Court Services Officer 1 (Pretrial Services - Criminal)

New-Jersey-Courts; Hackensack (NJ); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bergen Vicinage of the New Jersey Judiciary invites applicants for a Pretrial Services position in the Criminal Division. The hybrid schedule may include remote work up to 2 days; a non-traditional week with weekends and on-call duties is expected.

The role requires strong interpersonal, organizational and case-management skills and daily interaction with defendants, judges and public defenders. Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor’s degree and one year of paraprofessional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and one year paraprofessional experience in case management.
• Ability to interact with defendants, judges, prosecutors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to perform background research and prepare reports.

Responsibilities

• Research criminal case histories.
• Conduct Pretrial Risk Assessments and prepare reports.
• Meet with defendants and make recommendations to judges.
• Staff hearings and monitor compliance with release conditions.
• Provide guidance to clients with social, emotional and rehabilitative needs.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Case management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

SALARY

The salary range for this position is $54,434.49 to $89,181.84 for Schedule A, and $54,434.49 to $84,722.75 for Schedule B. For newly hired individuals, the starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the salary range. For current Judiciary employees, salary upon promotion or advancement will be an increase of 5% of base salary, not to exceed the maximum of the range, or the minimum salary of the band/level, whichever is greater. Judiciary employees hired prior to June 3, 2014, are considered Schedule A. Newly hired individuals, and Judiciary employees hired on or after June 3, 2014, are considered Schedule B.

The Judiciary offers a strong opportunity for growth.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Bergen Vicinage is seeking an individual to join the Criminal Division's Pretrial Services Program. The selected candidate must possess excellent interpersonal, organizational, and case management skills in order to perform the duties required of this position. The selected individual will regularly interact with pretrial defendants, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, the county jail, local law enforcement, the private bar, and the public.

Note: Experience with pretrial services programs is helpful.

REMOTE WORK

The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings. To participate in this program, in addition to installing a multifactor authentication app on your phone or tablet, you will be required to have high speed home internet access.

The selected candidate will be required to work a non-traditional work week, which will include Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and after hours on-call responsibilities.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Researching criminal case histories.
• Conducting Pretrial Risk Assessments and preparing reports.
• Meeting with defendants.
• Making recommendations to judges regarding conditions of pretrial release for pretrial defendants.
• Staffing first appearance/Central Judicial Processing hearings and pretrial detention hearings.
• Monitoring the conditions of pretrial release for pretrial defendants.
• Assisting pretrial defendants in attaining specific goals to ensure their appearance in court and the safety of the public during the defendant's pretrial release, and report the defendant's non-compliance with conditions of release to the court.
• Providing guidance to clients with specific needs, including but not limited to social, emotional and rehabilitative concerns.
• Making recommendations and/or referrals for social services, testing, treatment and/or counseling and will monitor clients' treatment progress.
• Performing other related duties as required.

Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree and one year of paraprofessional experience in case management involving gathering, reviewing and verifying case-related information which shall have included one or more of the following: conducting investigations, monitoring casework flow, interviewing clients or customers for needed information, preparing investigative fact-finding reports and/or writing case notes or other case-related correspondence. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional paraprofessional or professional experience on a year-for-year basis with one year of such experience being equal to 30 semester hour credits. An associate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of additional paraprofessional or professional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.

Education Note: Degrees conferred outside of the United States must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service. (See https://naces.org/members/)

Physical Ability: For some positions, applicants must have the ability to perform work which requires climbing and prolonged standing, stretching, bending and reaching to perform the essential duties of the position. For some positions, the selected candidate must be able to frequently lift and carry supplies weighing from 30 to 50 pounds and, occasionally, materials weighing up to 75 pounds, in order to perform essential duties of the position.

Driver's License: Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Authorization to Work: US citizenship is not required. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

Special Note: Newly hired employees must agree to a thorough background check that will include fingerprinting. All data received will be kept in strict confidence except to inform the individual of the findings and what action will be taken as a result of this information.

Residency Law: In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary within one year must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Any person may request an exemption from that requirement from the Employee Residency Review Committee in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on the basis of either hardship or employer critical need.

The Judiciary of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action. Employer Committed to Ensuring an Open Door to Justice.