Probation Officer

SUMMARY: The duties of this position are performed in accordance with regulations prescribed by State, County and City Statutes. The position involves responsibility for persons supervised under probation for the municipal court. Supervision is received from the presiding judge, court clerk and bailiff as well as the Chief Probation Officer. Counsels adult offenders in activities related to legal conditions of probation or parole by performing the following duties. If necessary, performs duties of Deputy Bailiff preserving order during Court sessions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following but are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• • • Inform, explain, and advise offenders of the terms and conditions of probation including office visits, financial payments, education/employment stipulations, treatment programs, and other conditions ordered by the court.

• • • Complete and evaluate preliminary chemical dependency and mental health screenings of offenders and make treatment referrals.

• • • Perform records checks on offenders from in-house database and outside sources.

• • • Update and maintain offender files and document each case in the probation system.

• • • Confers with offender, legal representatives, family, and other concerned persons, and reviews documents pertaining to legal and social history of offender to conduct pre-hearing or pre-sentencing investigations and to formulate rehabilitation plan.

• • • Report status of compliance and any violation(s) to the court as required.

• • • Schedule and attend violations hearings as required.

• • • Compiles reports, testifies in court, and makes recommendations concerning conditional release or institutionalization of offender.

• • • Informs offender or guardian of legal requirements of conditional release such as visits to office, restitution payments, or educational and employment stipulations.

• • • Transport offenders to jail and/or treatment agencies as required.

• • • Evaluates offender's progress on follow-up basis including visits to home, school, and place of employment.

• • • Conduct urine and/or alcohol testing to ensure compliance with court orders.

• • • Accept phone calls after hours from law enforcement

• • • Conduct field visits after hours when applicable

• • • Attend staff meetings as requested by the Chief Probation Officer or Judge.

• • • Facilitate programming

• • • Perform other functions as designated by Chief Probation Officer or Judge.                     

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

A bachelor’s degree is preferred from an accredited college in criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, or human service/criminal justice related field.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from officials, clients and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

Knowledge of Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Other Skills and Abilities

Good knowledge of court procedures; tact and judgment in handling people; ability to follow oral and written instructions; ability to control individuals and situations involving strength, mobility and agility; ability to handle sensitive inquiries from officials and the public while maintaining confidentiality required; ability to drive vehicle.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; taste and smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.