Juvenile Probation Officer Jobs

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):

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

Other Duties and Responsibilities

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

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

Ability to:

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

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• 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;

Special Qualifications

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

Essential Physical Abilities

• 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.
• 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 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;

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.