Assistant Probation Officer

County of Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in Sacramento is seeking an Assistant Probation Officer to supervise and counsel juveniles in detention facilities. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field and strong communication skills. Candidates should be prepared to work with at-risk youth and may be required to pass a criminal background check. A valid California driver's license is also necessary.

Benefits

Regular schedule with potential for overtime

Career advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a relevant degree.
• Up to one year of experience in law enforcement or correctional work is acceptable.
• Valid California Driver License required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and counsel minors in juvenile institutions.
• Provide close supervision of minors on home supervision.
• Assist in rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.

Skills

Crisis intervention techniques

Counseling techniques

Self-defense techniques

Motivational techniques

Ability to communicate clearly

Ability to work well in a team

Education

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or behavioral science

Tools

Computers and software applications

Job description

Overview

This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00pm on the following dates: 9/26/25, 11/26/25, 1/9/26, 4/10/26, 7/10/26, and 10/9/26.

Under supervision, learns to apply the principles and techniques of probation work; supervises and counsels individuals detained in, committed to, or sheltered in one of several County juvenile institutions; supervises minors assigned to Work Project; and provides close supervision of minors placed on home supervision.

The following information provides additional context regarding the hiring process with the Sacramento County Probation Department. Note: the text below has been reformatted for clarity and accessible structure.

Knowledge of

• Principles and techniques applicable to the care and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents
• The growth, development, needs and problems of minors
• Symptoms of behavior disorders
• Group dynamics
• Applicable laws, rules, codes, standards and regulations governing care and treatment of juveniles in juvenile hall, camps, ranches or schools
• Principles of investigation and laws governing search, seizure and preservation of evidence
• Counseling techniques
• Basic housekeeping techniques
• Hygienic standards
• Motivational techniques
• Crisis intervention techniques
• Self-defense techniques
• Arrest procedures
• Appropriate use of force and security techniques
• Rights and liabilities of peace officers
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Ability to

• Secure the respect and confidence of adolescents
• Cope with hostility and aggressive behavior
• Work well as a member of a team
• Exercise good judgment and act calmly in emergency situations
• Recognize subtle changes in behavior
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Effectively organize and prioritize work assignments
• Prepare concise and clear reports
• Maintain records
• Communicate with individuals from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university, preferably with a degree in criminal justice, social or another behavioral science.

Up to one year of the required education may be substituted by experience in full-time, or equivalent part-time, paid law enforcement or correctional work in a probation or parole agency, or correctional institution on the basis of 173.6 hours = 21.7 days = 1 work month = 3 semester or 4.5 quarter units.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.

Note: If the word “experience” is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

General Qualifications

Criminal History and Background Checks: Appointees must pass a criminal history and background check, and pursuant to California Government Code, Section 1029, the conviction of a felony is grounds for disqualification from an appointment. Pursuant to Sacramento County Civil Service Rules, candidates found to have been convicted of a felony will be disqualified.

License Requirement: A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, shall be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Compliance with Government Code: Incumbents appointed to this class shall meet the minimum standards set forth in California Government Code, Section 1031.

Certification Requirement: Satisfactory completion of required P.O.S.T. training for Probation Officers as specified in Section 832 of the Penal Code must be completed within one year after appointment as an Assistant Probation Officer. In addition, all appointees shall also be required to complete any other P.O.S.T. or other training required by law or by the department.

Physical Requirements: Positions in this class require the incumbents to be able to frequently stand, walk, run, stoop, bend and climb stairs; lift individuals, which requires strength, coordination, endurance, and agility. Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Working Conditions: Positions in this class require the incumbents to work irregular hours, including holidays and weekends; occasionally have contact with hostile individuals; be subjected to physical and verbal abuse while restraining individuals.

The probationary period for this classification is twelve (12) months.

Application Process

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date. Note: the official job posting website provides complete instructions on applying.

County of Sacramento
Department of Personnel Services
Employment Services Division
700 H Street, Room 4667
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone [phone]; 7-1-1 California Relay Service

Inter-Office Mail Code: 09-4667

www.SacCountyJobs.net

General notes: Employment applications and all documentation requested must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications as of the cut-off date. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified. A resume may be included but will not substitute for information requested on the application.

Supplemental Questionnaire: Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions". Please be descriptive in your response.

Note: Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered. Supplemental questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to elicit information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training and is subject to verification. Resumes or referrals to the application will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question. For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses in a word processing document and paste them into the final submission. Changes or corrections cannot be made once the packet is submitted. If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all questions or provide complete responses may result in a lower score.

Formula Rate Examination (Weighted 100%): All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut-off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored as part of the Formula Rate Examination. This examination evaluates education, training, and experience; the score determines rank on the eligible list. All candidates will be notified of examination results by email or through the governmentjobs inbox. Those passing will be placed on the eligible list in rank order based on the score attained.

Frequently Asked Questions: Click here for FAQs. For information regarding County jobs, visit: www.saccountyjobs.net

Sacramento County is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact the Disability Compliance Office at [e-mail] or 916-874-7642. For more information, visit: Reasonable Accommodation Requests - Job Applicant Instructions