts investigations to determine offender adherence to court-ordered conditions;
• Receives and reviews monthly or other periodic reports from treatment providers on offenders and takes appropriate remedial actions as necessary;
• Monitors restitution and fine payment schedules;
• Monitors urinalysis testing;
• Recommends further conditions or initiates petition to revoke probation/parole when required;
• Conducts fieldwork to assure offender compliance with court orders;
• Conducts investigations to obtain information regarding the offense, the offender criminal history, family and social history, and other relevant information;
• Prepares pre-sentence reports and recommendations, including determining the risk the offender presents to the community;
• Compiles and maintains social and case histories, monitors court dockets and calendars, and runs record checks to determine whether probationers have committed additional offenses;
• Documents and maintains records of all contacts with offenders;
• Attends a variety of court hearings and testifies for probation/parole and sentencing related matters;
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with County policies, procedures, and safety practices;
• Participates in various screenings and staffing’s with schools or other state agencies.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Requires flexible schedule and non-traditional work hours;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Human and criminal behavior;
• Interviewing, counseling, and investigative techniques applicable to case monitoring;
• Idaho and County statutes, laws, codes, and regulations governing juvenile arrest, detention, and probation/parole;
• Court practices and procedures;
• Departmental programs, policies, procedures, and operations as applied to the work performed;
• Various evaluation and treatment programs, social and service agencies, and other community resources available to offenders;
• Operation of standard office equipment, including a personal computer.

Ability to:

• Work cooperatively and constructively with fellow workers and members of the public to provide public service of the highest quality and quantity;
• Follow written and oral instructions;
• Gather and analyze facts and evidence and draw logical and objective conclusions;
• Readily adapt to changing work situations and assignments;
• Maintain a professional demeanor during stressful, volatile, and hostile situations;
• Compile pertinent data and prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned offenders, service providers, supervisors, other County employees, defense and prosecuting attorneys, the public, and other County and state agencies;
• Respond to citizen requests in a courteous and effective manner;
• Understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions;
• Make sound and reasonable decisions in accordance with laws, codes, regulations, and established procedures;
• Operate standard office equipment, including a personal computer and applications appropriate to assigned duties;
• Operate a motor vehicle;
• Operate specialized equipment such as electronic monitoring and personal defense devices;
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Perform multiple tasks, including handling interruptions, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner;
• Perform time management and scheduling functions, meet deadlines, and set project priorities;
• Maintain offender and Department confidentiality;
• Demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, behavioral or social sciences, or related field; and
• Some experience in probation monitoring, social service, or court-related behavioral services is preferred;
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Special Qualifications

• Idaho POST certification is preferred;
• U.S. citizenship required prior to POST certification, within first year of employment;
• Idaho driver’s license;
• Drug test required;
• Must successfully complete a background investigation through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Essential Physical Abilities

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively in person and by telephone;
• Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions and review and prepare a variety of written and text materials;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate standard office equipment, a personal computer, and operate a motor vehicle;
• Sufficient personal mobility, agility, and physical strength and reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee work in an office environment and perform field investigation and monitoring activities.

EOE Statement

Canyon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions related to recruitment and selection are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

DISQUALIFIERS FOR EMPLOYMENT

Listed below are a number of behaviors that may disqualify an applicant from consideration for employment.

Involvement with Illegal Drugs:

1. Use of marijuana in the past three years.

2. Use of any other illegal drug in the past five years.

3. Any use of heroin or derivatives (injections).

4. Any selling, transporting, or manufacturing of illegal drugs.

5. History of long-term abuse of illegal drugs.

Driving Record:

1. Suspended license in the past two years. P.O.S.T. Director review.

2. Driving without privileges in the past two years. P.O.S.T. Director review.

3. Conviction for D.U.I. in the past two years. P.O.S.T. Director review.

4. Five or more moving offenses in the past three years. P.O.S.T. Council review.

5. Failure to have liability insurance during the past three years.

Criminal Record:

1. Conviction of a Felony crime.

2. Conviction of Domestic Battery.

3. *Conviction of Misdemeanor sex crime, crime of deceit, or drug offense unless occurred over five years ago-File review with P.O.S.T. Council

4. *Willful Concealment or Petit Theft. P.O.S.T. Director review.

5. All other Misdemeanor cases- P.O.S.T. Council review if occurred over two years ago.

6. History of numerous Misdemeanor offenses and/or any Felony offense.

NOTE:

**Drug test required

DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS POSITION IF YOU:

1) Have ever engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997);

2) Have ever been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or

3) Have ever been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this section; or