Pretrial Officer I

Salary : $54,770.35 - $62,918.03 Annually

Location : 509 W. 11th St., TX

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 24-09425

Department : Pretrial Services

Opening Date : 09 / 03 / 2024

Closing Date : Continuous

Job Summary

Are you looking for career opportunities that provide top-notch benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, parental leave, outstanding health, vision, and dental insurance, an on-site health clinic for you and your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more? Then bring your talents to Travis County!

Interviews, investigates and evaluates clients incarcerated on criminal charges to determine their eligibility for personal bond and determines indigent status for court appointed attorney. Refers personal bond applicants to various agencies for treatment or assistance with alcohol, drug or personal problems. Makes recommendations to judges as to whether a client should be granted release from jail on personal recognizance bond and on motions to revoke personal bonds. Completes indigence forms to determine defendants' eligibility for court appointed legal representation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Investigates and interviews incarcerated clients to determine if they are eligible for release from jail on personal recognizance bond. Recommends to the judge whether a client should be granted release on personal recognizance bond, and what terms or specific conditions should be required when granted. Refers clients released or due to be released on bond to agencies for assistance and / or treatment.
• Ensures indigence forms are completed to determine defendants' eligibility for court appointed attorney. Serves as an intermediary between judges and attorneys on questions concerning bond recommendations and court appointed attorney status.
• Informs and briefs police, jail personnel, family and friends of the incarcerated client, lawyers and others regarding bond recommendations. Serves as the personal bond representative at the County court jail call. Serves as the Pretrial Services representative at jail calls for selected Justices of the Peace and County Courts at Law. Compiles lists of defendants needing interviews and completes appropriate documentation.
• Completes follow-up investigations on denied bonds from previous shifts and / or personal bonds completed by attorneys. Completes follow-up on denied bonds which have secured jail release. Recommends to judges that bonds be revoked on subsequent arrest or problem clients, or when there is imminent danger to the community. Provides testimony in court, as required, on assigned cases.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience :

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements :

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred :

Texas Crime Information Center Certification.

National Crime Information Center Certification.

One (1) year of work experience in a directly related field.

Degree in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Sociology, or Government

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Knowledge of :

Skill in :

Ability to :

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift / carry up to 10-25 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter and foul odors. Subject to client and customer contact for extended periods of time.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours :

6 : 00 AM to 2 : 30 PM

2 : 00 PM to 10 : 30 PM

10 : 00 PM to 6 : 30 AM

Location : 509 W 11th St, Austin, TX

Department : Pretrial Services

Criminal Background Check, Education, and Employment history check required.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans : an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid :

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he / she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins :

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates :

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers' Compensation

The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree or higher?

If you have a degree, is it in Criminal Justice or a directly related field?

How many years of experience do you have in criminal justice? Be sure your response is supported in the employment history section of the job application.

Are you bilingual- English / Spanish? If you answer "Yes" a Spanish speaking proficiency screening will be administered during the interview.

Have you been convicted of a Misdemeanor Class A, Misdemeanor Class B or any Felony? (Including deferred adjudication sentence).

This position requires working with inmates at the Travis County Jail. Are you able to work with incarcerated individuals?

This position will require you to work a schedule that includes working every weekend, some nights and some holidays and any of the following possible shifts : 6 : 00AM to 2 : 30PM, 2 : 00PM to 10 : 30PM, or 10 : 00PM to 6 : 30AM. The work schedule may be changed anytime based on business necessity. By selecting (Yes) you hereby acknowledge and understand the work schedule requirements as stated and that you are able to meet this requirement.

Pretrial Services employees perform functions that are considered essential to the administration of justice in Travis County. This position may require you to work instances where Travis County agencies are closed to the public for regular business due to emergency situations (including, but not limited to adverse weather). By selecting (Yes) you hereby acknowledge and understand the requirement as stated and that you are able to meet this requirement.

Required Question

Salary : $54,770 - $62,918