Probation Officer II/III

This position is grant funded and contingent upon grant funding. In the event the grant funding is exhausted, this position may be reduced in hours or eliminated.

Investigate, supervise, intervene, and support supervised probation court ordered clients. Assist the District and Municipal Courts of Skagit County in holding offenders accountable to the terms of their court orders by organizing, coordinating, and managing a caseload of adjudicated offenders. This mission includes making sentence recommendations, performing offender needs/risk assessments, analyzing restitution claims, and facilitating compliance through motivational counseling, clinical consultation, and crisis intervention for public safety. Lack of sound judgement in the performance of these duties could result in major impact pertaining to legal situations, protection of the community, and the loss of freedom for individuals.

Probation implements this by triaging offenders’ immediate and/or chronic risk and needs; investigating and reporting compliance to, and/or with, judiciary, prosecutors, public defenders, private attorneys, law enforcement, mental health, chemical dependency, and domestic violence counselors; enhance compliance through direct client contacts; and recommendations of conditions of pre-sentence release and sentencing requirements.

Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3, dependent on qualifications:

• Probation Officer II - $38.53/hr. - $41.32/hr.
• Probation Officer III - $41.32/hr. - $44.22/hr.

Progressive increases are based on years of service with Skagit County, up to 8 total steps. Top steps and ranges are listed below:

• Probation Officer II - top step $49.05/hr., range 16 of the Teamsters DC, CH, Parks salary schedule
• Probation Officer III - top step $52.58/hr., range 17 of the Teamsters DC, CH, Parks salary schedule

Evaluates assigned cases and determines an appropriate course of action.

Evaluates social and legal information from offenders and collateral sources to determine actions that must be taken to satisfy the requirements of justice and deter offenders from future crime. This includes doing a criminal history search to determine public safety risk factors.

Completes and implements Pre-Screens and Risk Assessments.

Formulates self-improvement plans for defendants and communicates recommendations to court that establish a set of reasonable and enforceable sentence conditions. This involves attending court hearings one day per week and giving testimony when appropriate and/or requested by the judge.

Conducts pre and post sentence investigations as ordered by the court, writing detailed reports that include summary defendant background data, diagnostic assessments, and sentencing alternatives.

Investigates and analyzes claims of victims, insurance companies, governmental agencies, commercial establishments, and professional agents to determine restitution.

Initiates the emergency detention of non-compliant dangerous clients to protect the community.

Coordinates meetings with schools, parents, law enforcement, and various social service and legal agencies and contact with victims, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, and private counsel.

Resolves conflict and crisis situations while monitoring client behavior.

Refers clients to treatment providers and consults with these providers on clinical problems to facilitate the compliance and self-improvement of clients.

Coordinates evaluations and/or treatment for drug/alcohol, psychological, psychosexual, psychiatric, domestic violence, and other identified issues.

Supports and motivates clients who are having difficulty with compliance by means of providing personal guidance in problem solving and decision-making.

Performs other responsibilities as assigned which may include screening detention admits, miscellaneous phone calls and office inquiries.

Maintains detailed documentation of all chronological case events, compliance information, clinical and legal background information, court communications, and correspondence with outside agencies.

Administers breath tests to clients.

Administers drug test screening tools to clients.

Provide essential frontline services for those most at risk, due to the lack of and cost of jail space.

May collect money from clients and maintain a trust account in conformity with the requirements of Washington State and Skagit County.

Responds to general inquiries from the community, which may include public speaking. Uses public relation skills on community outreach programming. Interface with community outreach programs focused on crime prevention and rehabilitation.

Expected to attend related training events, including one offsite training per year, as the budget allows.

May assist in planning and organizing work, assigning, and checking work or and/or assisting and instructing others.

May participate in research to develop and recommend to the Director new policies, methods, procedures and programs.

Teaches and trains programming designed to reduce recidivism and promote healthy justice involved individuals.

Testifies in court as required.

May create and administer a specialized program within the department.

Daily prioritizing of critical risk management, i.e., is this person an immediate threat to self or others?

Maintains performance standards on work systems, i.e., significant participation and final authority i.e., court reports, closing cases, requesting interpreters, etc.

Supervisory:

Does not supervise other employees.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

May be tasked with performing related duties. Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the Position Description but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s classification of work.

Performs reception/clerical duties in the absence of support staff.

Oversees office activities in the absence of the department head.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Probation Officer II

• Bachelor’s Degree in social science, Criminal Justice, or a related field.

• Experience at working in high stress, high volume situations with a diverse and challenging population.

• Experience in using software applications in increase efficiency in casework management preferred.

• Bilingual fluency in Spanish/English is desired.

Probation Officer III

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice, or related field.

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the position of Adult Probation Counselor II with Skagit County or equivalent experience in a similar position with another agency.

Requires knowledge of:

• The dynamics and treatment of chemical dependency, mental illness and criminal behavior; criminal law and due process, and the organization of the judicial system in Washington State.

• English grammar and composition; common office automated tools including word processing, spreadsheets, database, and communication software.

Requires the ability to:

• Conduct in-depth interviews by projecting a non-judgmental attitude, putting a person at ease, conveying ideas, and obtaining relevant factual information; effectively work with people with cultural, ethnic, and lifestyle backgrounds different from one’s own; interpret and prepare legal documents.

• Effectively communicate orally and in writing; work independently under pressure with a large caseload of defendants, some of whom may be angry, mentally impaired, physically ill, dysfunctional, violent and of diminished mental capacity; work cooperatively with co-workers, supervisors, judges, court personnel, police officers, attorneys, prosecutors, and staff members from public and private agencies; work as a team member in a high stress environment.

• Willingness to enforce court requirements and to report violations, as well as serve as an agent of the court with complete confidentiality.

• Administer or assist in administering a community-based intervention program.

• Creativity, flexibility, and solid professional boundaries are essential.

• Work in an environment with potentially limited resources including jail overcrowding and reduced social services, increased caseloads, and seriousness of offenders (i.e., courts primarily sending probation the high-risk cases for closer supervision to reduce the County’s liability).

• Deal with a lack of communication between agencies (Law Enforcement, Courts, and treatment agencies).

Licenses and/or Certifications:

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Adult Services Academy is required within one year of hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

Work is performed primarily in an indoor office type environment. Occasional lifting of boxes up to 40 pounds. Risks association with repetitive small muscle movements using computer keyboards and sitting for long periods looking at a computer screen.

Emotional stress may occur with the nature of this work.

Hazards:
Those present in a normal office environment with occasional exposure to hostile persons and stressful situations. Possible carpal tunnel syndrome due to extended periods of keystroking. Eyestrain due to extensive computer exposure. A physical hazard may occur from agitated clients awaiting trial, or during trials or hearings, as well as from the general public with threats either verbal, physical or with weapons and exposure to germs from dealing with the public and exchange of document and possible money handling.

SELECTION PROCESS:Following review of applications and resumes, the highest qualified applicants will be interviewed and may be tested. After a selection is made, all applicants not selected will be notified in writing. Skagit County reserves the right to use applications received for this posting to fill any other positions within this classification which may open within six months following the closing of this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination in its employment practices.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: Individuals, who need an ADA accommodation to complete the application, test or interview process, please call: (360) 416-1382.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Changes to the position description may be made at the discretion of the employer.