Probation Officer I – Adult Probation

Salary: $19.32 Per hour

Position Summary:

An employee in this class investigates, advises, and counsels individuals on probation or parole to foster their personal, social, and economic adjustment in the community. Work involves the counseling and supervision of individuals on probation or parole, completion of pre-sentence investigation reports, and investigation of pre-parole plans. Work includes a wide variety of contacts with agencies, employers, friends, and families in securing information regarding probationers and parolees, and assisting in developing useful and effective rehabilitation plans. There is an element of physical danger in working with probation and parole violators. Although the work is regulated by law and well-defined procedures, the employee is required in emergencies to make decisions directly affecting the public safety and the personal liberties of individuals. Work is reviewed in progress through observing the employee in action, through conferences, and upon completion, through the review of reports and recommendations.

An employee in this category shall serve a one year probationary period during which time they will be closely monitored as to their ability to learn the essential functions of the job and obtain the required knowledge skills and abilities to efficiently carry out their official duties.

The primary objective of probation/parole supervision is the protection of the community by returning offenders to a secure, law-abiding status in the community.

Essential Functions:

1. Supervises probationers and parolees, investigating their activities to ascertain whether or not they are violating probation or parole regulations, and providing counseling and other services to help them in their personal, social, and economic adjustment in the community.
2. Conducts social case histories, intake interviews and pre-sentence investigations of offenders, interviewing offender, victim, police, family, employer, associates, and other individuals with knowledge of the offender.
3. Prepares reports on the outcome of investigations, analyzing information gathered and recommending appropriate rehabilitative action to court.
4. Maintains contact with families, friends, employers, clergy, and other persons concerned with aiding clients in their adjustment to the community.
5. Collects urine samples and conducts drug tests, observing universal precautions; completes associated forms and reports as appropriate.
6. Enforces Court Orders and makes or assists in making arrests (planned and unplanned) and monitors offenders compliance with court ordered stipulations as well as general rules. The use of force, including lethal force, may be required in these situations.
7. Assists in the collections of fines, costs, and restitution, as necessary.
8. Appears and testifies as an expert witness at court hearings and prepares reports for the courts as needed.
9. Documents violations in accordance with published procedure; testifies before hearing officers and courts to establish violations and provides testimony in new criminal cases.
10. Serves bench warrants; writes court orders as needed.
11. Conducts research on whereabouts of missing probationers/parolees and locates them as quickly as possible.
12. Sets up treatment plans for sentenced inmates as requested.
13. Prepares and secures out-of-home placements for juvenile offenders, makes contacts with organizations and institutions and supervises juveniles placed in those institutions.
14. Maintains day notes on probationers and prepares reports as required.
15. Utilizes equipment such as 2-way radios, phones, computer, as well as drug testing equipment, handcuffs, shackles, breathalyzers, batons, bullet- proof vests, OCAT spray, Electronic Monitoring Equipment, and firearms.
16. Conducts evaluations regarding CRN/DUIs as requested.
17. Assists other law enforcement agencies in special operations expected to affect persons under supervision.
18. Conduct searches of clients, their residences, and their property, as appropriate under poor working conditions such as extreme variations of heat, cold, noise, fumes, dirt, or any other obnoxious element.
19. Attends staff meetings, staff development programs, and professional seminars and conferences.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioral sciences, criminal justice, law enforcement or related field.
• Must complete 40 hours of in-service training per year which will include all training essential to the current use of force policy.
• 1 year of human services related experience preferred.