Civil Process Server I

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Captain, Support Services Bureau, or designee, serving civil process writs, orders, and protection orders issued from the court or a Notary Public to designated individuals.

Essential Functions

• Deliver legal papers to designated individuals in assigned geographical area, ensuring protection orders receive priority service and are served in strict compliance with the Domestic Abuse Act.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Check tablet for daily assignments and writs of process to be served from the Civil Process Division of the Sheriff's Department.
• Review daily assignments into logical route and reconcile with writs received.
• Review instructions and procedures for all deliveries, clarifying with supervisor any potential issues prior to the service of writs.
• Conduct limited investigations to locate individuals to be served, utilizing available resources (e.g. telephone, computer, reference books, local directories).
• Communicate with attorneys, petitioners, respondents, employees, courts, etc., to gather additional information or to clarify questionable information/instructions.
• Complete reports and documentation relevant to the service of writs (e.g. type, time, date, place of service, name of individual served) on a daily basis ensuring accuracy of information.
• Review prepared legal returns for accuracy and completeness.
• Instruct Law Enforcement Technicians to make corrections when needed.
• Sign correct legal returns for return to the issuing party (e.g. courts, attorneys, Notary Public).
• Respond to questions from issuing parties regarding the status of writs.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• If assigned a County vehicle, conduct routine inspections (e.g. lights, tires, fluid levels, safety devices) to ensure proper operation, informing supervisor of needed repairs.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence and other departmental documents.
• Report to work with regular, predictable, and consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed and assigned

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two (2) years of work experience involving public contact and basic clerical skills required.*
• Work experience in law enforcement/criminal justice field preferred.
• Continued employment as a Civil Process Server is contingent upon completion of the requirements for certification as a Professional Civil Process Server within the first year of employment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and own mode of transportation at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal background check and post-offer drug screen.
• Equivalent education beyond high school may be substituted for work experience requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.
• Work is performed in a variety of locations throughout the County. When conducting work outdoors, there is full exposure to the elements (e.g. heat, humidity, cold, and precipitation). Noise level is usually moderate. Work is generally performed during standard day-shift hours, however hours will occasionally vary (e.g. days, hours, overtime). Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires physical activity including extended periods of walking and standing with occasional climbing, reaching, carrying, balancing, kneeling, crouching and bending. An incumbent must have the ability to transport themselves to and from various locations throughout the County, have the agility, balance and strength to maneuver over rough terrain, around various obstacles and to access property on foot. An incumbent must have the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans